Alexei Yashin has not played in the NHL since the 2006-07 season following the New York Islanders buying out the final four seasons of his 10-year, $87.5 million contract. In the deal Yashin got $2.2 million from the Islanders over the following eight years. Playing in the KHL since his buyout, Dmitry Chesnokov of Puck Daddy reported today that Yashin could be making a return to the NHL this season. Here is Chesnokov’s translation of the Sovestsky Sport report
Is there an interest in Alexei from the NHL?It is surprising to hear that an NHL club would make an offer for a player who is coming off his worst season in the KHL and has been out of the NHL for four seasons. Yashin had some excellent seasons in the NHL, though was never going to be able to live up to his ridiculous contract and coming back now would only revive those criticisms. As Chesnokov surmises in his write-up over at Puck Daddy, this feels more like a ploy to get more money from a KHL team than actual interest in coming back to the NHL.
“We have already received one offer.”
From the Islanders?
“I will not discuss what the club is. We are considering the expediency of the offer.”
