BRANDON - Nikolai Khabibulin had plenty to talk about Wednesday as he sat in his locker at the Ice Sports Forum.
There was the weather in the Phoenix area, where he has a home. The weather in his native Russia, which he visits every summer. His offseason workout program, and his up-and-down 2002-03 season of which he admitted, "Maybe I wasn't playing as good in some games as I was supposed to."
But when the subject of his benching in Game 5 of the East semifinals against the Devils was broached, the Lightning goaltender clammed up.
"I don't think I'm going to go into that stuff," he said. "I don't want to get back into it."
Maybe it would be better, then, to talk about what did not come out of it.
Khabibulin's agent Jay Grossman said his client "never" asked for a trade, contrary to rumors. Coach John Tortorella said Khabibulin will be in net on opening night, short-circuiting speculation of a goalie controversy with John Grahame.
And Khabibulin, 30, said he is committed to Tampa Bay.
"I do want to play for this team," he said. "I like the guys in the dressing room. I think we have a good thing going here."
Tortorella, with the backing of general manager Jay Feaster, benched Khabibulin for what turned out to be the Lightning's final game of the season: a 2-1, triple-overtime loss to New Jersey highlighted by Grahame's sparkling 46 saves.
It was an emotional time for Khabibulin, who had propelled the Lightning into the playoffs with a remarkable 16-game unbeaten streak, and stopped 60 shots in a 2-1, triple-overtime victory that clinched the East quarterfinals in Game 6 against the Capitals.
"You don't want to miss the last game of the season, especially the most important game," Khabibulin said. "I wish that would have never happened."
That is more than what was said at the time by Khabibulin, who never vented to the media or teammates. The frustrations came out a few weeks later during a 90-minute meeting with Tortorella.
"It wasn't all warm and fuzzy, but I thought I owed it to him to explain to him the thinking process that went into the decision," Tortorella said. "We weren't blaming Nik for where we were in that series. We were there because, plain and simple, New Jersey was a better hockey team."
As for Khabibulin's play against the Devils, Tortorella said, "We felt he was fighting it a bit, and a subtle change, like with the goaltenders, it may change things. I know it doesn't put Nik in a good spot perception-wise, but we weren't trying to disrespect him. It was the best decision for the team at that time in that game."
The way Khabibulin sees it, his best decision was one to move forward.
The organization's second two-time All-Star has worked to eclipse last season's exemplary conditioning. And he was at ease in the locker room, joking with teammates before hitting the exercise room.
"Last season is last season," Khabibulin said. "I'd rather look forward and concentrate on what's going to happen. This is a new year. I'm going to come in and play as hard as I can."
As for his relationship with Tortorella, the goalie was guarded.
"He's the coach, and as a player, I have to listen to what he has to say," he said. "I'm here to play hockey. I'm not here to marry somebody."
"I don't want to marry him either," Tortorella said. "That's not what this is about. Sometimes an angry player is a pretty good player. I'm not expecting him to welcome me with open arms. If he does, then there's something wrong. As long as the respect is there, and we understand why we do things, that it is best for the hockey team, then we live with it."
Easy for Tortorella to live with is Khabibulin as his starter.
"Nik Khabibulin is our No. 1 goalie," the coach said. "He is one of the top goalies in the league who got this organization to stop crawling and start walking. I haven't forgotten that."
