Faced with uncertainty in goal, the New York Islanders went back to a familiar face.
The club has re-upped with Evgeni Nabokov on a one-year, $3.25 million deal, according to Newsday’s Arthur Staple.
The deal keeps Nabokov on Long Island for a third consecutive season and allows him to build on a successful 2013 campaign, in which he backstopped the Isles to their first postseason appearance in six years.
The 37-year-old Russian -- who turns 38 in late July -- played last year on a one-year, $2.75 million deal and performed admirably, appearing in 41 of New York’s 48 contests while posting a 23-11-7 record with a .910 save percentage and 2.50 GAA.
With the Isles buying out the contract of Rick DiPietro and not having much in the way of young goalie prospects in the system, signing Nabokov was important.
He was arguably the club’s second-most important player next year -- other than Hart Trophy candidate John Tavares -- but, oddly, seemed to reach a standstill in negotiations in May and June.