  Edmonton Oilers' Nikolai Khabibulin was arrested in Arizona for DUI and speeding. (Jordan Verlage/ QMI AGENCY) |
Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin faces driving under the influence (DUI) and speeding charges after being arrested in Arizona.
Khabibulin, 37, was pulled over in a black Ferrari early on Feb. 8, after a Scottsdale police officer clocked him at 70 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone, according to the arrest report.
“I had one glass (of wine),” Khabibulin told arresting officer B. Patterson, who noted in his report that Khabibulin’s eyes were bloodshot and watering, and that he smelled moderately of alcohol and spoke slowly.
The traffic stop was made at 12:37 a.m. in a residential area of Paradise Valley, an affluent town just northwest of Scottsdale. The officer asked Khabibulin if he knew why he was pulled over and he replied, “Speed.”
Khabibulin, who said he was going 80 m.p.h. and later failed to produce proof of insurance, agreed to a field sobriety test.
He was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. and booked into a district jail.
Khabibulin, whose cellphone was temporarily seized along with jewelry and cash, asked to use a phone before consenting to a blood test, according to the report.
The officer asked him if he wanted to call his attorney and Khabibulin said, “A friend.”
Khabibulin was placed in the phone room and given instructions on how to dial out, said the officer.
“A few moments later, Khabibulin knocked on the door and again asked how to dial out,” the officer recalled in his report.
After finishing with the phone, Khabibulin “made a motion with his left hand toward his right arm as if sticking it with a syringe and stated, ‘OK,’ ” the officer wrote in the report. “I asked him if he was consenting to the blood draw and he stated, ‘Yes.’ ”
Khabibulin was released from jail shortly before 3 a.m. He has a Paradise Valley address, according to police.
He is charged with three misdemeanours: impaired to slightest degree; DUI-Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .08 or more; and exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 m.p.h.
In July, Khabibulin signed a $15-million, four-year contract with the Oilers.
The Russian netminder struggled with back problems early in the season and appeared in 18 games. He eventually opted for season-ending back surgery last month.
Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said, “We are aware of the reports from Phoenix,” but the team will have no further comments until the “continuing legal process is completed.”
