Anyone Blame Him? Evgeni Nabokov Will Not Report to Islanders
Last week the Detroit Red Wings made some headlines for trying to pick up veteran goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who had to clear waivers before being allowed to report to the Red Wings. Many thought that a rival team would grab Nabokov off of waivers in an attempt to either grab a good goalie at a cheap price or just to spite the Red Wings.
The goalie played for San Jose last year but was cut due to salary cap issues with the team. So Evgeni headed to the KHL. Nabokov spent the first half of the NHL season playing in the KHL in Russia and he was released back in December. He then signed a contract with the Red Wings but the League rules state that any player that plays overseas during the season will have to make it through waivers first.
Turns out that the New York Islanders were the spoilers of the bunch. The Isles claimed Nabokov despite being one of the worst teams in the NHL. As expected, Nabokov has refused to report to the Islanders which creates a bit more drama in the story.
The Islanders must suspend him or trade him which puts him back on the waiver wire. Why the Islanders would waste his time is odd and I wish there were a different rule that allows a free agent player to actually play with the team he signs with but the rules are there to keep players from jumping overseas for a few months and then all signing with the teams of their choice when they want.
The rules are in place and Nabokov might have to suck it up if he wants back in the NHL again, even if it’s with the Islanders.
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“The Islanders must suspend him or trade him which puts him back on the waiver wire.”
Maybe you should read up and understand the situation before flapping your mouth. Nabokov can’t be traded even if he decided to report to the isles.
He’s not a playoff proven goalie, his stats in the KHL were atrocious. He should be happy that any team wants him.
What team with an ailing goalie situation wouldn’t try to claim him? How you can post this biased garbage with 0 knowledge is quite humorous.
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I agree with you, Dr. Rush.I think that the waivers rule needs to be modified.
When I first heard of Nabokov going to the Islanders, I thought, “Oh my gosh, why would anyone go to that team? He will never see another playoff game again.” I personally do not blame him for refusing to play. I think the issue is not, “WAH! I don’t get to play for the Red Wings!” I believe that he would have happily played for a team that had a snowball’s chance in hell of making the playoffs. Seeing that the Islanders fall well below that criteria, I would hang up on the Islanders’ GM too. He is not putting together a team that makes the playoffs, he is merely putting in a recognizable hockey name to add to attendance. Suspend him til July 1st and then let him be an unrestricted free agent, please.
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[...] fractures.Estimated return time? 4-6 weeks.That would all be fine and dandy if only that Russian guy named Nabokov would report.The Isles grabbed Evgeni Nabokov off waivers in a questionable move earlier from [...]
[...] as stating that “he’d rather play in the KHL next season.”Maybe he can join his buddy Evgeni Nabokov over there. Unless either of them would like to play for the Islanders? Yeah, maybe not.Now the [...]