Islanders Suspend Evgeni Nabokov For Failing To Report After Waiver Claim

Evgeni Nabokov Suspended By New York Islanders For Failing To Report

After claiming goaltender Evgeni Nabokov off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Islanders essentially played dumb when asked about reports that Nabokov wouldn't report to the club. Owner Charles Wang and general manager Garth Snow toe'd the company line, saying that Nabokov was an Islander and that they expected him to report.

Well, he's not reporting. He doesn't want to be an Islander. So instead of waiving him again, which Nabokov certainly wanted so he'd have the chance to play for another team, the team has suspended him. Via the team:

The New York Islanders have suspended Evgeni Nabokov for not reporting after being claimed off of waivers on Jan. 22. The 35-year-old goaltender signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Jan 20.

It's understandable why Nabokov would be irritated here. He left Russia and waited around for an NHL opportunity, ultimately getting one with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings signed him to a contract. The Islanders, as the team with the worst record among those that entered a claim, won his rights via waivers, since the rules say that any player coming from Europe must clear waivers before playing for the team that signs them.

That rule is in place to keep teams from stowing players in the European leagues during the long NHL regular season grind, only to bring them back in time for the playoffs at a minimal salary cap hit. It makes sense.

Still, that doesn't bode well for Nabokov. As a result of the suspension, he won't be playing for the Islanders, he won't get paid and he won't have the opportunity to play for another team. He's basically back where he was last week -- a prisoner on his own couch without an NHL gig. 

For more, check in with Lighthouse Hockey.

Evgeni Nabokov Won't Report To New York Islanders After Waiver Claim

In a pretty shocking development this afternoon, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov won't report to the New York Islanders after the team claimed him off waivers Saturday from the Detroit Red Wings. Most seemed to believe that the 35-year-old veteran would report as a way to get playing time in an audition for an NHL job next season.

In fact, as pointed out by Chris Botta at Islanders Point Blank...

His agent, Don Meehan, went on record to Bob McKenzie declaring that Nabokov would report to the team that acquired him on waivers. His audition for a contract for next season will be with the Islanders.

A change of heart, it seems. Granted, the fall from Detroit to the Island is a brutally heartbreaking one, and there's not even a guarantee that Nabokov would have received ample playing time in New York. Goaltender Rick DiPierto, if healthy, will get most starts the rest of the way.

Two things can happen now. The Islanders may suspend Nabokov for not reporting, or they may simply waive him again. If they choose the latter, the other teams that put a claim in for the goaltender on Saturday will have first crack at him, starting with the team lowest in the standings. Those teams aren't publicly known, however. 

For more, stick with our Isles blog, Lighthouse Hockey. 

Evgeni Nabokov Claimed By New York Islanders

The New York Islanders goaltender carousel keeps on spinning, and after trading Dwayne Roloson and waiting through more injury woes with long-time starter/injured reserve mainstay Rick DiPietro, they're looking to take a chance on veteran Evgeni Nabokov.

Just after the 12 p.m. deadline for teams to put in claims, we learned that the Islanders had claimed Nabokov off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings. Other teams may have put in a claim as well, but the Islanders had priority over every NHL team other than New Jersey and Edmonton due to their rank in the NHL's standings. 

His one-year prorated contract with the Wings now transfers to New York, but Nabokov has a choice whether or not he reports to the Islanders. That will depend on how badly he wants to play in the NHL again, it would seem. Still, falling from Detroit to the Island is an unforgiving drop that could have a nasty ending. 

The Islanders cannot trade Nabokov for the rest of the season as a result of a claim. 

For more on the news, check in with Lighthouse Hockey.

New Jersey Devils Won't Put In Claim On Evgeni Nabokov

There was a report out of New Jersey this morning that the Devils would place a claim on Evgeni Nabokov in an attempt to help the Detroit Red Wings get their man, but according to general manager Lou Lamoriello, that won't happen.

Lamoriello said that the Devils won't put in a claim for goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who was signed by Detroit and placed on waivers today. The Devils would have first shot at him because they are last overall in the NHL.  

The original reports said that the Devils could claim Nabokov and then place him on waivers again, so that the Red Wings would have the opportunity to claim him. Teams still have until 12 p.m. Eastern on Saturday to claim the veteran netminder. 

Evgeni Nabokov On Waivers; New Jersey Devils May Reportedly Put In Claim

After signing a one-year, $570,000 deal late last night with the Detroit Red Wings, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is on waivers as of 12 p.m. Eastern. Now the waiting game begins for the Wings, who hope he clears the 24-hour waiver period unclaimed.

As we've already discussed, it's likely that Nabokov gets claimed by somebody. Which team will be the one, though? It's not a first-come, first-serve type thing. The New Jersey Devils, as the worst team in the league, have first priority to make a claim, and according to the Newark Star-Ledger, the Devils may put in a claim to help out the Wings.

The Devils may claim goaltender Evgeni Nabokov on waivers and then put him back on waivers Friday so that he can sign with the Detroit Red Wings.

Wouldn't it seem easier for the Devils to simply trade him to the Wings after making their claim? Yes, probably, but that's against the rules. According to Section 13.20 (b) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a player cannot be traded for the remainder of the season once he's been claimed off waivers by a club. 

If the Devils claim Nabokov and then waive him, though, other teams will hold priority over the Wings, so it doesn't seem so simple that the Wings will get him at all. 

Could The San Jose Sharks Claim Evgeni Nabokov Off Waivers?

The San Jose Sharks opted not to re-sign Evgeni Nabokov, the goalie who put in 10 years of service for the organization, last summer. As a result, Nabokov went to Russia, but after just 22 games of bad hockey, he left his Russian club and began searching for a new NHL home.

The Detroit Red Wings are attempting to become that club, and it looks as though they'll sign him to a cheap, almost league minimum deal. The chances of Nabokov clearing waivers are essentially slim-to-none, though, as it's assumed that a team will certainly claim him.

Could that team be the Sharks? That'd be pretty damn ironic, wouldn't it?

Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki went down with a lower-body injury during the morning skate on Thursday in Vancouver, and as a result, an emergency call up from the University of British Columbia will backup Antti Niemi tonight. Niittymaki's injury leaves the Sharks with only one inconsistent NHL goaltender, and he's been placed on injured reserve, so he could be out for some time.

It might be worth it to the Sharks to make a claim on their old friend. 

Evgeni Nabokov Set To Sign With Red Wings; Will He Clear Waivers?

The Detroit Red Wings are reportedly very close to a deal with veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov but it doesn't look like he'll clear waivers, meaning he'll likely never play a game for the Wings. 

Ansar Khan of mlive.com reports that Nabokov will sign a $570,000 deal, just $45,000 above the league minimum, and that at a rate that low, the chances of a team claiming the veteran goaltender are very high.

A source close to the situation said the Red Wings will sign Nabokov for $570,000, which is only about $250,000 prorated for the rest of the season. He would go on waivers Friday at noon and would need to clear before joining the Red Wings.

So, basically, any team with a goaltending question or any team that wants a boost in that department would have a veteran guy there to fill the void, and they'd only have to shell out $250,000 for him to join up. It'sk ind of a slam dunk for any team that needs goaltending, and even better, it keeps Nabokov off of the Red Wings. 

Red Wings Reportedly Talking With Evgeni Nabokov, Could Sign Him

Evgeni Nabokov's journey to the KHL this season hasn't quite worked out according to plan, and as a result, he's been searching for a way to get back into the NHL. His break may have come, and man, it really is a hell of a break.

The Central Division-leading, Stanley Cup-contending Detroit Red Wings are reportedly requesting the services of the 35-year-old goaltender. The news has led to speculation that Chris Osgood's groin injury is more serious than initially thought, especially since starter Jimmy Howard is back to health.

Why would the Wings go after a goaltender like Nabokov if they have Howard and Osgood will be back in time for the playoffs, as originally prescribed? That's just speculation, but it does make a lot of sense. 

Nabokov, if signed, would have to clear waivers before joining the Red Wings. The St. Louis Blues have lost out in this same way twice already this season after signing Kyle Wellwood and Marek Svatos from Europe. Those players were claimed on waivers by San Jose and Nashville, so it's not a lock that Detroit gets their man here. 

The long-time member of the San Jose Sharks played 22 games with St. Petersburg of the KHL this season, and you can probably assume that his numbers weren't all that great there, considering he's no longer on the team. He went 8-8-2 with a 3.02 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage. 

For more, check in with Winging It In Motown.