This week was lead by the many adventures of Evgeni Nabokov. After being let go by his KHL team earlier this season, the former San Jose Sharks All-Star goaltender tried to make a comeback into the NHL. On Thursday it was announced he had signed with the Detroit Red Wings, hoping to help them to a Stanly Cup Championship. However, due to league regulations involving players who have played in Europe, Nabokov was required to clear a 24 hour waiver period, resulting in the NY Islanders claiming him from Detroit. The Islanders are 18 points out of the playoffs and Nabokov is refusing to report to them. NY can choose to suspend him or put him back on waivers, but they are hopping that he will eventually play for them. I believe Nabokov owes it to the Islanders to play this season, especially if he hopes to play for years after. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in July and if he can steal some wins for the weak Islanders in order to raise his price value for other teams. Sure he wants to win, but most contending teams already have a young starting goalie and Nabokov would not get nearly as much ice time and not be a big factor on a playoff team. I don't believe Nabokov is a good enough goalie to lead a team to a championship but if he finishes the year strong on the island, I may change my mind.
Another big piece of news to come out of the NHL involves the All-Star game which is next weekend in Carolina. Jarome Iginla dropped out to be with his ailing grandmother and he was quickly replaced by Danny Briere of the Philadelphia Flyers. However some other important players in the All-Star game have becoming injured, including Sid Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Ales Hemsky. It is likely that these players will not participate but the question is, who will replace them? It could be Nik Backstrom of Washington, Joe Thornton of San Jose or Jeff Carter of Philadelphia, as well as many other players throughout the league. But some hockey writers are reporting that the 12 rookies who will be in the skills competition but not the game may have to compete for the 3 empty spots. That would certainly create excitement for the fans but I still don't understand why all the rookies are not playing. They already have shown the can compete in the NHL, so why can't they play in the All-Star game? Either way, I am sure Brendan Shanahan and the league will develop a strategy that entertains the entire hockey world no matter who is injured or not.
Nick Lidstrom and Eric Staal will be the 2 team captains responsible for drafting the 2 All-Star teams next weekend. Lidstrom will be assisted by Patrick Kane and Marty St. Louis while Staal will be assisted by Ryan Kessler and Mike Green. As can be expected both sides are being teased by other stars in order to make sure that they draft them, but none is more entertaining than that of the Staal brothers. Marc Staal will join his brother Eric at the game and he is hopping Eric will pick him as one of the first players to go in the draft, ahead of players like Ovechkin and Toews. Through the media the brothers have been sending friendly jabs back and forth to each other adding another level of entertainment to the All-Star game.
Coming next weekend I will have many stories from the All-Star game including analysis on the team drafts as well as the Skills competition and the actual game. I will also highlight the new Guardian project of team superheros to which I will provide my own comments and criticisms of this huge marketing ploy. I'm excited for the weekend and I can't wait to tell you all about it.
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