TAMPA, Fla. (CP) -- It appears it was well worth the wait for Nikolai Khabibulin. 

The goaltender, who missed almost two complete seasons waiting for a new deal, will make some serious money with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who acquired the rights to the restricted free agent from the Phoenix Coyotes on March 5. 

Khabibulin is guaranteed about $14.75 million US over three-plus seasons. If he collects all his bonuses (including $1 million each year the Lightning makes the playoffs) and Tampa Bay picks up his option for a fourth season, that will jump to $22.25 million US. 

In four seasons as the starter for the Jets/Coyotes, the six-foot-one, 196-pounder averaged 65 games and 30 victories. 

But when an offer after the 1998-99 season of $3 million US a year wasn't enough, Khabibulin began his contract dispute. 

Khabibulin found it difficult to explain the situation to his parents, Alexander and Valentina, who live in Russia and did not quite understand turning down $3 million US a year. 

"For my parents, or any person for that matter in Russia, that amount of money is tremendous," Khabibulin told the St. Petersburg Times. "It was hard for them to understand how we could reject that, but at the same time, they were behind us the whole time. 

"It was pretty tough, but I believe in my value. Obviously, there was a disagreement with the ownership group. We thought we were doing the right thing. We still think we did the right thing."