Islanders beat Red Wings to Nabokov

DETROIT, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The New York Islanders claimed veteran goalie Evgeni Nabokov off waivers Saturday, ending the Detroit Red Wings' attempt to sign him.

Nabokov and the Wings had agreed on a one-year, $570,000 deal to add him to Detroit's roster, provided he cleared waivers due to the fact he began the season playing in Russia.

The Wings' plans were upset, however, when the Islanders grabbed the 35-year-old former San Jose netminder for themselves.

"We tried something, and he's been claimed by another team," Wings General Manager Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press. "We move on. It's the nature of the rules and the league."

The Red Wings were looking for a backup for starting netminder Jimmy Howard after Chris Osgood was lost after groin surgery and veteran Joey MacDonald was sent down to the minors.