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Wednesday, November 10, 1999
Players can only skate forward
Alexei Yashin's stall in the dressing room was filled the day free-agent centre Joe Juneau signed a contract with the Senators.
It looks like Juneau will be able to stay there all year.
The Senators' decision to suspend Yashin for the rest of the season didn't come as a shock in the Ottawa dressing room, but many are disappointed he won't be welcomed back.
"This is the first time I've ever seen anything like this," said winger Kevin Dineen. "It's pretty disappointing because I signed with this team because I wanted a chance to play with one of the premier players in the league.
"This team has a chance to win the Stanley Cup and a player like that only makes you better. But the bottom line is we have to move forward. We'll talk about this today, but then our focus has to be on beating the Rangers (tonight). We can't worry about this stuff."
While the Senators have battled for first place in the Eastern Conference without Yashin, there was hope the two sides would get the matter resolved and he would rejoin the club.
"We're like everybody else in Ottawa. We follow this situation through what we read in the newspapers," said winger Magnus Arvedson. "I know as players, if he walked in the door, we would welcome him back. But this isn't our business. This isn't up to us and we aren't told every day what is happening. We read about it."
Goalie Ron Tugnutt spoke with Yashin the other day in Switzerland.
"I just wanted to call and see how he was doing and what he was up to," said Tugnutt. "He seemed in pretty good spirits. It was the day before his birthday (Friday) and he was excited about everybody coming to visit him.
"I wanted him to know a lot of guys talked about it and if he was concerned at all about what it would be like here (in the dressing room) if or when he returned, he would be welcome. This would probably be the only place he would be comfortable."
That door may have been slammed shut yesterday.
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