Sharks Name Evgeni Nabokov As Goaltending Development Coach And Special Assignment Scout
Sep 12, 2015SAN JOSE -- San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson and San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) General Manager Joe Will announced today that Evgeni Nabokov will serve as a goaltending development coach and special assignment scout.
In his new role with San Jose, Nabokov will work with all of the organization's goaltending prospects to assist in the further development of their skills and technique.
"'Nabby's career speaks for itself and he is one of the most beloved players to ever play for our franchise," said Wilson. He will be a tremendous asset to our young, developing goaltenders. I have great respect for him as a hockey person and as a man."
Nabokov, 40, holds nearly every major San Jose Sharks franchise goaltending record, including: games played (563), wins (293) and shutouts (50). He announced his retirement from the NHL on Feb. 11, 2015 as a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Nabokov finished his remarkable career ranked 18th on the NHL's all-time wins list (353), 17th in shutouts (59) and 25th in games played by a goaltender (697). He appeared in 86 career Stanley Cup Playoff games (22nd all-time), and ranks 23rd all-time in postseason wins (42) and T-20th in postseason shutouts (7). He helped lead the Sharks to two of their three franchise Western Conference Final appearances (2004, 2010). In 697 career NHL games with San Jose, the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning, Nabokov posted a 353-227-29-71 record, with a 2.44 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and 59 shutouts.
Originally drafted by San Jose in the ninth round (219th overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft -the 22nd goaltender taken that year -Nabokov leads all goalies selected in that draft in NHL career games played, wins and shutouts. He made his NHL debut on Jan. 1, 2000 at Nashville, and in his first NHL start on Jan. 19, 2000, he dueled future Hall-of-Famer Patrick Roy to a 0-0 tie in Colorado, making 39 saves.
In 2001, his first full NHL season, Nabokov was the recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League's Rookie of the Year, was named as the goaltender for the 2000-01 NHL All-Rookie Team and selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game.
"Nabby"was a three-time NHL Player of the Month, a three-time NHL Player of the Week and a two-time NHL Rookie of the Month. In addition, he was named the Sharks "Player of the Month"11 times and Sharks "Player of the Year"twice (2001, 2008).
Nabokov finished as the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender during the 2007-08 season, was named to the 2007-08 NHL First All-Star Team and was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game. He also finished seventh in voting for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player. His 46 wins that season were the fourth-most in a single-season in NHL history and his 77 appearances was the third-most in NHL history.
On March 10, 2002 in Vancouver, he became just the seventh goaltender (first of European descent) to score a goal. He was the first NHL goalie to score while his team was on a power play.
Internationally, the native of Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, represented Russia on the international stage several times in his career. He served as Russia's starting goaltender in the 2006 (1.34 goals-against average) and 2010 Winter Olympics and also played for Russia in two World Championships (2008, 2011). In the 2008 World Championships, he led Russia to a gold medal, posting a 1.78 goals-against average while being voted to the Media All-Star Team, named Russia's top player and voted "Best Goalkeeper"in the tournament. He also was named to Russia's roster for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Nabokov also played in his native Russia in 2004-05 with Metallurg and with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL in 2010-11.