Object Name: 2004 Bauer Goalie Stick

Player: Nikolai Khabibulin

Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Season/Year of Use: 2004

Manufacturer: Bauer

Model: Supreme 4000

Material: Composite Fiberglass and Wood

Dimensions: Total Length – 65 in (165 cm); Shaft Width – 1.5 in (3.8 cm); Paddle Length –

26 in (66 cm); Blade Length – 15 in (38 cm); Blade Height – 3 in (7.6 cm)

Signature: Black Marker on Blade Tape

Condition: Poor. Severe damage to inside elbow of stick.

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Provenance

Acquired in 2008 through ClassicAuctions.net, a reputable and long-established hockey

memorabilia auction house specializing in authenticated game-used equipment. This

goaltender stick was used by Nikolai Khabibulin, netminder for the Tampa Bay Lightning,

during the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, when the team captured its first championship title.

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The stick’s authenticity was verified by the auction’s accompanying documentation and

photographic evidence consistent with Khabibulin’s game use during the series. The item

was subsequently added to the Blades of Glory: The Hockey Stick Archive as part of the

Game-Used and Autographed Stick Collection, where it remains an important artifact

representing the Lightning’s championship season and Khabibulin’s critical role in securing

the Cup.

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Description and Significance

This goaltender stick was used by Nikolai Khabibulin during the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals,

when he backstopped the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first-ever championship title.

Khabibulin’s exceptional play throughout the postseason earned him the nickname “The

Bulin Wall,” and this stick stands as a tangible connection to that historic run.

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Constructed from fiberglass-reinforced wood, the stick reflects the transitional era of early

2000s goaltending equipment, bridging the gap between traditional wooden constructionand the composite technologies that would soon dominate the sport. Scuffing and puck marks along the paddle and blade are consistent with game use by a professional goaltender, offering physical evidence of its role in elite-level competition.

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Beyond its technical and aesthetic qualities, this artifact embodies a key moment in both

Tampa Bay Lightning and NHL history—a period that solidified the franchise’s place among

championship teams and highlighted Khabibulin’s pivotal contribution to the game.

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Storage Information

Storage Area: Warehouse B – Goaltending Equipment Wing

Fixture (Rack / Cabinet): Racking Unit G2 (“Goalie Sticks – Early 2000s Era”)

Shelf Level: Level 3 (Upper Shelf – Long-Handle Storage)

Slot / Position Number: Position 08 (Labeled “KHABIBULIN, N. – 2004 Finals – Tampa Bay

Lightning”)

Container Type: Custom padded horizontal archival tray with Tyvek wrap and closed-cell

foam supports

Environmental Controls: Maintained at 18°C ± 2°C and 45–55% relative humidity

Handling Notes: Handle with nitrile gloves; support the full shaft and paddle length when

moving; avoid direct contact with autographed or painted areas to prevent abrasion or

fading

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Cataloging Information

Catalogued By: Grant Fuhr, Collections Registrar

Date of Entry: September 14, 2025

Last Condition Check: October 10, 2025

Reviewed By: K. Allen, Senior Curator

Review Date: October 12, 2025

Notes / Comments: The artifact remains in decent display condition with surface wear

consistent with documented game use. Verification materials from ClassicAuctions.net,

including auction listing and authentication documents, are retained in the provenance

file. Scheduled for comprehensive review upon completion of Warehouse B environmental

upgrades.