Nabokov Quits KHL, Could Return to NHL

[Lord Bebop]

Evgeni Nabokov has quit his KHL team and has returned to North America, where it’s believed he could soon return to the NHL.


sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Why-Evgeni-Nabokov-left-KHL-agent-said-signing-?urn=nhl-295351

[Lord Bebop]

NBC pundit ponders Nabby's next (NHL) stop:

San Jose

Ah, yes, the most obvious choice: his old team in San Jose. Antti Niemi‘s save percentage is below 90 and his GAA is above 3 while the team doesn’t have full confidence in Antero Niittymaki. Of course, those two goalies are making a substantial sum of cash, so it would take some maneuvering … but wouldn’t it be interesting to see Nabokov back in teal?

Chicago

The Sharks turned the knife on Chicago twice this off-season; once by trying to sign Niklas Hjalmarsson with an offer sheet and then by signing Niemi. The Hawks could gain sweet vengeance and also give Corey Crawford insurance as Marty Turco struggles by adding Nabokov.

Tampa Bay

With both Dan Ellis and Mike Smith struggling mightily, the offensively potent Lightning could really use some stability in net. After all, the last time the team had a mercurial Russian netminder (Nikolai Khabibulin), they won the Stanley Cup.

Philadelphia

Actually, I think that they’re already covered in the “Russian” category (with Sergei Bobrovsky) and also find themselves in an awkward “Three’s Company” in net. I had to mention it, though, by Secret Blogging Code.

Washington

… Much like I must mention the Capitals, who seem like they might make a bit more sense than the Flyers. After all, there are these reasons:

1. The Capitals love Russians.

2. They are on a six-game losing streak, so their confidence in Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth might be shaken a bit (at least in the short term).

3. It would give media and fans ample opportunities to make “they both choke in the playoffs!” jokes.

Toronto

Another team I felt the need to mention mainly because of reflex. Yes, the Leafs have invested in Jonas Gustavsson and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, but Toronto loves flashy moves and neither goalie distinguished themselves as a strong starter. (Giguere is an especially expensive waste.)

prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/13/evgeni-nabokovs-khl-contract-terminated-for-family-circumstances-which-nhl-teams-might-be-interested/

[jkr]

don't their contracts mean anything. How can the guy just walk away

BTW, my money is on Washington.

[Skilly]

Dec 13, 2010 18:47:12 GMT -5 jkr said:

don't their contracts mean anything. How can the guy just walk away

BTW, my money is on Washington.

Nabakov and the KHL team both agreed to walk away from each other ...

[Polarice]

Dec 13, 2010 18:47:12 GMT -5 jkr said:

don't their contracts mean anything. How can the guy just walk away

BTW, my money is on Washington.

I guess the Russian mob suggested that he leave the team.

[Lord Bebop]

His khll team was probably overjoyed that he will walk away from his substantial contract. Correct me if I'm wrong but $6mil for 4years and he has struggled.

I'm surprised the sharks fans are not wanting him back at all. He must have stunk it up as their goaltending tandem have not lived up to expectations this season and Nabakov at one time wsa considered one of the better goalies in the nhl.

[seventeen]

No one will pick him at more than $1mm a year. Firstly, his talent is questioned now and secondly, many teams that might choose him are far too close to their cap to pay anything much.

[Deleted]

Detroit signed him, then the Islanders claimed him off of waivers. Hah.

tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=350550

[24in93]

Ouch! Watch him bolt back to the KHL again. ;D

[Skilly]

Islanders claim Nabokov; agent says he won't report

From nhl.com

Veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has been claimed on waivers by the New York Islanders one day after signing a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings, but he reportedly may not join the team.

Nabokov's agent Don Meehan told Katie Strang of Newsday that his client will not report to the team.

Nabokov began this season playing in the Kontinental Hockey League but had been seeking a return to the NHL since being released from his contract with SKA St. Petersburg in December. The Red Wings signed him to a one-year deal reportedly worth a pro-rated portion of $570,000, but he had to pass through waivers to join Detroit because he began the season in Europe.

"We tried something, and he's been claimed by another team," Detroit general manager Ken Holland told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "We move on. It's the nature of the rules and the league."

Earlier this week, Meehan had told Ansar Kahn of mlive.com that his client would report to any NHL team were he to be claimed, but he told Strang on Saturday that Nabokov will not join the Islanders. Nabokov cannot be sent to the American Hockey League because he did not sign before December 15, and the Islanders cannot trade him without putting him through the waiver process again.

The Islanders have carried three goaltenders of late, but rookie Nathan Lawson left the game Friday with a left knee injury. They also have rookie Kevin Poulin, who is 2-1-1 in six appearances, and veteran Rick DiPietro.

The Wings were also looking for goaltending help. Starter Jimmy Howard returned Thursday after missing six days with a bruised knee, and backup Chris Osgood is expected to miss at least six weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery.

Joey MacDonald, the starter with the Wings' AHL team in Grand Rapids, played while Howard and Osgood were out and backed up Howard on Thursday night. Rookie Thomas McCollum, who had backed up MacDonald, is also out with a broken finger.

Nabokov, a native of Kazakhstan, was considered one of the top goaltenders on the free agent market after finishing last season with a 44-16-10 record, 2.43 goals-against average and three shutouts for San Jose.

However, no club offered him a contract in the off-season and he opted to play in Russia, only to be released from a four-year, $24 million deal last month. Nabokov was 8-8-5 with a 3.02 goals against average and a .888 save percentage this season for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League.

The ninth-round pick of the Sharks in the 1994 Entry Draft spent all 10 of his NHL seasons with San Jose and was 293-178-29-37 with a 2.39 GAA and 50 shutouts. He led the Sharks to the Western Conference Finals last spring.

Nabokov is a two-time NHL All-Star and won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2000-01. He led the League with 46 wins in 2007-08 and was an NHL First-Team All-Star at seasons' end.

[Andrew]

I wonder which contending team offered the Isles future considerations to snag Nabokov off of waivers to prevent the Wings from getting stronger. Ok maybe that's a bit outlandish, but it did cross my mind that a team might grab him, on their own accord, for that reason. In all likelihood the Isles were probably hoping to flip him at the deadline.

[blny]

While perfectly within the rules, you have to wonder why in the Isles case. Is taking him off waivers really going to help?

That said, it's not classy on Nabby's part to decide not to report. He knew the 'risks'. He's going to make more than a quarter million, pre tax, wherever he goes. He could 'suffer' through 2.5 months of Isles hockey, play decent, and get himself a contract elsewhere in the Summer. Not reporting looks bad on him, and may mean he's on the outside looking in again come next Fall.

[Disp]

The isles could flip him to detroit for a pick couldn't they? Would be a pretty shrewd move in my opinion.

[blny]

Jan 22, 2011 17:27:19 GMT -5 Disp said:

The isles could flip him to detroit for a pick couldn't they? Would be a pretty shrewd move in my opinion.

According to the rules, he has to clear waivers before he can be sent to AHL or traded.

[Skilly]

Jan 22, 2011 18:07:26 GMT -5 blny said:

Jan 22, 2011 17:27:19 GMT -5 Disp said:

The isles could flip him to detroit for a pick couldn't they? Would be a pretty shrewd move in my opinion.

According to the rules, he has to clear waivers before he can be sent to AHL or traded.

Also according to the rules, if he doesn't report to the Isles and they suspend him, then he would owe the Isles a whole year at the current contract price (which I believe is $570,000 or something like that) before he could play anywhere else.

[MC Habber]

The waiver rule seems pointless to me. The player wants to play for that team, and the team wants him, so why should he have to clear waivers first? The argument I've heard is that he shouldn't be able to sit out half the season to find out which team is good and then choose to join that team, but really, a player with a no-trade clause can demand a trade to a good team, which is pretty much the same thing. Why does it matter that he was in the KHL?

If the Isles are allowed to put him back on waivers, then it makes a mockery of the rule anyway - Nabokov can just refuse to report to any team except the Wings, who can claim him back, right?

[jkr]

Jan 22, 2011 16:20:04 GMT -5 blny said:

While perfectly within the rules, you have to wonder why in the Isles case. Is taking him off waivers really going to help?

That said, it's not classy on Nabby's part to decide not to report. He knew the 'risks'. He's going to make more than a quarter million, pre tax, wherever he goes. He could 'suffer' through 2.5 months of Isles hockey, play decent, and get himself a contract elsewhere in the Summer. Not reporting looks bad on him, and may mean he's on the outside looking in again come next Fall.

Don't agree.

He agreed to a deal with Detroit. Why would he want to play on the Island when he could suit up for one of the league's best team? I wouldn't play for NYI if I had a choice. He doesn't need the money, he wants to play on a competitive team.

[blny]

Jan 23, 2011 20:51:15 GMT -5 jkr said:

Jan 22, 2011 16:20:04 GMT -5 blny said:

While perfectly within the rules, you have to wonder why in the Isles case. Is taking him off waivers really going to help?

That said, it's not classy on Nabby's part to decide not to report. He knew the 'risks'. He's going to make more than a quarter million, pre tax, wherever he goes. He could 'suffer' through 2.5 months of Isles hockey, play decent, and get himself a contract elsewhere in the Summer. Not reporting looks bad on him, and may mean he's on the outside looking in again come next Fall.

Don't agree.

He agreed to a deal with Detroit. Why would he want to play on the Island when he could suit up for one of the league's best team? I wouldn't play for NYI if I had a choice. He doesn't need the money, he wants to play on a competitive team.

Then Meehan should have schooled him on the rules. You sign over seas and then decide mid season you want to come back, you have to clear waivers. That means any cellar dweller can snap you up. You don't want that scenario, rest up and sign somewhere in the Summer.

The Islanders have to put him on waivers to trade him. Or, they can suspend him and let him rot for the year.