YASHIN COULD MAKE RARE APPEARANCE ON THE HILL
Sens’ first entry-draft pick has been extended invitation for alumni game
Don’t rule out the possibility of Alexei Yashin pulling on his old No. 19 jersey for the Ottawa Senators again.
But this time his role would be much less serious.
The former Senators captain, dealt to the New York Islanders in 2001 in exchange for Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt and the No. 2 pick in the draft (which ended up being Jason Spezza), has been extended an invitation to take part in the Dec. 15 Team Alfie versus Team Phillips alumni game on Parliament Hill.
Yes, Yashin, 44, was a controversial figure during his days with the Senators, but you would have to think the first player ever selected by Ottawa (No. 2 overall in the 1992 NHL draft) would be welcomed back with open arms if he’s able to accept the invitation from club officials to participate that weekend.
“(He’s) not sure at this point if he’ll be able to make it,” said Todd Diamond, one of Yashin’s New Jersey-based agents, in an email to Postmedia Sunday.
Yashin suited up for 504 career games with the Senators from 1992 to 2001. He finished with 218 goals, 273 assists and 491 points during that stretch. He was the captain when he held out in 1999-2000, but was replaced by Daniel Alfredsson during that season. Yashin returned to honour the final year of his contract in 2000-01.
He finished with 40 goals and 88 points that season and at the 2001 draft GM Marshall Johnston pulled off one of the biggest trades in club history.
These days, Diamond said Yashin is splitting his time between Moscow and New York City and is trying to figure out if his schedule will allow him to be in Ottawa. He was involved with the women’s hockey program in Russia briefly and does hockey clinics for kids on occasion.
The Senators have already confirmed Alfredsson, Chris Phillips, Lance Pitlick, Wade Redden and Patrick Lalime will be among the participants in the Red and White game that will be free on Parliament Hill. It’s also expected former defenceman Steve Duchesne will also be on hand to take part in the weekend.
The club expects to finalize the roster soon, but it would be neat if Yashin took part because anybody who has had a chance to get a first-hand look at the rink that has been built on Parliament Hill knows the backdrop with the Peace Tower is incredible.
NO STONE UNTURNED
Winnipeg’s Mark Stone always enjoys a trip to his hometown and this was no different.
He got a chance to spend time with his family Saturday night with the Senators in town and then they were on hand for the club’s 5-0 loss to the Jets at the Bell MTS Place Sunday night.
“It’s pretty normal now with it being my fourth year in the league,” Stone said after the morning skate.
Stone, who had 14 goals going into this visit, has been pleased with the way he has played this season and coach Guy Boucher couldn’t be happier, either.
“He came back with a vengeance this year and he trained extremely hard,” Boucher said Sunday morning. “What I like is he took the leadership part very, very seriously. To be honest with you, he’s the one guy I don’t think (has) had one bad practice or one bad game where he didn’t show up.
“It’s been very, very impressive. That’s where he is right now. He’s not just a good player, not just a great player, he’s transformed himself into a leader and he does all the small details that are important to the team. He’s leading in all aspects. He solidifies any line and you can play any player with him. He’s definitely grown into a great player and a leader and he’s been a rock since the beginning.”
As Boucher noted, Stone makes anybody he plays with better.
“With Stone, it’s less about trying to find somebody for him; it’s the opposite. Everybody we put with him will work, but I only have one Stone. I wish I had three, four or five. It’s just a reality that whoever I put Stone with I know they’re going to produce,” said Boucher.
THE LAST WORDS
Winger Bobby Ryan, who isn’t fully recovered from a broken finger he suffered a month ago, was in the lineup against the Jets. He had to be checked out by doctors after getting slashed by Islanders defenceman Nick Leddy in the third period of Friday’s 6-5 victory, but the good news is nothing is broken. No, Boucher doesn’t believe Ryan’s hands are being targeted and simply believes this has to be bad luck. “It hurts like hell. That’s clear and it’s vicious, yes,” Boucher said. “I think, in this case, anybody that gets that kind of slash is going to get that kind of reaction. To me, I don’t want to play the doctor and say he’s more prone or whatever. (Ryan) might play the next 10 years and never get anything after that” … The Senators scratched defenceman Ben Harpur for the second straight game as Boucher opted to go with 12 forwards and six blue-liners. He didn’t want to change a winning lineup … Winnipeg D Tyler Myers suited up for the 500th game of his career Sunday … Former Senators coach Paul MacLean, who wasn’t brought back in an assistant’s role by the Ducks this season, was in Winnipeg for the weekend. He took part as a guest in the Rogers Hometown Hockey broadcast Saturday and Sunday.
These days ... Yashin is splitting his time between Moscow and New York City and is trying to figure out if his schedule will allow him to be in Ottawa.