The Islanders’ goalie carousel took a new turn yesterday when the team claimed Evgeni Nabokov off waivers.
But the situation took another turn — for the worse — when the Associated Press cited sources saying the 35-year-old veteran would exercise his right not to report to the team. ESPN.com reported Nabokov’s agent, Don Meehan, told Islanders general manager Garth Snow that Nabokov was not coming.
Earlier in the afternoon, Snow sounded confident that Nabokov was on his way.
“They are making his jersey as we speak,” Snow told the team’s website. “We have reserved a flight [today] for him to get to Long Island as soon as possible.”
Snow said he had not spoken directly to Nabokov as of yesterday afternoon, but expected him to be an Islander.
“Everything is on the up-and-up,” Snow said.
Nabokov started the season playing for St. Petersberg of the KHL in Russia, and he signed a one-year deal to return to the NHL with the Red Wings on Thursday night. But according to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, a player who begins the season in another professional league must clear NHL waivers.
If Nabokov does not report, he will have to sit out the rest of the NHL season.
The Isles’ goaltending situation has been in flux this season mostly because of franchise netminder Rick DiPietro’s never-ending string of ailments, the most recent being flu-like symptoms that kept him from traveling with the team for Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Sabres.
The Isles also have given starts in nets this season to veteran Dwayne Roloson, 27-year-old rookie Nathan Lawson and 20-year-old prospect Kevin Poulin.