Sharks cut ties with Nabokov

[Forkboy]

The San Jose Sharks will have another starting goaltender next season.

San Jose Executive VP and General Manager Doug Wilson met with longtime starter Evgeni Nabokov on Tuesday and told him the team will not offer a contract when the soon-to-be 35-year-old goaltender becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Nabokov has been the Sharks’ starter since 2000 and owns a 293-176-29-37 record in the NHL, all with the Sharks, including 131 victories in the last three seasons. His 50 shutouts are second to New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur among active goaltenders. Nabokov went 44-26 with a 2.43 goals against average this past season, helping the Sharks reach the Western Conference Finals -- where they were swept by Chicago.

Nabokov said at the end of the season – the last on a five-year contract -- that he would like to remain in San Jose.

Wilson said the decision to look elsewhere for goaltending was simply a matter of allocating money under the salary cap.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=532414

[joeybee12]

1. Bogus onion article...Vladimir Nabokov died several years ago...

...you're not fooling me!

[Upton]

2. This was expected..

Nabokov has been somewhat of a playoff underachiever, his best years are behind him, and the Sharks need to make room to possibly resign Marleau. Still I'm sorry to see him go...

Unfortunately, this is real bad news for my budgie "Nabby"..I mean, what if Nabokov signs with someone I hate like the Red Wings? I'll either have to change his name or feed him to the cats..