| | Associated Press
KANATA, Ontario -- The Ottawa Senators will be happy to have
Alexei Yashin back.
"We're confident that Alexei's return to the team will reward
the fans and the community with an outstanding season of hockey to
come," general manager Marshall Johnston said Thursday.
In a ruling Wednesday, Boston arbitrator Lawrence Holden said
the Russian center, who sat out the final year of his contract this
season over a salary dispute, owes the team another year at $3.6
million.
Majority owner Rod Bryden said Thursday the ruling was
"excellent news" and "essential in the long-term interests of
NHL hockey in Ottawa."
"Marshall has written to Alexei and his agent, Mark Gandler, to
assure Alexei that we look forward to his return to our team,"
Bryden said. "Alexei's a great player ..."
Another arbitration hearing is scheduled for July over the
league's contention that the Senators should receive $7 million in
damages because Yashin's refusal to report to Ottawa hurt the
club's performance on the ice as well as sales of tickets and
merchandise.
"We hope that will be completed early so we can all focus on
the year ahead," Bryden said.
"We think the arbitrator reached the correct result -- as a
legal matter, a moral matter and an ethical matter," Bill Daly,
the NHL's executive vice-president and chief legal officer, said in
a statement Thursday about Holden's ruling. "We are pleased the
sanctity of our contracts, and the obligations undertaken therein,
has been upheld.
"We also applaud the Ottawa Senators for the very strong and
principled stance they have taken throughout this matter."
Bryden rejected suggestions that the contract dispute had been
personal.
"I disagree with his approach on contracts," Bryden said of
Yashin.
"So I do not believe the fans will punish me or the club or
other fans by refusing to accept the decision of this team that
says we will not reward a player who holds out by giving him the
choice of shopping his talents to the highest bidder when he should
be playing in our city for what he agreed for.
"I don't think fans will be alienated by that if they
understand it."
Yashin and Gandler have yet to comment on the ruling. They had
wanted the arbitrator to declare Yashin a restricted free agent.
Meanwhile, the Brockville Recorder and Times reported that
Yashin received a speeding ticket Wednesday from the Prescott
detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Court information alleges he was clocked going 93 mph in a 62
mph zone on Highway 401, the newspaper said. Yashin is scheduled to
appear in court Aug. 1.
Police Sgt. Paul Bisson said the detachment would not release
any information about Yashin. | |
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