Sharks give Flyers permission to negotiate with Nabokov
Daily News Flyers blog
Sharks give Flyers permission to negotiate with Nabokov
LOS ANGELES -- After the names of all 210 prospects were called at the Staples Center in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Flyers still had one move left to make.
According to a source, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren was given permission to negotiate a deal with San Jose's soon-to-be free agent goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.
Holmgren had an initial discussion with Nabokov's agent, Don Meehan, of Newport Sports Group, on Friday evening during the first round of the draft.
San Jose general manager Doug Wilson told the Daily News on Friday that the Sharks already informed Nabokov, who posted 40 wins in each of the last four seasons, that they would be heading in a different direction come July 1.
When contacted late Saturday, Wilson would not confirm or deny any such deal was in place.
"My policy has always been consistent in that any conversation I have with another GM is kept in confidence," Wilson told the Daily News.
Nabokov earned $6 million last season but turns 35 next month and is eligible for a 35-and-over incentive-laden contract that could have a low cap number. Meehan and Holmgren negotiated a similar deal for Chris Pronger last summer, which will take effect for this upcoming season.
If the Flyers and Nabokov do reach a deal before July 1, when he would be free game for all 28 other teams, the Flyers would be required to send a compensatory draft pick to the Sharks in exchange.
If the Flyers and Nabokov do not strike a deal, no pick or money would exchange hands. The Flyers essentially have a little risk, high reward early crack at a goaltender who would demand a lot of attention come July 1.
The Flyers were in a similar situation with soon-to-be-unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis last week but were unable to reach a deal and Holmgren traded his rights to Pittsburgh for a 2011 third round pick.
Keep it locked on Frequent Flyers as this story develops.
Not a fan at all of this. Flyers need to sign a 2-3.5M range goalie, not a has-been Olympic quitter who's in the twilight of his career, and blowing 5-6M a season on a starting goalie is just bad business and would force Holmgren's hand in shedding the wonderful group of players already assembled here.— Pixote Andolini- As a Flyers fan I have sat back and watched our management and a lot of fans fall in love with NAMES. I remember how much a lot of us liked the idea of going after an average and over the hill Cujo. Nabokov WAS a pretty good goaltender. We don't need a 35 year old goalie, we need consistent scoring and better defense. Pronger and Kimo are only getting older and don't tell me I'm wrong. Go Flyers!
- It's a shame that Luukko's kid wasn't a Goalie, we'd be saved for next year!— younged
- Hey, here's a novel idea. Why not actually sign a YOUNG goalie and build around him? I wonder if anyone ever thought of that before? Gee, d'you think a team like Vancouver, Los Angeles or Nashville might have a young promising prospect in their system? They probably wouldn't want to give one of them up even if they had one since those teams have won sooooo many Stanley Cups over the years and have no need for any of our glut of forwards.— schnitzelboy
- If we get Nabo, we win it all next year.— LuckyDog
- if you see the hawks and sharks playoffs nabakov was hung out to dry... the sharks had a aging d and just let that big oaf bufflin sit in front of net. before the hawks noone was talkin ill of nabakov. if we sign him youll see what he can do and that will be a cup— bigmookalookie
Does he let in less soft goals than Leighton? Those are morale killers.- no, bad move, got to watch him in the Olympics and against chicago, he looked old!— Fabulous
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- if we don't sign him shame on us....40 plus wins 4 seasons in a row. This is not a coincidence regardless of what we have to give up without dismantling the franchise. There will never be another Bernie Parent!!— hrlevine
- There's some flawed logic here on goaltending. The trendy line is you don't need an expensive, top notch goalie to win the Stanley Cup performances by Niemi, Leighton, Halak and Rask prove that. I would argue that you'd want an expensive, top notch goalie TO GET YOU TO THE PLAYOFFS. You need a goalie who can steal you five to 10 games during the season when your offense might not be clicking. I would argue that Niemi and Leighton are one-hit wonders. Halak proved during the regular season, the playoffs, and the Olympics that he's the real deal. And we'll see what Rask does with a full season under his belt. Nabakov would be a definite upgrade for the Flyers. And if hs salary doesn't go against the cap, what's the downside? I like Nashville's Ellis and even Mason in St. Louis, but they aren't really playoff tested. Nabakov is. Plus, think how much fresher Nabakov would be moving to the East, taking those train rides to play the Rangers, Islanders, and Devils instead of those long plane rides Western conference teams endure to play each other.— phillyfandc
Here's Newton's Law of Hockey Sportswriting: "For every opinion of the Hockey Media, there is an equal and opposite truth". Example: Hockey Media Opinion - relentless coverage (e.g., Mike Emrick's near ecstacy at just saying the name) of the immense value of "Big Dustin Byfuglien" to the success of the Blackhawks. Newton's Law Truth - "Big Dustin Byfuglien" traded for prospects with lightspeed less than a month after the Cup victory before vulnerable GM's figure out he isn't anywhere near as good as the hype. To wit, if the Hockey Media thinks Nabokov is the goalie of choice for the Flyers, then Newton's Law of Truth means the Sharks (who have goalie-draft genius) are dumping a spent netminder. And I have personal knowledge of how good SJ's goalie drafting is - I know one of their prospects personally. The kid is spectacular, finishing among the top five last season in the AHL. WINNING GOALIES ARE FOUND, NOT BOUGHT.— icarus- Oh yeah he stinks ... 40 wins and a low GAA ... some people are morons— kdubs215
- We have a young swed G who they love but isnt ready yet this is a great addition well it will be— kdubs215
