Evgeni Nabokov Returning to the San Jose Sharks
On Monday, the San Jose Sharks announced that they reached a deal to bring back the greatest goalkeeper in their franchise’s history, Evgeni Nabokov, in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations. Tampa Bay placed the 39-year-old Nabokov on waivers on February 1st, and eight days later, were willing to trade him back to his first NHL home.
San Jose drafted a fresh-faced, 19-year-old Nabokov in the ninth round, 219th overall, in the 1994 entry draft, and he would spend three seasons in the American Hockey League with the Kentucky Thoroughblades. He would make his NHL debut in 2000, on New Year’s Day, and play 15 minutes while stopping all four shots against him.
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His first career start came 18 days later, against the Colorado Avalanche and their legendary goaltender and future Hall of Famer, Patrick Roy. Nabokov matched Roy, one of the greatest netminders ever, shot-for-shot, as the rookie stopped 39 shots en route to a 0-0 tie. That would be the start of something very special for Nabokov.
Nabokov played 10 seasons with the Sharks, and during his peak years, he was considered an elite goalie, and one of the best in the game. He piled up the statistics and accolades, and played in the playoffs in nine of his 10 years with the club. He is the franchise’s leader in games as a goalie (563), wins (293), losses (178), and shutouts (50), just to name a few.
Among his accomplishments, Nabokov won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2001 as the NHL’s top rookie, he finished in the top-five for the Vezina Trophy, given to the best goaltender in the league, including a second-place finish in the 2007-2008 campaign.
That 2007-2008 season would prove to Nabokov’s best, as he set career highs in games played, with 77, and wins, with 46, both marks that paced the NHL. His 2.14 goals against average was also the lowest of his career. For his efforts, he was awarded his first, and only, first-team All-Star naming. He would also finish seventh in voting for the Hart Trophy, the NHL’s Most Valuable Player award.
Nabokov led his team into the playoffs that season, and the Sharks beat the Calgary Flames in seven games in the Conference Quarter-Finals. In the Conference Semis, San Jose faced the Dallas Stars. In game six, which would eventually be the deciding game, Nabokov made what, at the time, was considered one of the best glove-saves in decades, when he robbed Brad Richards of a goal by mere inches in front of the goal line.
The game ended regulation in a tie, and a winner was not decided until the fourth overtime, when the Stars’ Brended Morrow scored a power-play goal to end the game, and the series, in Dallas’ favor. Despite the defeat, Nabokov stopped 53 shots, a franchise playoff record.
In 2002, he also became the first goalie in NHL history to score a power play goal, putting the puck in an empty net against the Vancouver Canucks on March 10th.
Nabokov’s contract with San Jose expired after the 2010 season, his last with the team. In his 10 years and 563 games, he tallied a 293-178-66 record, with a 2.39 GAA and .912 save percentage.
He sat out the 2010-2011 season due to contract disputes with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. He returned to the NHL for the 2011-2012 season with the Islanders, where he would play three seasons. In 123 games, his record was 57-43-18, with a 2.59 GAA and .883 save percentage.
Nabokov signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay, and in about half a season, he played 11 games, finishing 3-6-2 with a 3.15 GAA and .882 save percentage, both the worst of his career.
Nabokov’s future in the NHL is hazy right now, and he is expected to make an announcement on Wednesday at the SAP Center as to what his plans are. The common expectation is for Nabokov to retire at the press conference. Even if he plans to finish out the season, he will retire with the team that brought him his most success at the end of the year. It only seems right for San Jose’s greatest goaltender to hang up his skates by the Bay.