Veteran goalie Evgeni Nabokov anticipates comeback through New York Islanders training camp
Drafted by San Jose Sharks as the 219th overall pick during round-nine of the 1994 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft, Evgeni Nabokov hopes to make a comeback in the North American major league by fighting for a spot on the New York Islanders
roster during their training camp.
Nabokov, now 36-years-old, left after completing his 10th straight season with San Jose after 2009-2010, playing 71 games and managing 44 wins (second highest in the league), along with a saves percentage of .922 and 2.43 goals against average.
"What I want is to get back to the NHL, whether that's with the Islanders or another team", Nabokov said about making a comeback. "If the Islanders think I can help them, that's fine with me".
The Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan native, was brought to the Detroit club by Red Wings management after his multi-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) was terminated in December.
He was signed to a one-year contract worth $570,000, but according to a previous agreement, he would have to be placed on waivers before he could join Detroit.
New York Islanders claimed him and snatched him from Detroit, which resulted in Nabokov not attending the club practise camp, along with the entire regular season. Now he is back to make a fresh start with them.
"A lot of people speculated that I didn't want to go to the organization but that's totally not true", Nabokov told a local newspaper about what had happened the last time around.
Now according to Nabokov, he has his eyes set on attending and impressing the management.
"Yes I do plan on attending", Nabokov added. "Now I will have full preparation for the season".
New York Islanders have the chance of giving him the same treatment that he gave them last time, as he decided just to ignore and displease the clubs desires and rights.
It is certainly their right to do so, and being a player of his age, Nabokov might find it very difficult in finding a team that would like him as a starter rather than a first or even second backup.
Tags: