Nikolai Khabibulin is going to jail. He won't be walking the red carpet, he'll be walking into a jail cell. We will find out for how long at 4 pm today. Nik was convicted of three charges last week (DUI over 0.08, extreme DUI and excessive speeding). The minimum sentence is 30 days jail for extreme DUI. I'm sure his lawyer will try to get some of that time in an alcohol treatment facilty but I'm not sure that is possible. In any case, he will spend some time in jail and will miss the Oilers training camp at the very least. He could miss more time since he should have problems entering Canada (DUI's are considered felonies in Canada) and may be suspended by the NHL.
I doubt the Oilers will try to void his contract since this is his first offence, he didn't hit anything or anybody and they would face one helleva fight from the players' association.
So in a few hours we'll find out his sentence and then Tambellini will be available to comment. Will he stand by his man? Probably.
