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Wednesday, December 29, 1999
Yashin enjoying taste of Big Apple
MONTREAL -- Alexei Yashin will welcome the new millennium in New York City, but he doesn't expect to raise a glass of bubbly to toast a new contract.
As the world welcomes the arrival of the 21st century on New Year's Eve, the Senators' AWOL No. 19 isn't about to change his resolve for a new deal from the club or a trade to get back on the ice.
While Yashin wasn't willing to discuss his future with the Senators in an exclusive telephone interview with the Sun yesterday, he hasn't changed his plans to return to Switzerland next week to resume training.
Trying to get the Senators to renegotiate the final year of his $3.6-million US contract, Yashin didn't even mention the word hockey during a 20-minute conversation and was unconcerned there hasn't been any movement.
Working out with Swiss Elite League's Kloten Flyers -- located 10 minutes outside of Zurich -- Yashin is quite content to wait as long as it takes to get the Senators to give in to his demands for a new deal.
"I'm just going to keep working on improving my game," said Yashin. "If it helps get the situation resolved, I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel good."
VISITING GANDLER, ALT
Speaking from the home of his New Jersey-based agent, Mark Gandler, Yashin arrived in North America from Zurich on Dec. 22 to spend time with his family and girlfriend/actress Carol Alt.
Yashin, who has been joined by his mother Tatiana, father Valery and brother Dimitry in New York, has no plans to return to Ottawa during his short stay because it would only set off a media frenzy.
Instead, Yashin wants time to enjoy the visit privately. He and Gandler turned down a request to appear on a Dave Hodge Special on TSN with Alt because Yashin wants to remain out of the spotlight.
"It's great to be back with the family and friends," said Yashin, who spent part of Christmas Day at Alt's home. "As long as we're together it doesn't matter where it is -- whether it's in Ottawa or New York.
"This has been fun for me. We celebrated my mother's birthday (on Christmas Eve) and we've just been having a good visit. Nothing has changed. There's a lot to do in New York and so much for me to see."
Suspended by the Senators for the balance of the season on Nov. 8 and told by the club he'll owe Ottawa another year on his contract, Yashin maintains he isn't going to give an inch in his dispute.
Working with Russian mentor/coach Vladimir Yurzinov in Switzerland, Yashin plans to return to his role as an a pseudo-assistant coach/scout when he gets back to Kloten next week.
"Nothing has changed. He's not going anywhere else," said Gandler. "He's just going to go back and keep working the way he's been working and try to work on improving his game. Kloten is a good situation for him.
"He's not an official assistant coach, but he helps out by going to games with (Yurzinov) and they speak about the way the team is playing after every game. He helps out in every way possible."
It's ironic Yashin -- who will attend a party at the home of an artist friend of Gandler's Thursday -- will be only minutes from Madison Square Garden at midnight, because he's made no secret of his love for the Rangers.
Unfortunately for Yashin, the Senators' position hasn't changed either, and any callers are being told not to bother asking GM Marshall Johnston about the wayward centre because he's simply not available.
Instead of celebrating with his teammates, Yashin won't be far from Times Square, where the ageless Dick Clark will welcome the new millennium with another version of Rockin' New Year's Eve.
Even a no-show needs a holiday, but Yashin hasn't changed his tune. The wait continues.
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