Islanders Suspend Evgeni Nabokov For Failing To Report After Waiver Claim

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:

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...

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.

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 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.

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.