UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The Islanders suspended goalie Evgeni Nabokov for not reporting to the team after being claimed off waivers from the Red Wings last week.
The 35-year-old goaltender signed a one-year contract with Detroit on Thursday.
Nabokov, who played with the Sharks for parts of 10 seasons, had spent this season with SKA St. Petersburg of the Russian KHL and hadn’t played for Detroit.
The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement states anyone who plays in a professional league before signing an NHL contract must clear waivers.
Once he signed his one- year deal with the Red Wings, he became available to the Islanders.
New York owns Nabokov’s rights and could keep him out of the NHL for all of next season should he not report.
Enstrom out
ATLANTA — Thrashers defenseman Tobias Enstrom will be sidelined two to four weeks because of a broken finger and will miss the All-Star Game.
Meanwhile, Thrashers forward Andrew Ladd missed practice because of a lower body injury. He is questionable for tonight’s home game against the Capitals.
All-star ins and outs.
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will miss the All-Star Game this weekend because of a sinus infection, while forward Martin Havlat of the Wild and defenseman Keith Yandle, who leads the Coyotes with 40 points, are heading to the game in Raleigh, N.C., as injury replacements.
Havlat is taking the place of Oilers forward Ales Hemsky (concussion). Yandle is filling in for Enstrom.
The Associated Press
