Alexei Yashin News

Alex Kovalev admits he was "disappointed" to leave Montreal, but feels he can be a missing piece of the puzzle in helping the Ottawa Senators rebound from their own disappointing times.

There is little doubt the Dany Heatley affair will get even messier before it is resolved.

We're not really sure what is going to happen today, given that economic/salary cap concerns might make the opening of free agency about as exciting as this year's trade deadline.

The importance of going No. 1 in the NHL draft was more than just a number to John Tavares.

The NHL Entry Draft is back in its original home this year. The draft began in Montreal in 1963 and was held there every year through 1984, before it was held at the Toronto Convention Centre in 1985.

Mike Milbury, a TV expert these days, was the GM of the New York Islanders in the summer of 2000, the last time the Islanders held the No.

Teams have the future in their hands on draft day. A struggling NHL club can potentially selected a franchise player, a dramatic trade could be struck and there is always the potential for disaster as no pick is ever really a sure thing.

Ever since Daryl Katz took over the Oilers, a growing number of their nouveau riche fans have been coming across like Rodney Dangerfield at the Bushwood Country Club in Caddyshack.

Dany Heatley, left, used to be a Sens golden boy while Jason Spezza took the fans' heat.

Dany Heatley has now asked for a trade from the only two NHL teams he's ever played for.

New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow is certain to be gnashing his teeth between now and June 26, when he will finally have to announce his choice with the No.

As a hockey executive, Mike Milbury's credentials are modest. In 10 years in various capacities with the New York Islanders they were consistently lousy , missing the playoffs most years, exiting early when they did make it.

Until recently, Jason Blake had visited Toronto five times in the last four years.

A year ago Lokomotiv Yaroslavl made it to the last Russian Superliga final. Led by expelled Senator and Islander Alexei Yashin, they fell short of winning it all by just one goal in the deciding game and had to watch Salavat Yulaev carry away the honors.

Just when you think things can't get worse for the New York Islanders, another shoe, or perhaps another skate, manages to drop.

With the New Year come and gone, it's still interesting to stop and see who has yet to win in 2009, which teams have dominated the new year, and which teams have, well, simply been their inconsistent selves ...

If you liked watching the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks play hockey outdoors, and the television ratings said you did, get up early Saturday morning and see hockey outdoors where it's really cold.

When Jaromir Jagr was growing up in Czechoslovakia, the big attraction in Russia's Red Square was Lenin's tomb.

Jaromir Jagr knew it would be quite a challenge to say goodbye to the NHL and breathe life into a new league that has visions of becoming the world's best collection of hockey talent.

This may seem extremely far-fetched, but I think that Sidney Crosby would be a better leader on the ice and in the locker room if he moved out of Mario Lemieux's place.