With the distinct lack of blockbuster trade action throughout the 2010 NHL Draft, it appears we’ll have a little something to celebrate as sources are indicating that the Philadelphia Flyers have come to a verbal agreement with the San Jose Sharks to send the rights to goaltender Evgeni Nabokov to the Flyers as Tim Panaccio at CSNPhilly tells us.
According to league sources, the Flyers have a verbal agreement in place with the San Jose Sharks to fork over a seventh-round pick next season if they can sign San Jose’s Evgeni Nabokov before July 1, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Don Meehan, the agent who represents Nabokov, told CSNPhilly.com earlier that his client’s no-trade clause is not an issue. San Jose obviously has given the Flyers permission to get a deal done and Meehan is willing to engage the Flyers ahead of July 1.
Late Saturday Meehan said it might not be “feasible” to get a deal done before July 1.
The Sharks, meanwhile, killed any potential leverage they had in making a deal for his rights by declaring they were parting ways with Nabokov come July 1st no matter what. Whether they deal his rights or not doesn’t matter to them since they’re already eyeballing what will be available on July 1 or even sniffing around at Boston’s Tim Thomas. The Sharks are in a good position, however, and unless they’re thoroughly displeased with the free agent pack of goaltenders going after Thomas should be an absolute last resort.