The New York Islanders last season saw Evgeni Nabokov provide stability to a position that saw endless questions surrounding it last season. After years of watching Rick DiPietro try to lock things down in goal only to see injury throw a wrench into the plans, Nabokov’s steady play led the Islanders back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.
This offseason saw GM Garth Snow opt to bring back Nabokov rather than sniff around at other available netminders because “the team wanted him back.” At 38 years old, his best years are likely behind him. With the Islanders on the rise, is it possible the guy who kept them steady last season will be the one holding them back now? Perhaps.
Nabokov’s two seasons with the Isles have seen him be an average to slightly below-average goalie. Check the numbers:
2011-12: 19-18-3 .914 SV% 2.55 GAA
2012-13: 23-11-7 .910 SV% 2.50 GAA
The goals-against average is OK and while the save percentage might look scary, some of his winningest seasons with the Sharks saw him put up the exact same numbers.
Of course, the Sharks also had issues flaming out in the playoffs earlier than they should have so maybe that’s not the greatest thing to bring up.
As he showed against the Penguins in the playoffs, Nabokov had problems keeping up after the regular season. He stopped shots at a .842 rate (a career postseason low) and if it weren’t for Marc-Andre Fleury’s struggles, Nabokov’s play would’ve come under more fire.
With performances like this, you have to wonder if a team like the Islanders, who have a superstar in John Tavares, a great goal-scorer in Matt Moulson, budding defensive talent in Travis Hamonic and other great youth either already on the scene or on the way, will see their seasons put in peril by Nabokov’s play.
The team seems to support him and pick him up when he struggles, but at some point that kind of magic goes away. At age 38 and after such disappointing play in the postseason, Garth Snow and gang have to be prepared in case he hit the wall already.