Nabokov's loss Stalock's gain?

During this spring’s run to the Stanley Cup playoffs it was pretty much proven that a team doesn’t need a top of the line, expensive and or over paid goaltender to advance to the Stanley Cup finals. Both goalies for the teams in the finals were relative unknowns and at times weren’t all that impressive.

Less than 24 hours after making his first trade of the offseason, Sharks General Manager and Executive Vice President Doug Wilson announced a major shakeup in the Sharks lineup: goalie Evgeni Nabokov will not be returning to the team after Wilson declined to offer him a UFA contract.

“We’ve made a decision to go a different direction on the goaltender,” explained Wilson in a meeting with Bay Area media on Tuesday at Sharks Ice. “I had a conversation with him this morning because he deserves that respect and he’ll get nothing but great reviews on what he’s meant to this organization."

According to Wilson, Nabokov’s reaction to the news was “professional” and “the type of emotion that would be expected.” The Sharks General Manager delivered the news at Sharks Ice in a face-to-face meeting prior to sitting down with the media.

“He’s been a big part of our successes and I have a great respect for him as a player, as a man, as a teammate and a guy who gets involved with his community. We’ve got some very good, young goaltenders that are trending up and Nabby certainly deserves credit for their growth.”

Wilson explained that after examining trends in the National Hockey League over the last three or four years --- in particular, the dollars that are spent on goalies --- the organization has decided to put their faith in 24-year-old Thomas Greiss, 22-year-old Alex Stalock and possibly a veteran goalie from the free agency market. [NHL.COM]

It would appear that the Sharks by not resigning the free agent goaltender Evgeni Nabokov; former Bulldog goalie Alex Stalock will be the one that benefits from this decision.

Sharks reap return from Badger connection

This is a link to a very nice story about former Badgers Joe Pavelski and Dany Heatly. I know they are not Fighting Sioux hockey players but the success that Joe Pavelski has had in the NHL playoffs this season makes for a nice feel good story for WCHA fans. Currently Pavelski is 1st in goals with 9, 1st in game-winning goals with 3 and finally 1st in power-play goals with 5.

Had a chance to chat with the San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski for a time this morning on his cell phone, just as they were about to leave for Detroit and Tuesday night’s third game of their playoff series with the Red Wings. A lot of us inquiring minds wanted to know what had possessed Pavelski to score nine goals already this spring, which leads the league. It’s my column for Tuesday’s paper and should be posted sometime tonight.

But I also had a personal question for him relating to Sharks teammate Dany Heatley, a fellow alumnus from the University of Wisconsin. When Heatley was originally traded to the Sharks from Ottawa last year, he mentioned that among the players that he knew on his new club were the ones that he’d crossed paths with internationally for Team Canada (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dan Boyle) - plus Pavelski. Except their times at the school didn’t overlap - Heatley was already in the NHL when Pavelski captained the Badgers to an NCAA championship.

Turns out, according to Pavelski, that he actually played one year of college with Heatley’s younger brother Mark, but he and Dany had a brief on-ice encounter earlier in their respective careers.

“Kinda funny story,” said Pavelski . “When I was in bantam or midget one year and getting ready for a national championship, one of the coach’s friends was one of the Badger players, so they came out and skated and scrimmaged with us. That was one of those things where you’re in bantams or whatever and you’ve got the college players out there and it’s a whole different level.

“That was my first experience with Dany. He didn’t even know who I was; and I don’t even know if he remembers that happened.” [Read the Whole Story]