Islanders GM Mike Milbury can only hope new callup Dmitri Nabokov gets along better with Bill Stewart than he did with coach Frank Anzalone in Lowell.
Nabokov, whom the Isles obtained for their third overall pick in the ’96 draft, J.P. Dumont, last summer, languished in Lowell under Anzalone. He was called up yesterday as Joe Sacco underwent arthroscopic shoulder injury. Last night, Nabokov blamed the coach for much of his troubles.
“It was a very tough season,” said Nabokov, who played left wing with Trevor Linden and Claude Lapointe last night against the Devils. “I didn’t play a lot and never picked up my game because I didn’t have many chances.”
Asked if he and Anzalone got along, the 22-year-old Russian said, “I don’t think anybody does. I wanted to play more and more and pick up my game and I played 10, 11 minutes a game the last 50 games.”
Anzalone, who believes Nabokov is immature, dispelled a rumor the player fell asleep during a team meeting.
“He didn’t fall asleep, he was looking down at press notes,” Anzalone said. “He’s the one who should be listening more than anybody. I dressed him down after [that] and he didn’t play that night. The soft-shoe approach is not going to do it with him. I’ve been in his face.”
The Isles are still hoping Nabokov will turn the corner next season.
“We want to see him be an offensive force we think he is,” Stewart said. “Hopefully, he can start the year with us. It’s a three-game look.” G Felix Potvin made his first start since Feb. 12 and unless he gets injured, will play in Toronto. “We’re all waiting for this,” Stewart said. “We’re all anticipating he’ll play very well. But we want to keep it in perspective. He has sat out eight weeks.”
Starting Potvin behind this Lowell Lock Monster defense is a risk. Last night, the Isles’ blue-line corps consisted of Kenny Jonsson, three players who spent most of last season in the AHL – David Harlock, Barry Richter, Zdeno Chara – and two who played all of this season in Lowell – Ray Schultz and Vladimir Chebaturkin.
“There’s going to be breakdowns, for sure,” Potvin said. “I have to make sure I’m there to back them up.”
