Nabokov is as good as gone come July 1. He wanted no part of Long Island last spring and likely doesn't want any part of it now. He's been incredibly professional all year, saying all the right things and, more importantly, playing his a** off and apparently being a good influence in the locker room. I just don't see him wanting to stay on after this year. He's going to be 37 years old next season. He is going to get an opportunity to sign with a true contender next season. I wouldn't blame him one bit for jumping at that opportunity instead of re-upping with the Isles. Nobody could fault him for doing that.
- Jethro09

agreed, if people would see things from his perspective IE older, wanting to play for a contender, and (originally) not happy being on the island i cant imagine why anyone thinks he wont want out come trade deadline time.

Nabokov is as good as gone come July 1. He wanted no part of Long Island last spring and likely doesn't want any part of it now. He's been incredibly professional all year, saying all the right things and, more importantly, playing his a** off and apparently being a good influence in the locker room. I just don't see him wanting to stay on after this year. He's going to be 37 years old next season. He is going to get an opportunity to sign with a true contender next season. I wouldn't blame him one bit for jumping at that opportunity instead of re-upping with the Isles. Nobody could fault him for doing that.
- Jethro09

Well said. This is exactly the deal with Nabokov. I respect him because instead of pouting like a [female dog] this season, he went out, played his butt off, and is going to earn a deal for next season when he can pick where he wants to go. When he leaves, I'm thinking him for all he did this season and how professional he was.

agreed, if people would see things from his perspective IE older, wanting to play for a contender, and (originally) not happy being on the island i cant imagine why anyone thinks he wont want out come trade deadline time.
- LetsGoIsles

I don't think he wants out come trade deadline time. I think he'll want out on July 1.

Breathe. Take a few deep breaths. Alright. I'm nobody; go read any article about it and listen to it FROM FRANS'S MOUTH. Anytime he's been asked, he's said "I love Long Island and want to stay there." As for the term, I'm speculating. He could have gotten more than $3M per year on the open market, and gave the Islanders a hometown discount. Perhaps he took less money for more years. Take it easy, lunatic.
- isles10289

lets play devils advocate and assume he actually hates playing in long island but was asked if he likes living/playing in long island...what would his answer be assuming he HATES it here....

if you want everyone on this years team to be on next years team than where do you predict the team will finish next season?
- LetsGoIsles

Seems as if "LetsGoIsles" is the HockeyBuzz A-hole of the day woo!!!!

With kids, you can hopefully project improvement from year to year. He also said he wanted to add defensive help, if you want to go back and read his whole post. I don't really agree with that, but you can stop being a wiener considering we're all Islanders fans here.

lets play devils advocate and assume he actually hates playing in long island but was asked if he likes living/playing in long island...what would his answer be assuming he HATES it here....
- LetsGoIsles

It would be something way more neutral than I love it here and "think we're going to be good in the future" (which he said last night). It would be something like a million other athletes have said, such as "as great as my time has been, I'm looking forward to testing the market" or "I want to do what's best for my family," etc. He wouldn't come out and state unequivocally "I love Long Island and want to stay here."

Seems as if "LetsGoIsles" is the HockeyBuzz A-hole of the day woo!!!!

With kids, you can hopefully project improvement from year to year. He also said he wanted to add defensive help, if you want to go back and read his whole post. I don't really agree with that, but you can stop being a wiener considering we're all Islanders fans here.
- isles10289

LOVE whoever replaced what I really wrote with wiener. Awesome!!

Nabokov is as good as gone come July 1. He wanted no part of Long Island last spring and likely doesn't want any part of it now. He's been incredibly professional all year, saying all the right things and, more importantly, playing his a** off and apparently being a good influence in the locker room. I just don't see him wanting to stay on after this year. He's going to be 37 years old next season. He is going to get an opportunity to sign with a true contender next season. I wouldn't blame him one bit for jumping at that opportunity instead of re-upping with the Isles. Nobody could fault him for doing that.
- Jethro09

I don't disagree with that assessment but what contenders need a goale?

I don't think he wants out come trade deadline time. I think he'll want out on July 1.
- isles10289

why would he waste the 2nd half of the season then? he can have his cake and eat it too.....if he gets traded to a team contending than he can possibly win a cup (increase his value even more) and than test free agency....why wouldnt he do that?

cross 2 things off his bucket list:
1) play for a contender- win the SC?
2) become a free agent.

in your scenario, he just becomes a free agent...

I don't disagree with that assessment but what contenders need a goale?
- Isles316

That will likely be his problem. Looking at the standings, POSSIBLY:
- Washington (Vokoun out, maybe they want another one year stop gap for Neuvirth or Holtby?)
- New Jersey (if Marty retires?)
- Toronto?
- Chicago?
- Minnesota?

Slim pickings, clearly. He could take less money to go be a back up on a contender and go along for the ride for a ring, but as a starter, not sure that opportunity is there.

LOVE whoever replaced what I really wrote with wiener. Awesome!!
- isles10289

It's the sites filter, if you want to really say certain words you have to be cute...like the Rangers can't score for sh!t.

why would he waste the 2nd half of the season then? he can have his cake and eat it too.....if he gets traded to a team contending than he can possibly win a cup (increase his value even more) and than test free agency....why wouldnt he do that?

cross 2 things off his bucket list:
1) play for a contender- win the SC?
2) become a free agent.

in your scenario, he just becomes a free agent...
- LetsGoIsles

Where is he going now though? Chicago? Philly? Besides, the Islanders still have him, and in the last two weeks have gone from seller to bubble team. They won't trade him while they have a decent shot at making March interesting.

That will likely be his problem. Looking at the standings, POSSIBLY:
- Washington (Vokoun out, maybe they want another one year stop gap for Neuvirth or Holtby?)
- New Jersey (if Marty retires?)
- Toronto?
- Chicago?
- Minnesota?

Slim pickings, clearly. He could take less money to go be a back up on a contender and go along for the ride for a ring, but as a starter, not sure that opportunity is there.
- isles10289

Detroit
Ottawa

I don't disagree with that assessment but what contenders need a goale?
- Isles316

Right now, I'm sure Chicago would love Nabokov and despite their contractual obligations, Philly would love Nabokov. Detroit would also love Nabokov at least as a back-up. Besides, things change in the summer. A contender who appears set in goal now may not be come July 1. I honestly doubt that come July 1, Nabokov won't receive a contract offer from a true contender if he keeps playing the way he's been playing the rest of the year.

why would he waste the 2nd half of the season then? he can have his cake and eat it too.....if he gets traded to a team contending than he can possibly win a cup (increase his value even more) and than test free agency....why wouldnt he do that?

cross 2 things off his bucket list:
1) play for a contender- win the SC?
2) become a free agent.

in your scenario, he just becomes a free agent...
- LetsGoIsles

So I guess him wanting out is really irrelevant. Isles still have control over him. Besides, just speculating, he's getting every day playing time on a team bordering on contending. He's not going to do much better out there. He could go be insurance for Crawford or Emery in Chicago, or insurance in Philly. But at this point, if I were him, I'd rather be the starter on a team making a late charge, which could make myself look a lot better in FA. Imagine the Islanders miraculously make the playoffs with him in net? He looks much better in July.

I don't think he wants out come trade deadline time. I think he'll want out on July 1.
- isles10289

There is no shot the Isles keep Nabby if he doesn't sign an extension. He will be moved or signed in the next couple of weeks. While I agree he may not want to sign long term here... but at his age what other options will he have that he is the number one guy? Tampa maybe? I am asking not stating.

Detroit
Ottawa
- LetsGoIsles

Detroit's got Howard, so Nabokov would be a back up there, and Ottawa's got Anderson. So he wouldn't get starting time.

There is no shot the Isles keep Nabby if he doesn't sign an extension. He will be moved or signed in the next couple of weeks. While I agree he may not want to sign long term here... but at his age what other options will he have that he is the number one guy? Tampa maybe? I am asking not stating.
- niteislander

There is definitely a shot. Garth has been straight forward in that he's not dealing him (I know he'd lie, but this time there's reason not to). The Islanders would get nothing more than a draft pick for him right now, and it's honestly better for the future if they go for it. 9 points out with 4 games in hand and only a couple more teams to jump over. They aren't out of it. Islanders fans have waited a long time. If the Isles are still on the bubble in a few week, I bet Garth keeps him and goes for it rather than trade him for some 3rd rounder that will never make it to the show.

Seems as if "LetsGoIsles" is the HockeyBuzz A-hole of the day woo!!!!

With kids, you can hopefully project improvement from year to year. He also said he wanted to add defensive help, if you want to go back and read his whole post. I don't really agree with that, but you can stop being a wiener considering we're all Islanders fans here.
- isles10289

day??? you clearly havent been checking this blog that often.

i ask questions to peoples ridiculous assessments. sorry, i guess that makes me a bad guy. there are just WAY too many people that see things through rosy colored islander glasses.

if someone wants the top 6 forwards (+?) to stick around for next year than what exactly is going to be different??

lets also not forget that the islanders were 1 goal away from losing last nights game and being shutout and having everyone complain about no secondary scoring and how JT cant ALWAYS be the one to score....granted, they won but it wasnt exactly in dominating fashion....they squeaked by because of the goalie. period! (....*i wonder if the period after my sentence would have been sufficient*...)

day??? you clearly havent been checking this blog that often.

i ask questions to peoples ridiculous assessments. sorry, i guess that makes me a bad guy. there are just WAY too many people that see things through rosy colored islander glasses.

if someone wants the top 6 forwards (+?) to stick around for next year than what exactly is going to be different??

lets also not forget that the islanders were 1 goal away from losing last nights game and being shutout and having everyone complain about no secondary scoring and how JT cant ALWAYS be the one to score....granted, they won but it wasnt exactly in dominating fashion....they squeaked by because of the goalie. period! (....*i wonder if the period after my sentence would have been sufficient*...)
- LetsGoIsles

You're being an A-hole not because of what you're saying, but how you're saying it to people. Stop being a jerk. You asked me "who the F are you" when I QUOTED FRANS NIELSEN about him loving it here. In my book, that's a big A-hole. Yes, I want the top 6 to stay the same next year. Tavares-Moulson-Okposo has been one of the best lines in hockey (go look it up). Tavares and Okposo are only getting better, and Moulson is as consistent as they come, with three straight 30 goal seasons on the horizon. As for the second line, Nielsen is good but better suited on a third line, but Grabner and Parenteau are totally suitable second line wingers. Grabs has 34 goals last year and is on pace for a respectable 25 this year, while PA is 5th in the NHL in assists (playing a lot of the year not with JT). They could use a second line center in a perfect world, but there's no one out there in free agency I want, and Strome is going be 19 and not ready to be that type of center next year. And I don't want to trade Chara and Spezza for an overpaid underachiever again. I want to take this rebuild slow and do it right. Keep the kids. Pay for a defenseman like Suter. I'd go as far as offering him 7 years, $50M at midnight on July 1st.

I am glad that they resigned Nielsen to stay here. Wow! Tavares, Moulson, Nielsen and unfortunately Grabner are still here for couple of years. Things are looking up. I would love to keep Parentau here. Resign Nabby for two years. I like him. Get rid of Montoya and DP. Trade a first round pick for a defensive player!
- ISLES1119

You cut me up about my Nielsen comment... about being happy with him signing for 4 years, then you agree with me here...


Make up your mind!!!

You cut me up about my Nielsen comment... about being happy with him signing for 4 years, then you agree with me here...


Make up your mind!!!
- jimmc7722

Maybe you persuaded him!

nice signing, Frans is an underrated player
- houseofcards74

Every other teams fans see it... wish ours would


XxNYIxX

So I guess him wanting out is really irrelevant. Isles still have control over him. Besides, just speculating, he's getting every day playing time on a team bordering on contending. He's not going to do much better out there. He could go be insurance for Crawford or Emery in Chicago, or insurance in Philly. But at this point, if I were him, I'd rather be the starter on a team making a late charge, which could make myself look a lot better in FA. Imagine the Islanders miraculously make the playoffs with him in net? He looks much better in July.
- isles10289

very true!

if they make the playoffs then hell prob cash in the most that way....i just cant convince myself that there is a realistic chance itll happen, not with this defense, barring a major trade or 2.

(DONT READ INTO THAT, im not gonna stop rooting for them, i dont hate them, i WANT to be wrong)

Every other teams fans see it... wish ours would


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Haven't seen anyone here, and especially not me, say he's not a good player.