Nabokov traded back to San Jose

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

The San Jose Sharks acquired goaltender Evgeni Nabokov from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday for future considerations.

The Sharks announced Nabokov will make an announcement regarding the future of his hockey career Wednesday.

Nabokov, 39, was placed on waivers by the Lightning on Feb. 1 after going 3-6-2 with a 3.15 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in 11 games.

He was a ninth-round pick (No. 219) by San Jose in the 1994 NHL Draft and played his first 10 seasons with the Sharks. His franchise records include games played by a goalie (563), wins (293) and shutouts (50).

Nabokov spent one season playing in the Kontinental Hockey League after leaving the Sharks and three seasons with the New York Islanders. His career record is 353-227-71 with 29 ties, a 2.44 GAA, .911 save percentage and 59 shutouts.

Gotta be just for his swan song...I can't imagine him getting any playing time over Niemi and Stalock.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Hockeytown0001

[amato 3,210]

Yeah, heard he was acquired so he could retire as a shark. Classy move, I like it.

[WingsallTheway 383]

I still remember how pumped I was when Detroit signed him,

then how frustrated I was when NYI claimed him right after.

I wonder what would have changed. He was a good goalie at the time

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Classy move by Yzerman, happy retirement Nabakov

[evilmrt 636]

I still remember how pumped I was when Detroit signed him,

then how frustrated I was when NYI claimed him right after.

I wonder what would have changed. He was a good goalie at the time

I think that he would have been an upgrade over Monster, IMO. Probably even now, if he had been in the Wings system all this time.

[canadian wings fan 305]

Wow great career for Nabby. I had no idea he had over 350 wins

[WingsallTheway 383]

I think that he would have been an upgrade over Monster, IMO. Probably even now, if he had been in the Wings system all this time.

Its possible. He never really was the same after leaving SJ, and looked REAL bad in what I believe were the Olympics right after.

But yeah his potential was certainly there at the time he was going to come here. Im sure he would have stuck around for awhile and possibly had a better end to his career

[Rivalred 630]

Wish him the best

[number9 3,297]

I never understood why he left the Sharks. Was it just the whole go back home to Russia/get paid thing?

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

I never understood why he left the Sharks. Was it just the whole go back home to Russia/get paid thing?

I'm not sure but wasn't he benched and lost his job as a starter because Niemi played lights out in the playoffs ?

Whatever it was, classy move by the Sharks and Bolts. I always liked Nabby.

[number9 3,297]

I'm not sure but wasn't he benched and lost his job as a starter because Niemi played lights out in the playoffs ?

Whatever it was, classy move by the Sharks and Bolts. I always liked Nabby.

They were never on the same team together... well until today.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

I never understood why he left the Sharks. Was it just the whole go back home to Russia/get paid thing?

When his contract was up he asked for too much (somewhere near 6 mill, i think, but my memory could be off). Sharks were really close to the cap and wanted to use the money elsewhere or else they'd have the same team that hadn't gotten them very far.) Then in free agency, some weird situation happened where he waited for the sharks until all goaltending openings were gone or maybe no one wanted to pay him a big contract (kind of forget). I remember thinking it was a good cautionary tale about dealing with Free agency, though. He definitely should have been able to find a good spot, but it kind of messed up career when he was pretty much in his prime.

Edit: I also think Niemi was signed after he was gone, but I could be wrong

Edited February 9, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[Yzerfan87 146]

The Sharks said that they realized you could win a cup with a cheap goalie, by putting the money saved into forward and defense, and Chicago was their example. Never did work out for them.

http://m.espn.go.com/nhl/story?storyId=5316670&src=desktop

[Manny>Ozzie(by a long shot) 55]

Wow great career for Nabby. I had no idea he had over 350 wins

HALL OF FAME!!!!!1111 HALL OF FAME!!!!!

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I still remember how pumped I was when Detroit signed him,

then how frustrated I was when NYI claimed him right after.

I wonder what would have changed. He was a good goalie at the time

This. I still remember being angry at the Islanders and even more so at Garth Snow with his, "wait you mean someone doesn't want to play for the Islanders ? Why not????" attitude.

When his contract was up he asked for too much (somewhere near 6 mill, i think, but my memory could be off). Sharks were really close to the cap and wanted to use the money elsewhere or else they'd have the same team that hadn't gotten them very far.) Then in free agency, some weird situation happened where he waited for the sharks until all goaltending openings were gone or maybe no one wanted to pay him a big contract (kind of forget). I remember thinking it was a good cautionary tale about dealing with Free agency, though. He definitely should have been able to find a good spot, but it kind of messed up career when he was pretty much in his prime.

Edit: I also think Niemi was signed after he was gone, but I could be wrong

Right, Niemi was signed after the Blackhawks didn't pick up what the arbiter ruled in 2010.

[Learn2LuvIt 246]

Heard about this last night. Can someone please help me understand something; when it's stated that a player was acquired for "future considerations" as part of the acquisition, what does future considerations actually mean? Is this just a nice way of getting rid of a player and pretending that the trading team got something in return? Is there an official process or piece put in place, so down the road that team has to officially consider a trade offer? I am unclear to what this actually means?? Thanks in advance for any insight.

[amato 3,210]

Heard about this last night. Can someone please help me understand something; when it's stated that a player was acquired for "future considerations" as part of the acquisition, what does future considerations actually mean? Is this just a nice way of getting rid of a player and pretending that the trading team got something in return? Is there an official process or piece put in place, so down the road that team has to officially consider a trade offer? I am unclear to what this actually means?? Thanks in advance for any insight.

I think it basically means it's for nothing.. down the line say Tampa wants to acquire one of the sharks players; San Jose might be a little more lenient in negotiations than they would've been since the lightning let them acquire/retire one of their past good players for nothing.

[FifeHockeyNut 57]

Heard about this last night. Can someone please help me understand something; when it's stated that a player was acquired for "future considerations" as part of the acquisition, what does future considerations actually mean? Is this just a nice way of getting rid of a player and pretending that the trading team got something in return? Is there an official process or piece put in place, so down the road that team has to officially consider a trade offer? I am unclear to what this actually means?? Thanks in advance for any insight.

Future considerations is usually dependent on something happening beyond the deal. A player can't be given up for nothing so I would imagine the deal is something like if Nabakov signs a new deal then San Jose would need to give something. He's retiring so I would imagine there's nothing going to be exchanged. An example of this would be when we got Draper for $1

[P. Marlowe 748]

Does Nabokov's retiring mean that San Jose will need to keep his cap hit? If this is how it goes then it's actually classier from San Jose than from Tampa as Tampa now get's rid of his cap hit for free.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I've said this before, but this whole signing with a team just to retire thing is stupid.

If he retired with some other team, I would still associate him with the Sharks more than any other team when looking back at my memories of him.

[kipwinger 8,749]

I've said this before, but this whole signing with a team just to retire thing is stupid.

If he retired with some other team, I would still associate him with the Sharks more than any other team when looking back at my memories of him.

It's the sports equivalent of buying your gal flowers. It's a symbolic gesture. Not your thing? Understood. Not really mine either. But lots of people like symbolic gestures.

[amato 3,210]

I've said this before, but this whole signing with a team just to retire thing is stupid.

If he retired with some other team, I would still associate him with the Sharks more than any other team when looking back at my memories of him.

I agree with that part but I don't think its stupid. I can see him (or any other retiring player that left their most prominent team) wanting to be back in front of the crowd they called home for the majority of their carers one last time.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

I agree with that part but I don't think its stupid. I can see him (or any other retiring player that left their most prominent team) wanting to be back in front of the crowd they called home for the majority of their carers one last time.

You know now that you mention it, I kind of wish Mathieu Dandenault retired as a Wing. I guess Holland doesn't do sentimental stuff. He just signs guys to a NTC.

Edited February 10, 2015 by GMRwings1983

[kipwinger 8,749]

You know now that you mention it, I kind of wish Mathieu Dandenault retired as a Wing. I guess Holland doesn't do sentimental stuff. He just signs guys to a NTC.

If retiring with your team is the sports equivalent of getting flowers, then Dandenault retiring with the Wings would be like those corsage things that girls wear to their high school proms.

It's sorta nice...I guess.

[FireCaptain 563]

Nah, you need 401 wins for that.

HALL OF FAME!!!!!1111 HALL OF FAME!!!!!