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File this one into your quiver as free agency looms a week away and the goalie market continues to shift:
Talks between the #Isles and Nabokov have come to a standstill. The soon-to-be 38yo goalie with test the free agency market come July 5
— Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) June 26, 2013
If you can't read that embedded tweet, that's Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post reporting that talks between the Islanders and their entertaining but not-always-game-saving goalie have reached a standstill.
Arthur Staple of Newsday reports something similar though not quite as conclusive, but with an extra dose of buyout talk sprinkled in:
#Isles have no decision on buyouts (i.e., DiPietro) as of now. As for Nabokov, source says he is "probably" headed to FA next week.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) June 26, 2013
[EDIT: Staple talked to Nabokov, who said they "couldn't find middle ground" but he has not closed the door.]
The 37-year-old (he'll be 38 in July) Nabokov and the Isles are now poised to part ways, or at least call each other's bluff, before free agency opens at noon on July 5. (Note: Teams can talk to other teams' free agents beginning on July 3.)
The first buyout period does not end until July 4, so there is plenty of time for teams to monkey around. (More on that in Friedman's 30 Thoughts link below.)
We discussed some of the goalie options earlier this week, with the short version being "Lots of options, many of great uncertainty, so do something but don't spend too much."
It's going to be very interesting to see what goes on here. In Nabokov's case, he is well liked but his skills are, well, not all there anymore. He's better cast as a backup. Is that something the Islanders made clear in negotiations, either by in words or in financial offer? Does he see himself as a starter somewhere else? (He made this mistake once before, and ended up in the KHL.) Or is it a matter of money more than role? And will another team bite?
Just because the season is finally over doesn't mean there won't be plenty of fun to come...
Other Links for Discussion
- Friedman's 30 Thoughts, on the buyout picture around the league
- Will Richards be bought out? Who knows.
- The full order of selection for the 2013 NHL Draft
- Humor: Down Goes Brown: Other hidden NHL injuries revealed
- Humor, unintentional: Torts (and the Canucks) try to rehab his image
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Torts (and the Canucks) try to rebuild his image