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.
Comments (65)
It might not be a bad move. I wouldn't mind seeing both Nabokov and Leighton as the two next season. Nabakov did win a lot of games with SJ, I don't know if you can put it on him they never got too deep in the playoffs.— BobbyD- nabakov under this defense would shine and we would not have to worry bout a goal tender and allow our younger goal tenders to learn and we cant wait for them to be nhl ready... must sign a good nhl d man and we should be good..— bigmookalookie
- 35 years old? 6 million? I don't care how the deal works, it doesn't sound too good to me. If we can't find a goalie with plenty of good years ahead, what's the point?— Slidewell
This would be a great move if it's for 2, 3 years. Nabokov still has game and gives you a legitimate No. 1 while the Pronger window is open for the next 2 years. Next up: lock in Leighton for a year and give Backlund another year of seasoning in the minors. Then trade Carter for a lockdown defenseman.— jpk- If he comes cheap and agrees to a short term deal, then yes, otherwise...no no no no no....if nabakov is anything special then anaheim would not let him go. they would find room under the cap for him. san jose is a stanley cup contender. why would they let nabakov go? overrated?, is 35 and plays like it? every year san jose chokes in the playoffs? if you watched him play, he is not that special. he was on good san jose teams which helped pad his stats....— bill on the hill
- simple fact whos gonna be better than nabakov when fa opens up july1 and nabako had always been a top tier goal tender and if we can get him for a few years it all works out. i have seen him play and we would def get the goal tender we need. this past year you put nabakov in the pipes instead of lieghton we win cup— bigmookalookie
- why would you trade Carter for a top notch D man? We have 4 good D Man and ONE 40 goal scorer. Carter— seaonasdad
- No— Joe Vegas
- Stop saying he "is eligible for a 35-and-over incentive-laden contract." He's not. Read the CBA and you'll see that it's based on the player's age as of June 30th. As of June 30, 2010, Nabokov will be 34. This was all gone over thoroughly last year with Pronger's deal.— gpicaro
- can't understand some of the convoluted logic round here:-...a top notch goalie goes for 6 - 6.5 mil a year,..Nabokov is one of thee best in the entire league, if he's 35 and still the best, it doesn't bother me any Doug Favell played till he was 40,...if Homer signs this guy for high 5 for 3 years its a no-brainer and we essentially traded Parent for the right of first refusal;...not bad after all now lets nail down Coburn shall we— SyddBarrett
- Flyers need to improve at goalie. Incentive laden deal makes sense. Get him. With Pronger and other D in front, they are better than the past year.— P Even
- don't be stupid you moron- the 35 and over special services contract obviously won't kick in till the second year which will in essence be a negotiated extension,..read all the language in it before sounding like a know it all— SyddBarrett
- noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo— lukebonbon
- This is GREAT NEWS...if we sign him. Nabakov is a 40 game winner for each of the last 3 seasons. And to those who criticize Nabakov's playoff performance consider this: It is true that San Jose was swept by Chicago in the Conference Finals....But the Sharks scored only seven goals in the entire series...Even Patrick Roy would have trouble winning a playoff series with only seven goals scored to support him.— Ken_Spencer
Nabokov isn't even a top 10 goalie, proved that last year— primo- i think its a great move, he is no doubt a upgrade over leighton. Leights is a career journeyman vs Nabokov a career NHL goalie and quite a good one. Sharks certainly did not have the caliber of D philly does. Im thinking if the flyers do sign him look for 3-4 mil a season.— shanehockey28
- So they trade Hamhuis's rights to arguably their #1 rival for a 3rd round pick. Are you kidding me Homer?— CTL
- Terrible move. Once again, the Flyers move for an aging goalie. And Nabokov is not a playoff performer. I don't understand why they won't move Carter to LA for Bernier et al. Carter is going to command HUGE dollars next year, and the Flyers simply cannot compromise cap space for a loafer that plays soft. Not to mention the negative ripple effect he has on the roster that causes Briere/Giroux to play wing and become less effective. It is the prudent move to deal him now and finally obtain a young goalie that can mature and grow into a stud goaltender for years to come. Not to mention the relatively-friendly cap hit such a young goalie would command. Sigh.— UncleEddie
- Maybe we could get Glenn Hall?— JimDunfee
- Nabakov was #2 in wins, #6 in save percentage, #2 in total saves, #10 in GAA and he's not a top 10 goalie? Want to reassess your statement primo? Flyers are high on their prospects, but are also a "win now" team. The deal is a no brainer if it's short term and homer can get it done.— thrilladelf
got rid of biron because of his $5 mil contract now going after this knucklehead
Comment removed.- can't we find a younger goalie...sounds like the Flyers issue from the 90's— phillyfan19335
let's get one of the young LA goalies. maybe they think one of our young guys will be ready in two years.- Everyone has to realize that whenever a team has a top-notch goalie, that team keeps him (re- Brodeur). Teams just don't trade away good goalies- it's not like there is a ton of them out there.— mrjarn
- This is a joke. We went from possibly improving our D with Hamhuis to possibly downgrading our goalies situation in just a few days. While SJ didn't score goals for Nabokov in the playoffs, he game up at least 3 goals a game against Chicago. Please say this isn't so...— autumnknows
- Assuming Nabakov is dumb enough to come here, then dump Leighton and keep Boucher. He is under contract anyway, and they have played together before.
If this was 1990, I'd say, great, let's sign this 35-year-old to sure up the position while we find our next long-term No. 1 goalie. But this thinking has been going on for 20 years now: aging veterans, retreads, backups, trade throw-ins. I don't know if the FO is unable or unwilling to really address the goalie position.- This would be a great move...get it done, Holmgren. Nabokov/Boucher would be an excellent tandem for next season while develop the prospects in the system.— eagle1971
- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz— Leron
- once again in our infinite wisdom we prepare to sign an old goalie for a lot of money who is unproven in the playoffs. if you're going to shell out a lot of $ for an unproven guy why not get a young guy to build around?— Stanley Cup
- NO NO NO NO NO— 88etrain
- UncleEddie, why would LA trade for a "loafer that plays soft?"— 88etrain
- What other options are there? The window of opportunity for this team is the next 2, or 3 years. By then Nabokov will be in his high 30's as well as Pronger. The team obviously wants to win NOW, therefore the only option is Nabokov. Let Nabokov start in goal for the next 2 or 3 years and within that time acquire a young goaltender to develop under him.— Bthuff80
- primo, show me ONE stat or situation where your statement proves true. Stop trolling and get a life— th
- SyddBarrett, you need to heed your own advice. Contracts don't work that way. You can't just make the over 35 rule kick in, in the 2nd year of the contract— gpicaro
- Last time I checked, Nabakov and the Sharks were swept by the Blackhawks in the playoffs. He didn't do anything for that team.— 26cheesesteaks
- Comment removed.
- Maybe this is the Flyers' way of answering the critics who say they hate Russian players. The problem with all this is that the Flyers are desperate for a goalie and there aren't many good options out there. Even if you get a stud goalie, there's no guarantee it'll work. Fans in Vancouver are hating Luongo for his me-first attitude, long-term contract, and growing record of playoff failures. Anyway, I suppose signing Nabakov for 2-3 years at a cap-friendly price ($3 mil a year) makes some sense. Then I'd trade Carter for a capable D-man and a Mike Knuble-type who can score a bit a create havoc in front of the net. I don't think it's worth it to re-sign Carter to a massive long-term deal, and it makes no sense to let him walk away for nothing next summer.— Snap Crackle Propp
Nabby would end up being less than Tim Thomas, because Tim Thomas is availible at 5 mil and the 3 teams who need goalies are Philly, Tampa, and San Jose where Nabby's leaving. Thomas is one of the best goalies availible so, the question is who wants to go to a contending team? Nabby should come in around 4-4.5 for 2-3 years. We don't want him forever just enough time to let our goalie prospects mature. Good move Homer, get her done.— flyler- Meh— blueye7
- won't spend the money— Howard32
- Please do not sign this guy. He is not a big game goaltender. Has he won anything? No. Just watch the Russia – Canada games from the Olympics. He is garbage.— Crazy_Canuck
- NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! He is a CHOKER! I don't want him! Leighton is even better. Nabokov has had great teams and NEVER once made it to the finals! Why would the Flyers want him? This is a BIG MISTAKE!— ChrisM
Get ready for an "we almost made it" season. They are clearly going after the wrong goalie, but than again, there is not to much out there.— pritter- 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
- at least he's a STARTING GOALIE. who else is there? my cool girlfriend could strap on some Mylec pads and hug the post and save more than Leighton.— kedziora
- there is no way we would get a young goal tender from la.. homer doest want to give carter up so whoever wants a young goal tender trade might as well let it die.. if we dont get nabby signed its gonna be a loooong year— bigmookalookie
- Nabakov and Leighton with Backlund shaping out....Wow that would be a nice set of goalies. I love Leighton as a back up. Nabakov is still a no.1 goalie who wins 40 plus games - granted SJS have a ton of talent around him. Big thing is that he is durable - something that we need in net. I worry about his playoff record, but maybe we can help him with that. I hope a decent deal gets done.— Phillyfan8181
- I see this going two ways. 1. Sign Nabokov to three years with an over 35 contract; make a run with him as the goalie. I am OK with that. 2. Sign a Tim Thomas or Dan Ellis on a one year deal, move Carter for a high draft pick, then sign Ilya Bryzgalov or Tomas Vokun AND Andrei Markov or...and I am salivating here...Zdeno Chara, all of whom are set to be UFAs in 2011. Imagine Pronger on one D pairing and Chara on the other?— NYFlyersFan
- As long as they leave enough room to sign for another lock down defender. I think it will be a good move.— Murrayag11
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Reach Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com.
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