Flyers not likely to sign Nabokov before July 1st

Well, that sure didn't last long. Just hours after completing an agreement where the Flyers got exclusive negotiating rights to Evgeni Nabokov, word has come out from a number of sources, including TSN's Bob McKenzie, that the free agent goalie plans to test the market and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. Apparently, Nabokov feels that he will have plenty of interest from teams around the NHL as well as from the KHL back in his home country of Russia.

With the Flyers also reportedly backing off after hearing how much money Nabokov wanted, this whole situation appears to be dead. Luckily, the Flyers didn't have to give up anything to negotiate with Nabokov, so really, no harm, no foul. Looks like the Flyers will have to go another route in their search for a new starting goaltender.

In a bit of good news, Bob McKenzie also reported on Twitter that Dan Hamhuis isn't likely to sign with the Penguins and will instead become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. While I'm still disappointed the Flyers couldn't sign him, if the Penguins can't get a deal with him either, Paul Holmgren deserves major credit for snagging a 3rd round pick from a division rival.

Flyers reportedly nab rights to Nabokov

The Flyers might have just acquired their new starting goaltender. According to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly, the Flyers have a verbal agreement in place to give the Sharks a 7th round pick in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights with free agent Evgeni Nabokov. If the Flyers can't sign Nabokov by July 1st, no draft pick is exchanged and he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Depending on how much Nabokov signs for, this could turn out to be quite a deal for the Flyers. As I said yesterday, Nabokov is 35 and hasn't won any big games in his career, but he's still an upgrade for the Flyers in net. If they can sign him to a reasonable contract that doesn't hinder the Flyers from getting a few other pieces this offseason, it's hard to complain too much about having a reliable, legitimate number one goaltender playing behind a solid Flyers defense.

Whether Nabokov actually wants to sign with the Flyers is another story. Having played his entire career on the West Coast and with no ties to the Flyers, why would a veteran goaltender like Nabokov not want to become a unrestricted free agent and listen to offers from every interested team? Fortunately for the Flyers, this is a no-risk move; should Nabokov not sign with the team they will lose nothing.

More judgement to come if/when Nabokov signs a contract.

Flyers pursuing goaltender Evgeni Nabokov

With Dan Hamhuis now out of the picture, it appears the Flyers are setting their sights on getting a new starting goaltender. According to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly, the Flyers are one of two teams that are going after former Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Just like Hamhuis, Nabokov is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, so the Flyers are once again looking to acquire the rights to negotiate a player before he is made available to every team.

While I will hold off on passing any judgment on this situation until the Flyers actually make a move, Nabokov wouldn't be one of my preferred choices at starting goaltender. Sure, Nabby is a good regular season goaltender, posting a 2.39 GAA and .912 save percentage in 10 years with the Sharks, but what big games has he won in his career? Also, Nabokov is almost 35 years old and made 6 million dollars last season; how much money and how many years will he demand? Plus, what exactly will the Flyers be giving up to get these negotiating rights? After the Hamhuis situation fell through, hopefully the Flyers are smart enough to not give up any major assets.

For the right price, Evgeni Nabokov could be a good Flyers goaltender. Even if this deal doesn't get done, it's nice to see the Flyers are aggressively trying to get better in net.