Oct 2, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Evgeni Nabokov (20) makes a save in the second period of a game against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Update (9/2, 7:26 p.m.):
The Lightning traded Nabokov to the San Jose Sharks Monday in exchange for future considerations. It’s widely expected that Nabokov will then retire as a Shark where he won 293 games over 10 seasons.
Original:
The Tampa Bay Lightning placed veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov on waivers Sunday ending his short stint with the team.
To take his place on the roster, the Lightning recalled Andrei Vasilevskiy from Syracuse.
Nabokov, who was signed on the first day of free agency last summer, went 3-6-2 in 11 games with a .882 save percentage and 3.15 GAA. The veteran netminder is three games short of 700 in his career and holds 353 career wins.
Yzerman: "We didn’t feel it was right for Evgeni or the team to kind of keep him here if he’s not going to play."
— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) February 1, 2015
The 39-year-old Russian struggled to adapt to being a backup for the first time in his career, with some of his performances erratic. In his last start on Jan.12, Nabokov allowed four goals on 13 shots against the Flyers and was pulled 2:36 into the second period. Nabokov has played just twice since Christmas.
Vasilevskiy, on the other hand, made quite an impression earlier in the year when he was recalled by the Lightning as cover for an injured Ben Bishop.
Vasilevskiy went 3-1 in four starts with a 1.76 GAA and .937 save percentage. In 24 games with the Crunch this year, the Russian goalie is 14-5-5 with a 2.38 GAA and .919 save percentage.