Yevgeny Nabokov is the Russian goalkeeper who played most of his career in the NHL. This goalkeeper, of course, had a bright career. He won many victories both in the club championship and in the international arena.
The beginning of the sports path
Evgeny Nabokov was born on July 25, 1975 in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk. This illustrious goalkeeper began to study hockey at a local hockey school. Already in childhood, coaches saw the great talent of Eugene. He began to be connected early to the main Torpedo team. His debut for the local team took place in 1992. There he played two seasons, and then went to conquer the Russian Super League. Eugene Nabokov became a player in the Moscow “Dynamo”. The reason for leaving was that the level of play in Russia is much higher than in his homeland.
Departure overseas
In a draft that took place in 1994, Eugene in the ninth round chose the San Jose Sharks club. It is unlikely that this NHL club would have guessed how successful their choice would be. Nevertheless, after leaving the ocean in 1997, Eugene Nabokov did not join the Sharks from the strongest league on the planet. He began the first two seasons in a new country in the AHL league for the Kentucky Torobids club. With his performances, this Russian goalkeeper proved that he is capable of playing for the San Jose Sharks club.
NHL debut
He first entered the field in a T-shirt of the eminent club on January 1, 2000. Nabokov during the game was replaced by goalkeeper Stephen Shields. Sixteen days after the debut, Evgeni Nabokov spent his full match. The rival of “San Jose Sharks” was a team from Colorado, whose gates were defended at that time by star goalkeeper Patrick Roy. Goalkeepers in this game showed a reliable game. Nabokov did not back down to his illustrious opponent. The game ended with a score of 0: 0. Nabokov repelled 39 shots. In his first season, he played 15 matches. In the next season, Eugene also only occasionally appeared on the field.
Career continuation
Nabokov’s chance to gain a foothold in the San Jose Sharks club appeared in the 2000-2001 season. The main goalkeeper of “Sharks” was injured and dropped out of the team for a long time. The coach entrusted Nabokov with a place in the goal. This season, this goalkeeper was recognized as the best NHL rookie, and he was recognized as the best player of the week. During the season, Nabokov proved that he should be the main goalkeeper of the “Sharks." This Russian goalkeeper played for “Sharks” ten seasons. During this time, his team only once did not get into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Despite the excellent play of the team and the goalkeeper, for 10 seasons the club from San Jose has never managed to win the Stanley Cup. At the end of the 2009–2010 season, the contract with Nabokov expired. The team could not agree with the goalkeeper on the terms of the new contract, and he decided to return to Russia.
Return to Russia
Nabokov moved to Russia and became a player in St. Petersburg SKA. Russian fans were very happy to see Nabokov in Russia again. Eugene signed a contract, after the signing of which he became the highest paid goalkeeper of the KHL. But in Russia, Eugene did not succeed because of the difficulties that his family experienced. Fans were happy to see such a goalkeeper as Eugene. Nabokov always takes photos with his wife and children with him on trips. He really loves his wife Tabitha, daughter Emma and son Andrei. Until that moment, they had never been to Russia. His family could not get settled in St. Petersburg, and Nabokov had to leave again to play in the NHL. Upon his return to the NHL, he played for the Detroid Red Wings, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Evgeny Nabokov, whose photo can often be seen in sports magazines, achieved fame with his work. He went down in the history of world hockey. In 2015, this legendary goalkeeper announced the completion of his successful career at the San Jose Sharks club, where he spent most of his games.