Yardbarker: Alexei Yashin

Russian Prospects Head Back To Russia

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:28:59 -0500

The NHL has been slowly losing talented players to the KHL. The top eight scorers in the KHL are all ex-NHL players. All of them (Maxim Sushinsky, Alexei Yashin, Alexander Radulov, Sergei Zinovjev, Marcel Hossa, Mattias Weindhandl, Patrick Thoresen and Aleksey Morozov) are players who easily hold down NHL jobs. For the KHL to experience future growth, they must be able to attract top prospects to play in their league (and not the NHL) and they are doing this. Russian p...

The Best (And Worst) Islanders Jerseys To Wear

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:09:00 -0500

As Zach explained on Sunday, there are certain jerseys you can wear to the game. At the same time, there are others you wouldn't be caught dead wearing at the Coliseum. Here's a (hopefully) comprehensive list of what's in and out when it comes to Islanders jerseys.
GoodDenis Potvin#5, Clark Gillies #9, Bryan Trottier #19, Mike Bossy #22, Bob Nystrom #23, Billy Smith #31 (if your number is retired, it can be worn by fans forever)Pat LaFontaine #16 (that this number is not hanging from the rafters is a travesty)Pierre Turgeon #77 (they really should retire this; it's not as though any future player will wear it anyway)Josh Bailey #12, Kyle Okposo #21, John Tavares #91 (nice future-proof jersey)Darius Kasparaitis #11, Ray Ferraro #20, David Volek #25, Glenn Healy #35 (for many of us, the '93 team is the only time we've seen the Islanders win)Gary Howatt #8, Rich Pilon #2/#47, Mick Vukota #12, Steve Webb #20, Eric Cairns #33 (nothing like wearing the jersey of a goon)Trent Hunter #7, Claude Lapointe #13, Dave Scatchard #38, Butch Goring #91 (wearing the jersey of a grinder shows you appreciate the nuances of hockey and accentuates your fandom)
IffyRick DiPietro #39 (not because he's hurt, but because everyone has one and it makes you look like you're not as big of a fan as you probably are)Derek King #27 (fine player, but most of us would prefer to forget the early 1990s)Michael Peca #27 (he had a great run, but he hasn't been an Islander in five years)Miroslav Satan #81 (he didn't leave the team all that long ago, but it's not as though he was a legendary Islander)Roberto Luongo #1, Zdeno Chara #3, Bryan McCabe #4, Zigmund Palffy #16/#68, Bryan Berard #34, Todd Bertuzzi #44 (it never hurts to remind people how good this team would have been if not for the Mike Milbury era)
BadAlexei Yashin #79 (Zach argues that this is okay, because Yashin left the NHL as an Islander, but it's probably time to buy a new jersey if you're still wearing Yashin)Eric Fichaud #1, Dean Chynoweth #3, Dave Chyzowski #9, Oleg Kvasha #12, Scott Scissions #14, Robert Nilsson #21, Brett Lindros #75 (busts of epic proportions)Garth Snow #30 (as a fan, you are required to hate your team's management)Kirk Muller #9, Trevor Linden #32, Ron Hextall #72 (these guys were great elsewhere, but didn't exactly work out well on the Island)Anything from the Gorton's Fisherman era (obviously)

The buyout effect

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:11:29 -0500

He hasn't played in the NHL since '07, but Alexei Yashin is still a drain on the Isles' payroll. The Hockey News looks at the buyout effect.

Save the Owners From Themselves. Again.

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:19:25 -0500

John Grigg has a great piece looking at how much teams are spending on buyouts. The most startling stat he reveals is that Alexei Yashin is the second-highest paid Islander, even though Yashin now plays in the KHL. It just serves as a reminder that the NHL, as well as other sports leagues, can either save [...] Related posts:Owners: ‘Save Us from Ourselves’NHL Owners: ‘We Complain About Contracts We Negotiate. Is That a Problem?’Owners: ‘24% Raises For Everyon...

Greatest hockey players in Ottawa history

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:32:12 -0500

Howdy from the nation's capital. Today I take a look at the 10 best players in Ottawa pro hockey history. This list includes both original and present-day players from Ottawa HC and the Senators. 10. - Jason Spezza - '02-'09 One of the most dynamic offensive players in Senators history, Spezza has earned a right to be considered one of the best ever. In six seasons with the Sens, Jason has amassed 418 points for 3rd all-time in club scoring. His 1.03-point per game averag...

KHL All-Star Game Goes Outdoors. NBC Universal to Broadcast

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:28:22 -0500

There is more hockey to be played on an outdoor rink from a historical site. Universal Sports presents live broadcast coverage of the first-ever Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) All-Star Game between Team Yashin and. Team Jagr, this Saturday at 8 a.m. ET from Red Square in Moscow. Team Yashin, featuring Russian-born players and led by former New York Islanders center Alexei Yashin, will take on Team Jagr, made up of players from the rest of the world and captained by former Pittsburgh Penguins...

Nashville's All-Star, sort of

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:12:05 -0500

Well, at least one Nashville Predator is leading the All-Star balloting; too bad it's for the KHL All-Star Gamea?? This from today's KHL press release: After one week of fan voting for the inaugural KHL All-Star Game to be held Saturday, January 10, 2009, outdoors in Red Square in Moscow, ...

WAG No. 236: Carol Alt

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:12:31 -0500

Eighties supermodel who refuses to hang up her skimpies

In the 1980s, Americans loved three things: big hair, Chevy Chase films and supermodel Carol Alt. The latter spent most of that decade married to New York Rangers star Ron Greschner, but has since shacked up with Alexei Yashin, a Russian ...

Wanna see some 47 year-old Carol Alt boobs?

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:20:41 -0500

Well step right the hell up then... because the one-time supermodel and serial hockey WAG (married and divorced former New York Rangers player Ron Greschner, currenly dating Russian hockey player Alexei Yashin) Carol Alt has taken it all off for that magazine run by that guy named Hugh something... While I know these have been airbrushed she still is a rather fetching lady for a 47 ...

The Islanders' Dilemma: The Bizarre Ownership History of Charles Wang

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:59:44 -0500

In the grand tradition of larger-than-life New York sports impresarios, Charles Wang is running his organization his way. He has never apologized for his approach to building a business. Whether in sports or in the computer world, Wang has gone about it in an unorthodox manner. Questionable decisions are nothing new for Wang's Islanders, as the New York press has deemed the team's front office as "The Long Island Lunacies." For years, Wang has employed Mike Milbury to run...

NY-area Teams Must Look Elsewhere w/ Souray Gone

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:00:28 -0500

The Rangers, who are near the salary cap, have been rumored to be attempting to free up space all week long in order to add Souray. As of this morning Carolina and New York newspapers have been reporting a move which would send Matt Cullen back to Carolina in order to free up space as a near done deal. It will be interesting to see if a move is made now that the Oilers have grabbed the point-man. In addition to rumors of the Rangers attempting to move Cullen there has been speculation they will try to dump either Marek Malik or Paul Mara as well. They are still looking for an impact blue-liner. The Islanders viewed Sheldon Souray as a missing piece to getting back to the playoffs. A task which could be out of reach since their retooling started with the buy-out of Alexei Yashin and since things have not exactly gone to plan. The Islanders lost offensive defenseman Tom Poti to Washington this summer and will need to replace his points. The Devils seemed to be the most obvious of the three as they need an impact blue-liner after unexpectedly losing Brian Rafalski to the Detroit Red Wings. Souray was drafted by the Devils in 1994 and played there for 3 years until he was traded for Vladimir Malakhov. The thought of bringing Souray back was attractive although he does not quite fit into their defensive system.

Are Isles Better or Worse?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:26:36 -0500

The Islanders had their team picked apart during free agency. Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Viktor Kozlov, and Richard Zednik all left shortly after the team parted ways with Alexei Yashin for salary cap reasons. Between those 5 players the team lost a total of 126 goals. Despite what seems like a significant hit GM Garth Snow seems optimistic. 'If you look at our team now compared to what we had, the potential to get goals from our forwards is far greater than what it was last September,' He told Newsday. 'Quite honestly I think we're better.' The new players scored a total of 41 fewer goals than the players they are replacing.

2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs Signal the End of Hockey...and We Give You the New 4th Sport

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:41:25 -0500

It's official. America is now a three sport nation. The NHL was taken off of life support, evident by its 0.6 Television Rating for game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (Led by Teemu Selanne and that Goldberg kid who farts a lot) and the Ottawa Senators (presumably still led by Alexei Yashin and Alexander Daigle...

Yashin's Exit Could Open Door for Smyth, Peca

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:28:50 -0500

According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, league sources have indicated that impending free agent Ryan Smyth had let it be known that he "would not consider re-signing with the Islanders if [Alexei] Yashin remained with the team for even a portion of the remaining four years of his contract." So much for the theory that the buy-out was engineered to appease the fans. Brooks also reports that former Islanders captain Michael Peca could look to return to the Island and reunite with head coach Ted Nolan, for whom he played in Buffalo. Peca played last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and like Smyth, is an impending free agent this offseason. Peca, too, could be swayed by the buy-out of Yashin. The pair did not mesh well during their tenure together.

Fans Get Their Wish: Isles Buy-Out Yashin

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:04:01 -0500

As recently as May 18th, GM Garth Snow backed Yashin, calling him "a vital part of the organization" despite the fact that Islanders fans had organized a petition and letter-writing campaign aimed at persuading owner Charles Wang to cut ties with the unpopular forward. Newsday columnist Mark Herrmann calls the move "the biggest victory in years" for Islanders fans, and praises Wang for listening to the pleas of his paying customers.