A slap on the wrist

Don't expect Khabibulin's 30 day sentence to prison have any bearing on the 2010-11 season. Well, he won't be spending it in a desert prison living in a tent anyways. Khabibulin's was handed the minimum 30 day sentence, which he quickly appealed. This now puts the sentence at "pending appeal" which may take months. This was smart thinking, as it will buy Khabibulin time and he will attend training camp.


The likely scenario will see Khabibulin spending his off-season in prison for a month. People of importance have a way of flexing their power and getting what they want. It's doubtful the state of Arizona will interfere with Khabibulin's hockey season. I also doubt a millionaire pro athlete like Khabibulin will spend his sentence in the military style prison of Arizona, as suggested by the Edmonton Journal: "He could be sent to Tent City, the military camp in the Arizona desert where the convicted wear prison stripes. They have also been known to wear pink underwear under the watchful eye of hard-line sheriff Joe Arpaio, the legendary lawman who has been featured on the CBS News program 60 Minutes." The heat in that tent would be unbearable in the summer, a hot sweaty Nikolai in pink underwear probably isn't on the Oilers agenda; but it's a possibility apparently.

What will happen in the immediate future is a ticket into the substance abuse program with the NHL. That program did wonders for Theo Fleury didn't it? Anyways, it's all pie in the sky and pleases some of the fans. As much as Oiler fans may not want to admit, this is the best scenario for this hockey team. The Oilers were going to be in major trouble without a solid goaltender. Let's just hope the back is solid.