Four playoffs in five years with Claude Lapointe, Kip Miller, Oleg Kvasha, Randy Robitaille, Weinhandl, Bates, Czerkaswski, Chris Simon and Blake or Richard Park as his wings and Yashin did not produce as he should have and is hated?

Maybe he should have changed his name to Holik, Lindros, Bure, Messier, Leetch, Carter and all the teams with double the payroll he kept beating out for playoff spots in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007.

One playoff they had him take shifts with Wiemer and Godard. Anyone remember that double over time game against Ottawa, Isles had like ten powerplays, Yashin kept feeding Robitaille who could not score to save his life.

He was on a 90 point pace his final year and had Blake on a forty goal pace before he hurt his knee with Chris Simon on left wing in December. He rushed back, got hurt again and played eighteen games on one leg before Nolan ripped him and he finally sat.

Go look at his last ten games in 06-07, without his ten points no playoffs.
He finished with fifty points in fifty eight games.
Zednik and Satan did nothing against Buffalo either.
- NYI

I love stat junkies. As if no one else can google stats.....

If this was pond hockey sure yashin would still be playin. But all you Yashin fans ask yourselves this........after the isles bought yashin out, why didn't ANY other NHL team take him on?
Truth be told his shot was his selling point but it was never the same after his arm got sliced by a skate. After that injury his wrist shot was like Bruno Gervais'

I understand how people throw the word "hate" around on this site. Like it's loose change.

I never hated Yashin. Was I disappointed with him at times? Yeah. Worthy of Hate? No. He was the best player we had since Pat Lafontaine. He didn't ASK for the $$$ we gave or the length of the contract. Ottawa deserves to hate him, like WE deserve to hate Kirk Muller or Dale Hunter or Darcy Tucker but Yashin showed up to play. I can't say whether he gave 100% every night or not. How many of you think you could sustain an 82 game season and play like Pete Rose night in & night out?
The Isles chose to buy him out. What's a guy to do?

How many town/city/state employees have taken advantage of retirement pensions by bloating their last year of work with overtime to boost their base from which they get the 1/2 salary, tax-free, for the rest of their lives???? How many "fake" a disability pension claiming to have sustained debilitating injury to get the 3/4 salary?
How many get exposed when they take on another laborious job after they've retired?(not enough) He didn't ask for a buyout. He would have played. He could have helped the team. Anyone who doesn't think so must have eaten a big bowl of stupid for breakfast this morning.
- jmo16

Is that why no other NHL team picked Yashin up? There's also a reason why Alex semin is also still on the table.

Is that why no other NHL team picked Yashin up? There's also a reason why Alex semin is also still on the table.
- kindlyrick

I'm sure Yashin COULD have gotten an NHL job....but not for the money the KHL offered him. Not even close- he'd have had to play for the veteran minimum, and EARN his next contract. This was the OTHER problem with Yashin, which stemmed from his time in Ottawa. He always thought he was worth the money the Islanders paid him when he was in Ottawa; he had a lot of contract issues during his time there. Truth is, he was never worth that much money, ever. He'd have been punished for seemingly wearing out his welcome with two teams, including one who paid him what he wanted, yet never quite received the level of play commensurate therewith in return. He'd have had a lot to prove, whereas in Russia, he just got paid...no questions asked, and no proof needed.

In short, the only way he comes back to the NHL is for an incentive laden pittance, which he likely won't do.

I'm sure Yashin COULD have gotten an NHL job....but not for the money the KHL offered him. Not even close- he'd have had to play for the veteran minimum, and EARN his next contract. This was the OTHER problem with Yashin, which stemmed from his time in Ottawa. He always thought he was worth the money the Islanders paid him when he was in Ottawa; he had a lot of contract issues during his time there. Truth is, he was never worth that much money, ever. He'd have been punished for seemingly wearing out his welcome with two teams, including one who paid him what he wanted, yet never quite received the level of play commensurate therewith in return. He'd have had a lot to prove, whereas in Russia, he just got paid...no questions asked, and no proof needed.

In short, the only way he comes back to the NHL is for an incentive laden pittance, which he likely won't do.
- dcb1

No he wasn't worth his contract and no NHL team has picked him up because he's a pond hockey player just like most Russians. All offense all the time. Yes he went to the KHL for a few years, but since then no team has signed him. Hmmm. Wonder why? I also wonder why July 1st came and went and Semin still isn't signed with all his "offensive prowess". Semins old teammates called him out for not caring. Hmmmm. Yashins former coach called him out for not battling. Hmmmmm. Scratching my head over here cause I can't for the life of me figure out why these guys arent signed.

As for a continuation of the last thread, here's the point: in order to make a trade, you have to remember one very important thing- the other teams have GMs, too, and given that none of them are named "Mike Milbury", chances are they're not idiots.

Take Bobby Ryan- you want Bobby Ryan? Fine, I want Okposo, Niederreiter AND a first round draft pick. That's too much? Good, then lose my phone number. The point is we have a stable of talented young players who any GM worth a d*mn would like to get his hands on, and would ask for overpayment of in return for anything they might be selling.

Until these guys are truly all that they are going to be in the NHL, any of the other GMs are going to say, "well, he's only a prospect....who's to say how he turns out?"....of course knowing full well that he's likely ripping us off. THIS is why Garth doesn't make any trades. It's not because he's "scared"....it's because Bobby Ryan isn't worth more than Okposo straight up, if that. This is why I'll say it again- if there was anything worth doing, Garth would have done it already.

All of that said, I'll also say THIS again: this team's biggest concern, above ALL else, is how often it decides to trot a worthless piece of cr*p out onto the ice to play goal. THAT has been costing us 10-15 games for at least the last two years, which is the difference between making the dance, and watching it on TV.

No he wasn't worth his contract and no NHL team has picked him up because he's a pond hockey player just like most Russians. All offense all the time. Yes he went to the KHL for a few years, but since then no team has signed him. Hmmm. Wonder why? I also wonder why July 1st came and went and Semin still isn't signed with all his "offensive prowess". Semins old teammates called him out for not caring. Hmmmm. Yashins former coach called him out for not battling. Hmmmmm. Scratching my head over here cause I can't for the life of me figure out why these guys arent signed.
- kindlyrick

Agreed, for the most part....Semin is going to have to earn his money as well....but that's the point. If he was WILLING to EARN his paycheck, SOMEONE would have signed him by now. He just wants to get paid.....like Yashin...

All of that said, I'll also say THIS again: this team's biggest concern, above ALL else, is how often it decides to trot a worthless piece of cr*p out onto the ice to play goal. THAT has been costing us 10-15 games for at least the last two years, which is the difference between making the dance, and watching it on TV.
- dcb1

How can someone who went 3-2-3 last season be costing his team 10-15 games?

It's not like the Islanders start DiPietro and he goes 0-10 while everyone else goes 10-0.

In 2010-11 when the team was thirteen games under he was 7-6-4 on January 15th 2011.

That team was 5-18-5 on Dec 13th.

When Roloson was traded he was 6-13-1, he played well.

Roloson, Biron, Joey MacDonald, Danis, Nabokov, Montoya, Lawson, Poulin, Nilsson, Koskinen, all have played well (stats notwithstanding) so the goaltending with or without DiPiPietro has been the least of the teams problems.

Yashin's problem was simple- he was a second line left wing being paid to play first line center and be Mark Messier, two things of which he was incapable. Moreover, the Yashin trade cost us what would have been our best defenseman for the next five years, which is a trade I never make myself, although some would argue that point. Compounding the issue, the fact that Wang paid Yashin all that money seemingly automatically made him captain, a role for which he was ill suited. Yashin wasn't a bad player, he just wasn't what Milbury thought he got (typical), which wasn't his fault. I'd take him back for the contract I was offering Kostitsyn, no problem....as long as everyone realizes he's not here to be king, he'd be fine.
- dcb1

Couldn't agree more with this....well said.

of course he would have.... he knows he couldnt be a FA till 27... so he signed the inevitable contract... he gave up 1 year of freedom.. and if this team isnt playing important games in april & may by the time the contract is up.. he will be gone

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

This makes sense. Didn't look at it that way.

No he wasn't worth his contract and no NHL team has picked him up because he's a pond hockey player just like most Russians.
- kindlyrick

You don't have to like Yashin but give us a break on stereotyping players by what county they come from. Most of the players learn English while the NHL and local papers are too cheap to hire writers from other countries so there is a disconnect.

How about every media person who plays the stereotype card go to a European county for a season and cover a team so their media can rip the writer with the players for lousy coverage.

Yashin's problem was simple- he was a second line left wing being paid to play first line center and be Mark Messier, two things of which he was incapable. Moreover, the Yashin trade cost us what would have been our best defenseman for the next five years, which is a trade I never make myself, although some would argue that point. Compounding the issue, the fact that Wang paid Yashin all that money seemingly automatically made him captain, a role for which he was ill suited. Yashin wasn't a bad player, he just wasn't what Milbury thought he got (typical), which wasn't his fault. I'd take him back for the contract I was offering Kostitsyn, no problem....as long as everyone realizes he's not here to be king, he'd be fine.
- dcb1

Alexei Yashin was a career center who was a ninety point player when he came here and produced over seventy points with third and fourth line players at best, the notion he should have been a second line left wing is silly.

He was not automatically made captain, he finally was given the role after Peca's departure years later. Alan Hahn could not stand him.

Mark Messier needed a ticket to see a playoff game the final seven years of his career. Yashin's teams made the playoffs, he did not fill quote books.

You don't have to like Yashin but give us a break on stereotyping players by what county they come from. Most of the players learn English while the NHL and local papers are too cheap to hire writers from other countries so there is a disconnect.

How about every media person who plays the stereotype card go to a European county for a season and cover a team so their media can rip the writer with the players for lousy coverage.
- NYI

How bout not....

Alexei Yashin was a career center who was a ninety point player when he came here and produced over seventy points with third and fourth line players at best, the notion he should have been a second line left wing is silly.

He was not automatically made captain, he finally was given the role after Peca's departure years later. Alan Hahn could not stand him.

Mark Messier needed a ticket to see a playoff game the final seven years of his career. Yashin's teams made the playoffs, he did not fill quote books.
- NYI

I don't base my decisions on beat writers.......I watch

As for a continuation of the last thread, here's the point: in order to make a trade, you have to remember one very important thing- the other teams have GMs, too, and given that none of them are named "Mike Milbury", chances are they're not idiots.

Take Bobby Ryan- you want Bobby Ryan? Fine, I want Okposo, Niederreiter AND a first round draft pick. That's too much? Good, then lose my phone number. The point is we have a stable of talented young players who any GM worth a d*mn would like to get his hands on, and would ask for overpayment of in return for anything they might be selling.

Until these guys are truly all that they are going to be in the NHL, any of the other GMs are going to say, "well, he's only a prospect....who's to say how he turns out?"....of course knowing full well that he's likely ripping us off. THIS is why Garth doesn't make any trades. It's not because he's "scared"....it's because Bobby Ryan isn't worth more than Okposo straight up, if that. This is why I'll say it again- if there was anything worth doing, Garth would have done it already.

All of that said, I'll also say THIS again: this team's biggest concern, above ALL else, is how often it decides to trot a worthless piece of cr*p out onto the ice to play goal. THAT has been costing us 10-15 games for at least the last two years, which is the difference between making the dance, and watching it on TV.
- dcb1

Bobby Ryan is worth more than Okposo straight up....

You don't have to like Yashin but give us a break on stereotyping players by what county they come from. Most of the players learn English while the NHL and local papers are too cheap to hire writers from other countries so there is a disconnect.

How about every media person who plays the stereotype card go to a European county for a season and cover a team so their media can rip the writer with the players for lousy coverage.
- NYI

Who cares what language a guy speaks? I'm talking about back checking, battling on the boards, dropping the gloves.... Showing you care. Not just being flashy offensively.

Agreed, for the most part....Semin is going to have to earn his money as well....but that's the point. If he was WILLING to EARN his paycheck, SOMEONE would have signed him by now. He just wants to get paid.....like Yashin...
- dcb1

I got news for ya.......they all wanna get paid. Semin has a problem with coaching. Shocker

Roloson, Biron, Joey MacDonald, Danis, Nabokov, Montoya, Lawson, Poulin, Nilsson, Koskinen, all have played well (stats notwithstanding) so the goaltending with or without DiPiPietro has been the least of the teams problems.
- NYI

Yeah...let me guess...DiPietro had one shutout, where the other team had like 8 shots the whole game, and won two games either 4-3, or 5-4. Not to mention that in each game, other than the shutout, he likely gave up at least 1-2 goals that simply should NEVER have gone in the net....because he always does.

The only two of those goalies who have really played well were Poulin (two years ago, but he's still a kid) and Nabokov. Koskinen and Nilsson are kids who aren't ready. The rest of them were average to cr*p, including the aforementioned DiPietro, who hasn't seen a save percentage above 89 in five years. Roloson didn't want to be here, and played like it for the most part. Biron and Montoya are the garbage can twins; neither of them are capable of movement. The rest were minor league goalies. Stats AREN'T notwithstanding, sorry....and that's the point. Did you ever think that the reason our young defensemen run around like chickens with their heads cut off is BECAUSE they know our goaltenders CAN'T cover a rebound, or stop it from going directly to the stick of a waiting forward? Add to that, in the DiPietro case, the idea that they NEVER KNOW where he's going to be on the ice, or what he's going to do.

Our goaltending has been garbage- as I said, I EXPECT to see a healthy Nabokov play at least 60-65 games this year. No more "experiments".

Bobby Ryan is worth more than Okposo straight up....
- kindlyrick

You won't be saying this in a couple of years...

You won't be saying this in a couple of years...
- dcb1

Okposo is soft. Can't be a power forward and be a wuss

Bobby Ryan is worth more than Okposo straight up....
- kindlyrick

That goes without saying...

As for a continuation of the last thread, here's the point: in order to make a trade, you have to remember one very important thing- the other teams have GMs, too, and given that none of them are named "Mike Milbury", chances are they're not idiots.

Take Bobby Ryan- you want Bobby Ryan? Fine, I want Okposo, Niederreiter AND a first round draft pick. That's too much? Good, then lose my phone number. The point is we have a stable of talented young players who any GM worth a d*mn would like to get his hands on, and would ask for overpayment of in return for anything they might be selling.

Until these guys are truly all that they are going to be in the NHL, any of the other GMs are going to say, "well, he's only a prospect....who's to say how he turns out?"....of course knowing full well that he's likely ripping us off. THIS is why Garth doesn't make any trades. It's not because he's "scared"....it's because Bobby Ryan isn't worth more than Okposo straight up, if that. This is why I'll say it again- if there was anything worth doing, Garth would have done it already.

All of that said, I'll also say THIS again: this team's biggest concern, above ALL else, is how often it decides to trot a worthless piece of cr*p out onto the ice to play goal. THAT has been costing us 10-15 games for at least the last two years, which is the difference between making the dance, and watching it on TV.
- dcb1

All I can say is wow

You won't be saying this in a couple of years...
- dcb1

Oh I bet he will be

Bobby Ryan is worth more than Okposo straight up....
- kindlyrick

Beat me to it. Okposo worth more than Ryan? All I can say is why would anyone think that Okposo is worth more than Ryan? Is it bcs of his video game skills?

The only two of those goalies who have really played well were Poulin (two years ago, but he's still a kid) and Nabokov. Koskinen and Nilsson are kids who aren't ready. The rest of them were average to cr*p,
- dcb1

You are entitled to your opinion, not your own facts. DiPietro never cost his team 10-15 wins a year, and was mostly a five hundred goalie on a sub five hundred team.

Joey MacDonald was third star of the month in the entire NHL for the Islanders in November 2009. Danis played 30 games and started great finishing with a 9.10 save percentage which got his an NHL job with the Devils, and he may well be back in the NHL next season with MacDonald who the Wings keep using.

If Roloson did not want to be here, no one forced him to sign for as long as he did, and he played great despite his record.

Did you ever think that the reason our young defensemen run around like chickens with their heads cut off is BECAUSE they know our goaltenders CAN'T cover a rebound, or stop it from going directly to the stick of a waiting forward? Add to that, in the DiPietro case, the idea that they NEVER KNOW where he's going to be on the ice, or what he's going to do.
- dcb1

No, I never did think that because the only young defenders in MacDonald, Hamonic seemed to do just fine regardless who started, it's the Mottau, Jurcina, Staios defenders who came here combined with an older injured Eaton who looked lost regardless who was in goal.

The second half of 2010-11 Wishart, Reese, Hillen, Gervais, MacDonald, Hamonic with Martinek took a team from thirteen under to four under. Katic got a look and despite some mistakes was flying.

All I saw from the few young defenders here were plus ratings (even Wishart +5) or some speed, steady play.

That goes without saying...
- kear20

OK, I see we are going in a ridiculous direction again today