Former Blackhawks G Nikolai Khabibulin announces retirement

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The Bulin Wall is hanging up the skates.

After spending 18 seasons in the NHL, former Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin officially announced Friday that he's ending his playing career with plans to move into a managerial role in the KHL.

"I can officially declare that I have completed a career hockey player," he told Russian news outlet Championat. "During the years of [my NHL] career I got a lot of experience, so I would like to use it for the good of hockey."

Khabibulin, 42, became the first Russian netminder to win a Stanley Cup in 2004 when he guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 16-7 postseason record. He ranks second among Russian goaltenders with 333 wins, sitting only behind Evgeni Nabokov (353).

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Blackhawks fans!]

A four-time All-Star, Khabibulin played for Winnipeg, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Edmonton over his NHL career and also won two Olympic medals (gold and bronze) with Team Russia.

Khabibulin spent a little more than four seasons with the Blackhawks, where he compiled a 91-80-25 record with a 2.84 goals against average and a .902 save percentage from 2005-09 and 2013-14. His 91 wins ranks ninth all-time in franchise history.

In 2009, Khabibulin helped the Blackhawks snap a five-year playoff drought by backstopping Chicago to their first Conference Final since 1994-95.

His last NHL action came during the 2013-14 campaign, when he appeared in four games with the Blackhawks.

Khabibulin was selected in the ninth round (204th overall pick) of the 1992 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets (the Arizona Coyotes franchise).

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