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No. Freaking. Way. Video of Alexei Yashin getting into it with Anton Belov in the Russian league. Our favorite turtleneck wearing Russian ends up on the bottom and the refs move in to quickly break it up. Thanks to FauxRumors for the pointer.
[Update] Something is up with either the blog or YouTube. None of the YouTube embeds are working anymore. I’ll have to look into this tonight. Here is the link to the Yashin clip.
Boot camp is back in session here at IslandersArmy and we’re here to give you some 2008 Season Predictions. Murph will probably bounce back with his own take later on. For the time being, you’re stuck with me and my busted up, broken crystal ball.
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh Penguins - Sid the Kid leads a potent offensive attack on a team that should only improve with another season’s experience under their belts. While the scoring should come fast and furious, the big key is likely to be netminder Marc-Andre Fluery. Fleury surprised a lot of people by going an awesome 40-16 with a 2.83 GAA last year. Can he do it again? Another big question is how will the young Pens handle the expectations?
2. New York Rangers - As usual, these guys are loaded. The arrival of Chris Drury and Scott Gomez will bring more energy and skill to an offense that should have tallied more goals than it did last year. Henrik Lundqvist should turn in another good year. Two questions that need answering - can Lundqvist play big for a full season and how long will it take Drury and Gomez to gel with new teamates and a new system? Also, why do the Rangers Suck so bad?
3. New Jersey Devils, aka the Brent Sutter All-Stars - I’m going to have a soft spot for these guys all season. Sutter was a very good Islander and by all indications is a great guy. I don’t plan on rooting against him much. The Devs lost a couple of big names, Gomez and Brian Rafalski, but will still win their share of games thanks to future Hall of Fame keeper Martin Brodeur. I actually predicted the Devils would go to the Finals last year on Brodeur’s back. Big surprise - I was wrong. That said, Brodeur is still one of the best and Jersey has a track record for changing its parts without derailing the team’s effectiveness. They’ll be around all year and by the time the postseason rolls out, a dangerous team if Brodeur is on one of his streaks.
4. New York Islanders - RIP Jason Blake, Ryan Smyth, Aaron Asham, Viktor Kozlov, Sean Hill, and Tom Poti. Thanks for playing. Oh, Alexei Yashin is also gone but damn if that ain’t a big, fat positive. Alexei, if you are reading this, it ain’t personal but you had to go. Actually, I know it is personal for a lot of Islander fans. A lot of money and expectations came with your signing a few years back, followed by a host of first-round exits. The divorce should have actually happened a couple of years ago. Better late then never. The Isles turn to Bill Guerin to be their new leader on offense. Bill plays hard, plays the game right, but is kind of old and has never really carried a big team on his own. He’s just not one of those guys. This season is really going to rest on the play of the $67-Million-Dollar-Man, my goalie and yours, Rick DiPietro. A big season and the Isles can grab that eighth spot and maybe make some noise. Fingers crossed.
5. Philadelphia Flyers - They shouldn’t be as awful as last season but they are still bad. Philly brought in a crop of new players and will hand the keys to the net to Martin Biron for a full season. They should be more competitive but don’t confuse them with the big Flyer teams from earlier this decade. Them, these guys ain’t.
No we have not forsaken you, fellow Islanders fans. We are still here, alive and well. Here’s the latest news:
With the Islanders’ updates out of the way, let’s update you on the site. While the Islanders head to training camp this weekend to sweat, practice, work hard, and live in dorms again…the Islanders Army staff is headed to Vega$ to gamble, drink, and generally live it up for 4 days. Other than some Vega$ odds, I wouldn’t expect any posts from us from Friday until Tuesday. When we return, we will get the site back in gear for the regular season.
The updates around here have been few and far between, that is due to a combination of lack of Islanders news and a lot of personal issues. I took advantage of the lack of news to put Islanders Army on the back-burner and take care of other stuff. I apologize to our readers and promise that we will be bringing you as much, if not more coverage of the Islanders this season as we did last year (500+ posts).
I’ll see you all in the NVMC Parking Lot on 10/6/07!
-murph
It’s official. Alexei Yashin is outta here like Vladimir.
The Russian centre agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Locomotiv (Yaroslavl) of the Russian League on Friday, bolting the NHL after 12 seasons. Russian teams do not disclose financial terms but The Canadian Press can confirm the deal does not include an out clause to return to the NHL next season.
He’s not even officially on an NHL team anymore, but LCS Hockey can’t stop picking on Yashin just yet. Give a click for a funny read.
LCS Hockey was lucky enough to get our hands on one of the prototypes. Unlike the previous “Operation” games, in which obstructions were surgically removed to heal the patient, contestants will attempt to add missing pieces to Yashin in hopes of curing such ailments as “No Heart,” “No Guts,” “Limp Wrist,” and “Lack of Hunger.”
Alexei Yashin wants more money than he’s being offered or he’s taking his puck (and Carol Alt) and going back home to Russia according to TSN.ca.
Alexei Yashin, according to his agent Mark Gandler, is not happy with the contract offers he has received from NHL teams.
”We are still talking to some teams. So far the offers we have received we are not happy with,” Gandler said in an interview with CKNW Radio in Vancouver. ”If we are not going to get what we are looking for, then he (Yashin) will definitely go to Russia.”
Gandler went on to say that he was looking to get near market value for Yashin and wouldn’t take a fraction of market value just because Yashin got a buyout from the New York Islanders.
We at Islanders Army have just one thing to say, “poka comrade“.
LCS Hockey takes their parting shots at Alexei Yashin as an Islander. May he go on to torment someone else’s fans.
So, basically, the Isles are giving Yashin $17 million to go away. Usually my ex-girlfriends just slap my face, knee me in the groin, and tell me to stay away from their sisters. All in all, it’s a sweet deal for Alexei, who plans to spend the money on turtlenecks and visors.
This makes Yashin a free agent. I can’t imagine a serious playoff contender signing him, even at what will surely be a cheap price, but you know somebody will be dumb enough to give it a whirl. I could see Columbus making a pitch. They need somebody to play with Rick Nash, and Yashin can still pass the puck. Plus, what better role model for young Nikolai Zherdev than… never mind.
Don’t believe the Ottawa hype. That’s not gonna happen. Other possible destinations could be Chicago, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Toronto, simply because it takes a special brand of suck to make Yashin feel at home. Listen, if your team signs Alexei Yashin this summer, they’re telling you they have no intention of trying to win a championship.
The Yash back to Ottawa rumors amaze me. Never going to happen. Toronto would be FANTASTIC in my books. Misery loves company. Too bad Carol Alt would veto that, count on someplace warm.
Oh. My. Goodness. Is it true? It’s on NewYorkIslanders.com so it’s either true, or a really bad joke by the Isles webmaster.
The Yashin-era is OVER. Is this the beginning of the Smyth-era?
More on this later, I literally just got to the office and started drinking the morning coffee when I read this.
The New York Islanders will buyout the remaining four seasons of Alexei Yashin’s contract. This ends the Islanders six year relationship with Yashin, who in 346 games with the Islanders scored 119 goals and recorded 171 assists for 290 points.
“This decision was one of the hardest I have ever had to make” said Islanders owner Charles Wang. “The organization holds Alexei in the highest regard – as a player, as a teammate and as a person. He was part of the revival of the franchise at a time when we had not qualified for the playoffs for eight seasons. All of us at the Islanders wish Alexei nothing but the best as he continues his career.”
Added Alexei Yashin: “The Islanders have treated me with the utmost respect. I’ve always believed in the vision Charles Wang has for the organization and although I won’t be a part of it, I believe that the team is headed in the right direction. I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my life.”
His best season with the team came in 2001-02 when he scored 32 goals and 43 assists for 75 points in 78 games. Last season, Yashin missed 24 games with a knee injury. He recorded 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points in 58 games.
“From my time knowing Alexei as a teammate and as a general manager, I have learned that Alexei is nothing but a first-class individual,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “With him on the team, the Islanders made the playoffs four out of last five seasons and I believe that we would not have been able to do that without him. And we thank him for his contributions.”
Added Islanders Head Coach Ted Nolan: “Alexei has always been a professional on and off the ice and this was not something that was easily decided. I believe this is in the best interests of the team and player in mind. Alexei will have an opportunity to pursue a fresh start and we’ll look at options to fill his position.”
[Update] It appears Newsday.com broke this story late last night and in this morning’s paper.
Facing a potential mutiny from Islanders fans, owner Charles Wang bit the bullet and made the decision yesterday to buy out the remaining four years of captain Alexei Yashin’s 10-year contract, Newsday has learned exclusively. Some might view it as the owner admitting a costly mistake, but second-year coach Ted Nolan described it as a chance for a “new beginning” that might restore the fans’ faith in the franchise.
The last four seasons of the $87.5-million contract Yashin signed after the Islanders traded for him in 2001 were valued at $26.45 million. Under the NHL collective-bargaining agreement, Wang is permitted to pay two-thirds of that amount ($17.63 million) over the next eight years to buy it out. The salary-cap hit will be approximately $2.2 million per season over that time.
Screw the NHL. Who needs their awards? LCS Hockey has released their award nominations for 2006-07 and two Islanders have made the cut. The LCS Award show is more fun anyways…more gin!
The Sean Avery comment made me spit up my coffee this morning.
NO HEART TROPHY
This prestigious award is given to the player deemed least valuable to his team. And the nominees are…Nikolai Zherdev, Columbus Blue Jackets: Did Zherdev even play this season? Signing that new contract must have taken a lot out of him. But where would the Blue Jackets be without him? Well, probably right where they are now.
Todd Bertuzzi, Florida Panthers edition: Let’s see, the Panthers traded Roberto Luongo to get him, only to watch Bertuzzi miss most of the season and then use his impending free agency to all but force a trade to Detroit for virtually nothing. Yeah, that worked out well for Florida. But what kind of a guy takes millions of dollars from a team, not to mention top medical care, and then bolts town? Probably the same kind of guy who punches someone from behind. Bertuzzi 3:16… I just screwed your franchise.
Alexei Yashin, New York Islanders: A perennial contender, Yashin finds new and exciting ways to disappoint every year. Just when you think he gives nothing, he digs deep and finds a way to give even less. But as long as the checks clear, who cares? Yashin’s still sitting at the end of the bench at Nassau Coliseum waiting for Ted Nolan to tell him to go home.
DALE HUNTER TROPHY
Given to the least gentlemanly player.Chris Simon, New York Islanders: He two-handed someone in the face. That’s gonna be tough to beat.
Sean Avery, New York Rangers: He’s the guy voted most likely to get two-handed in the face.
Jarkko Ruutu, Pittsburgh Penguins: He’s like Esa Tikkanen’s cheaper, nastier little brother.
Looks like Alexei Yashin really wants to remain an Islander and maybe take that target off his back. According to Newsday, Yashin’s agent said his client is willing to give up the captaincy. We think that is a must if the Islanders are going to move in the right direction. That said, we’re not sure that will make much of a difference with regards to fan expectations. Yashin gets paid like a star. He has to play like one or he’s going to hear it until the contract expires.
“I’m sure Alexei would be happy to bring the jersey back and be on the team in whatever role management likes,” agent Marc Gandler said. “It’s not an issue for him. I know he would do it, whether it’s for Ryan Smyth or any other player. It’s not an issue.”
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