ST PERTERSBURG, RUSSIA – Arguably, the most coveted free agent netminder in the NHL will be a KHL player from next season.
Evgeni Nabokov has signed a four year deal with SKA St. Petersburg worth around $24 million. Nabokov joins a number of other NHL alumni including Sergei Zubov, Darius Kasparaitis, Alexei Yashin and Sergei Brylin.
Nabokov, 34, spent his entire NHL career with San Jose, who drafted him in the 9th round in 1994. He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie in 2001 and has recorded 40 or more wins in three of the five seasons since the NHL lockout.
However, despite respectable numbers, many feel Nabokov and the Sharks have consistently failed to carry their regular season form into the play-offs and a Stanley Cup ring has eluded the Russian puck stopper.
Some feel that is due to the Sharks over-playing Nabokov, his move to St. Petersburg gives the KHL one of its biggest names to date whilst surely signalling the end of the Russian international’s NHL days.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
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