UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The drama between Evgeni Nabokov and the New York Islanders continued on Tuesday, as the team suspended the goaltender for not reporting.
Nabokov signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings last Friday, but the 35-year-old still needed to clear waivers before he could play for Detroit.
It took the Islanders just one day to claim the veteran goalie off waivers. Nabokov, though, made it clear he wanted to play for the Central Division-leading Red Wings by not reporting to the Islanders.
Meanwhile, New York sits near the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 15-25-7 record entering Tuesday's action.
Nabokov, who starred for the past 10 years with the San Jose Sharks, began this season in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League after he was not offered a contract by an NHL team last summer as a free agent. He was released from a reported four-year, $24 million deal in Russia last month, but his stint overseas necessitated his placing on waivers.
A native of Kazakhstan, Nabokov was considered one of the top goaltenders on the market after finishing the 2009-10 season with a 44-16-10 record, 2.43 goals-against average and three shutouts for San Jose.
