Alexei Yashin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexei Yashin
Yashin with SKA Saint Petersburg in 2010
Born	(1973-11-05) 5 November 1973 (age 51) Sverdlovsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	230 lb (104 kg; 16 st 6 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk Dynamo Moscow Ottawa Senators CSKA Moscow New York Islanders Lokomotiv Yaroslavl SKA Saint Petersburg
National team	Unified Team and  Russia
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 1992 Ottawa Senators
Playing career	1990–2012

Alexei Valeryevich Yashin (Russian: Алексей Валерьевич Яшин; born 5 November 1973) is a Russian former professional ice hockey center. He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders. He was also the captain for both teams. Yashin also played nine seasons in the Russian Superleague (RSL) and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia.

He was honored by being inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2008, he was named the most valuable player of the RSL. He has won several medals in international hockey, including two gold, one silver, and two bronze.

Playing Career

Early Days in Russia

Yashin started his professional hockey journey in the Soviet Union during the 1990–91 season with Avtomobilist Sverdlovsk. The next season, he joined Dynamo Moscow in the Soviet Championship League. He quickly became known as one of the best young players in Europe.

In 1992, the National Hockey League (NHL) held its entry draft. Yashin was ranked as one of the top European players. He continued to play for Dynamo Moscow in the 1992–93 season, scoring 10 goals and 22 points in 27 games.

Time with the Ottawa Senators (1993–2001)

The Ottawa Senators picked Yashin second overall in the 1992 NHL entry draft. He joined the team for the 1993–94 season. He made his NHL debut on October 16, 1993, and scored his first NHL goal soon after. On November 3, he had a great game, scoring five points, including his first hat trick. The very next night, he had four assists.

Yashin quickly became a star for the Senators. He was even chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game as the only rookie. He scored two goals in that game, helping the Eastern Conference win. In his first season, he scored 30 goals and 79 points in 83 games. He was one of the top rookies in the league.

Contract Discussions

During his time in Ottawa, Yashin had some disagreements about his contract. These discussions sometimes caused him to miss games. For example, during the NHL lockout in 1994, he played for a team in another league, the Las Vegas Thunder in the IHL. He later returned to the Senators.

In 1995, he again had contract issues and even played a few games in Russia. However, he eventually signed a new deal with the Senators in December 1995.

Reaching the Playoffs

For the 1996–97 season, Yashin was ready to play without contract worries. He played on the top line with Daniel Alfredsson and Shawn McEachern. The Senators had a strong season, and Yashin scored 35 goals and 76 points. The team made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 1997. Yashin scored a key goal in the final game of the season to help them get there. Although they lost in the first round, it was a big step for the team.

In the 1997–98 season, Yashin continued to play well, scoring 33 goals and 72 points. The Senators made the playoffs again. Yashin scored an important overtime goal that helped the Senators win their first-ever playoff series against the New Jersey Devils.

Yashin was named team captain for the 1998–99 season. He had an amazing year, scoring 44 goals and 94 points. He was one of the top scorers in the league and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given to the NHL's most valuable player. He was also named to the NHL Second All-Star Team. However, the Senators were swept in the first round of the playoffs that year.

More Contract Talks

After his great 1998–99 season, Yashin again had contract disagreements with the Senators. He wanted a new deal, but the team refused. Because he would not report to play, the Senators suspended him for the 1999–2000 season. An arbitrator later ruled that he still owed the Senators the final year of his contract.

Yashin returned to play for the Senators in the 2000–01 season. He scored 40 goals and 88 points. The Senators made the playoffs, but were swept in the first round.

New York Islanders (2001–2007)

In 2001, Yashin was traded to the New York Islanders. The Islanders signed him to a very large contract. He made his debut with the Islanders in the 2001–02 season opener. He quickly scored his first goal for the team. He had a strong first season, scoring 32 goals and 75 points. He helped the Islanders reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

In the 2002–03 season, Yashin continued to be a key player. On March 25, 2003, he had an incredible game, scoring four goals in a 9–2 win. He finished the season with 26 goals and 65 points. The Islanders made the playoffs again, facing his old team, the Ottawa Senators.

During the 2003–04 season, Yashin suffered an injury when his forearm was cut by a skate blade. He missed several months but returned to help the Islanders make the playoffs.

2004–05 Lockout and Return

The entire 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled due to a lockout between the players and team owners. During this time, Yashin played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Russian Superleague (RSL). He helped his team win a bronze medal in the playoffs.

When the NHL returned for the 2005–06 season, Yashin was named captain of the Islanders. He tied for the team lead in scoring with 28 goals and 66 points. In the 2006–07 season, he started strong but suffered a knee injury. He returned later in the season and helped the Islanders make the playoffs. After the season, the Islanders decided to buy out the rest of his contract.

Yashin playing for the New York Islanders

Return to Russia (2007–2012)

After leaving the NHL, Yashin returned to Russia. On July 20, 2007, he signed a contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Russian Superleague (RSL). In the 2007–08 season, he led his team in scoring and was named the RSL's Most Valuable Player.

In the 2008–09 season, the RSL was replaced by the new Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Yashin was one of the KHL's biggest stars and played in the league's first All-Star Game. He continued to lead Lokomotiv in scoring.

In 2009, Yashin signed with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL. He had another strong season in 2009–10, scoring 64 points. He also helped St. Petersburg win the Spengler Cup in 2010.

For the 2011–12 season, Yashin played for CSKA Moscow. After this season, he decided to retire from playing professional hockey.

Management Career

After retiring as a player, Alexei Yashin moved into management roles in hockey. In December 2012, he was appointed as the general manager for the Russia women's national ice hockey team. Later, on August 23, 2013, he became an assistant coach for the Russian men's national team.

International Play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Russia
Winter Olympics
Silver	1998 Nagano
Bronze	2002 Salt Lake City
World Championships
Gold	1993 Germany
Bronze	2005 Austria
European Junior Championship
Silver	1991 Czechoslovakia
Representing  CIS
World Junior Championship
Gold	1992 Germany

Yashin first played internationally for the CIS national ice hockey team in 1992 at the World Junior Championships. This team was formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They won the gold medal at that tournament.

After that, Yashin represented his home country, Russia. He played in many major tournaments, including the World Cup of Hockey (1996, 2004), the Winter Olympics (1998, 2002, 2006), and nine World Championships. He was often named captain of the national team.

He won a gold medal at the 1993 World Championships and a bronze medal in 2005. In the Olympics, he won a silver medal in 1998 and a bronze medal in 2002.

In 2020, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held in 2022 due to delays.

Personal Life

Alexei Yashin was born in Sverdlovsk, Soviet Union (now Yekaterinburg, Russia). His father, Valeri, was a university professor, and his mother, Tatiana, was an electrical engineer. He also has a brother named Dima. Yashin was in a long-term relationship with actress and former model Carol Alt.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honors