| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Islanders GM Mike Milbury kept his word about needing to make a splash -- i.e. acquire a big-time established talent. He said he wouldn't trade promising young center Tim Connolly and the No. 2 pick for Alexei Yashin. Instead, he packaged two less-valuable assets with the pick.
Milbury said he wouldn't acquire a player like Yashin unless he had faith a long-term agreement could be secured. Yashin, who held out the entire 1999-2000 season and is scheduled to be a restricted free agent on July 1, likely will be a rich man sooner rather than later. Yashin's offensive production and durability (he hasn't missed a game the last four seasons he has played) are exactly what Isles have lacked in recent years. Zdeno Chara is a huge physical presence (6-foot-9, 225 pounds) on defense, and the Isles will miss him, especially since the organization invested so much time developing him. In Bill Muckalt, the Senators receive a depth player who will chip in with goals now and then and will help anchor a checking line.
The Senators received decent short-term value on a deal they had to make for financial reasons. The odds Ottawa could pay Yashin were slim. In addition, GM Marshall Johnston rids himself of a chronic hot-button issue -- Yashin's performance and future were always news -- while securing a pick in a deep draft. Regardless who Johnston picks, he will have a young player who can contribute for a few years until his contract demands become too high. That player's first contract, plus those of Muckalt and Chara, won't approach Yashin's salary. Mission accomplished for the competitive, yet cash-strapped Senators.
|