Your New York Sports Blog: Isles to Bring Back Yashin???

Monday, June 16, 2008

One year ago at this time, the Islanders made the stunning announcement of their decision to buy out the final four years of controversial captain Alexei Yashin's 10-year contract. Now, Yashin's return on a one-year contract next season is under discussion, but general manager Garth Snow and owner Charles Wang so far have balked at their former star's asking price.

Agent Marc Gandler, who represents Yashin, said he last spoke with Snow on Thursday when there was no progress toward an agreement. Snow previously indicated plans to move forward with a youth movement next season, but the Islanders ranked 29th in scoring in the 30-team NHL last season and lack depth at center, leading him to at least consider the possibility of re-signing the 35-year-old Yashin, who spent last season with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the Russian Superliga.

...I did not ever think I would be typing this, but for some reason the New York Islander's are considering bringing back 'Pretty Boy' Yashin. Not only is he washed up and done, but he set this organization back many years my acquiring him. In the trade for Yashin the Islanders had to give up Zdeno Chara and the 2nd overall pick which wound up being Jason Spezza (and Bill Mucklat) For all you Met fans this is equivalent of trading Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano and on some levels you can even say it was worse. He then signed one of the most ridiculous contracts ever a 10 year $87.5 million dollar contract. Of course he did not live up to hit and was even bought out of his contract by the Islanders.

They Islanders should just draft Nikita Filatov and go forward with him and Kyle Okposo as the centerpieces. They do not need any washed up players who want to much money.

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