Updated:
Toronto Sun: Garth Snow had a few more words on Nabokov as of Saturday night. Blues President, John Davidson wants rules changed on fee for waivers because he lost two players to claims.
NYIFC Comments:
Snow did not go whining to the media a few years ago when Dubielewicz was claimed and the Islanders did all the groundwork plus had him at practice, so Davidson should mind his own business.
Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reported Mikko Koskinen dressed in Saturday's win against Worcester, but did not start because according to interim coach, Pat Bingham, something was nagging at him.
NYIFC Comments:
Bridgeport plays Sunday and Tuesday, so it's Joel Martin, Koskinen or someone has to be signed or reassigned.
Islanders website: Has general manager Garth Snow's comments on claiming, former Sharks goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov.
Detroit Free Press: Has gm Ken Holland's comments on the Islanders claiming Nabakov, who have recalled former Islander, Joey MacDonald.
NYIFC Comments:
Garth Snow has every right to make this move. I'm not a big fan of it, and was against it as of last night, but Nate Lawson injuring his knee in Buffalo, Rick DiPietro the last month between knee swelling/abductor muscle, and flu along with the fact he has not played longer than one week on a regular basis all season means you protect your depth/players/prospects.
That's the general managers job.
If Snow does not want to use up more of Kevin Poulin's eligibility, or rush him at this level, that makes sense. If he does not want to risk Mikko Koskinen having to come up that also makes sense. If DiPietro is out again or cannot play more than a week without a break in year one of his return from injury that also makes sense.
Nabakov made his bed last summer when he did not come to terms with an NHL team, and when he signed in Russia/walked away from a binding agreement. If he wants to report, the Islanders have depth, if not, he can sit out the season suspended from the team with another black mark on his resume as he re-enters free agency far worse than he did a year ago, unless the rules mean he must put in a full year with the Islanders before he can become an UFA.
The choice is completely his.
The same media that loves to takes their shots at New York, and remain muted when their favorite teams (newspapers that are glorified cheer-leaders of those clubs) take advantage of same rules, are not relevant with poor hockey knowledge on their own clubs much less others.
The Wings/corporate teams use the CBA to front-load deals to gain advantages, the Islanders have the right to claim a waiver per CBA.
Bottom line Garth Snow has every right to do whatever he feels improves his team and protects his players/prospects or he should not be in this job. DiPietro has not proven durable enough to play any games in a row since Roloson was traded, Lawson hurt his knee and Poulin is a very young prospect.
Snow for now has to keep Poulin here, hope for the best on Lawson, or that DiPietro became even more durable, and maybe even called up Koskinen and sign Anders Nilsson to finish up Bridgeport's season on an early AHL PTO, which is how Poulin played his first Sound Tiger games.
Instead he made an attempt to improve his depth, no one sang sad songs when he signed Dubielewicz and he was claimed by Columbus.
If the goaltending situation stabilizes, there is no rule Snow cannot make a secondary trade to be persuaded to place Nabakov back on waivers.
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