zombi 43 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 My guess is that he's coming back to the NHL. My money is on the Capitals seriously taking a look at'em. Evgeni Nabokov, who left the NHL for a four-year contract with Russian club SKA St. Petersburg during the summer, has left that team and his contract has been terminated, SKA announced Monday."The contract between the club and the goaltender (Evgeni) Nabokov was rescinded because of the family circumstances of the hockey player," was the explanation on the team's website. In 22 games, Nabokov is just 8-8-5 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .888 save percentage. That's far below the career numbers the 35-year-old put up during his 10 seasons with the San Jose Sharks. In what became his final game, against Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday, Nabokov was pulled after allowing three goals in the first nine minutes of the game. Nabokov went 293-178-37 with 29 ties in 563 NHL games, all with the Sharks. He won at least 40 games the three previous season, including 44 in 2009-10 as the Sharks finished with the most points in the Western Conference. A ninth-round pick in the 1994 Entry Draft, Nabokov is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, wins and shutouts (50), and has a 2.39 GAA and .912 save percentage. He was 40-38 with a 2.29 GAA and .913 save percentage in 90 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including 8-7 last season when he guided the Sharks to the Western Conference Finals. If Nabokov, 35, decides to return to the NHL, he will be free to sign with any team. His contract with the Sharks had expired, and the team chose not to offer him a new deal after July 1, instead signing Antero Niittymaki and Antti Niemi. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Ouch those stats in that league are not going to do him any favors when it comes to getting a contract in the NHL! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Has a player returning from European leagues to the NHL succeeded in their second stint here? It seems like they all come back lazier and terrible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Is he gonna have Hudler syndrome? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original-Six 254 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Has a player returning from European leagues to the NHL succeeded in their second stint here? It seems like they all come back lazier and terrible. 3 Xitium, ChelisChick and evilzyme reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted December 13, 2010 can't possibly hurt tampa to give it a shot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 can't possibly hurt tampa to give it a shot Their tandem of Ellis/Smith is doing fine and both of them have improved their game as of late, they'll both get their GAA down and SV% up... Ouch those stats in that league are not going to do him any favors when it comes to getting a contract in the NHL! Didn't his family stay back in the states? I gotta imagine that has some impact... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soultrain 43 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) nabby left $24 million tax free (almost) out there...highly doubt it was because of "family circumstances"...it must ******* suck to play over there. Edited December 13, 2010 by soultrain Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 nabby left $24 million tax free (almost) out there...highly doubt it was because of "family circumstances"...it must ******* suck to play over there. money can only buy so much... leaving behind ones family isn't easy and at some point in most players careers, doesn't become worth it anymore and that doesn't even compare to leaving them for the entire season, not just a 2 week road trip Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
achildr1 255 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 LouLam signs Nabokov to a 11-year, 1.2 billion dollar deal. The first two years he makes 500 mill a year. The remainder is spread over the following 9 years at completely sporadic amounts. First two years are paid in scratch off tickets and monopoly money...coming from the KHL, Nabby never knew the difference. If he plays 63 games in year three, the Devils will give him the Islanders. He will then have exclusive rights to move them to Quebec. He can take over as GM of the Nordiques as soon as he loses his starting position... The Devils will glory in thier triumph over the leagues cap rules when Nabby's cap hit is only 17 pence a year. That is until Bettman takes Nabby's car, cell phone, and jock strap as well as NJ's next five 3rd round picks and Martin Brodeur's shutout record as punishment for circumventing anything Gary Bettman says is truth. 2 Din758 and F2B&G reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soultrain 43 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 money can only buy so much... leaving behind ones family isn't easy and at some point in most players careers, doesn't become worth it anymore and that doesn't even compare to leaving them for the entire season, not just a 2 week road trip Don't forget that he had contract offers in the states last off-season...there must have been an escape clause in the contract revolving around family (agents are smart). Im sure the real reason is because the KHL sucks giant assholes ... if it is a family matter ... i hope it gets resolved and Stevie Y throws him a contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadaBoy 151 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Holland will sign him for Osgood cap. You heard it here first folks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Ouch those stats in that league are not going to do him any favors when it comes to getting a contract in the NHL! Hudler showed you could have great stats over there and still suck. I don't think stats count in that league, kind of like your local beer league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 What will be interesting is that upon signing with a team, Nabokov would have to clear waivers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
achildr1 255 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 What will be interesting is that upon signing with a team, Nabokov would have to clear waivers. That is interesting. Islanders could pick him up. DiPietro has been terrible. Roloson is 41, I believe. Can't see why they wouldn't take a flier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Stolberg Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Their tandem of Ellis/Smith is doing fine and both of them have improved their game as of late, they'll both get their GAA down and SV% up... smith's last two starts were blowouts. he has sucked since last season ellis has had a sub-.900 sv% the past 9 or 10 games neither are consistent enough to be a #1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 smith's last two starts were blowouts. he has sucked since last season ellis has had a sub-.900 sv% the past 9 or 10 games neither are consistent enough to be a #1 hmm... I guess I didn't look at the stats closely enough, I just remember seeing them both looking decent on NHL network and in highlights and coupled with the fact that they are above .500, made me think it wasn't that bad, but those are pretty bad numbers for both of them who knows, maybe he'd be a decent fit there... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Just a side note, but I love how old and frail looking Hasek looks off the ice. Surprise! Actually he just so happens to be one of the best goalies in hockey history. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lord Stanely 39 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 money can only buy so much... leaving behind ones family isn't easy and at some point in most players careers, doesn't become worth it anymore and that doesn't even compare to leaving them for the entire season, not just a 2 week road trip I grew up in Michigan (Adrian) left to go to college near Chicago and stayedd there for 16 years. A little over a year ago I moved to God Forsaken Central Iowa for work. This past summer I went home to visit my family and have to tell you I ABSOLUTELY wish I still lived near my family. A week after visiting my family my Dad died. Now I am absolutely looking to either move back to Michigan near my family or to where my wife is from. So from a very personal perspective I can say that family does matter and his 24 million might not be all that important to him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hey man nice shot! 144 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Holland will sign him for Osgood cap. You heard it here first folks! >.> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted December 14, 2010 Waive Hudler and pick Nabakov up, roll with three goalies! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
