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| Fans' views no concern to Gandler, Yashin
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September 23, 2000
Allen Panzeri
The Ottawa Citizen
Some Ottawa fans may be happy to see Alexei Yashin back with the team this season. Others may even forgive him as the year goes on.
But guess what?
The opinions and feelings of Ottawa's fans apparently don't matter one iota to Yashin and his agent, Mark Gandler, who was blunt about that sentiment in an interview with ESPN.com this week.
"We could care less about the fans' support," said Gandler, when asked what he and Yashin can do to mend fences with the team's fans. "It makes no difference to us whatsoever."
Gandler talked openly about the ordeal, in which Yashin, scheduled to make $3.6 million U.S. last year, held out for more money and was eventually suspended for all of last season by the club before arbitrator Lawrence Holden turned down his bid for free agency in June.
"We felt, as a franchise player, giving a hell of a lot, helping make an expansion team into a Cup contender, he deserved an extension, at the least," he said.
"The other side (the Senators) failed to deliver. The other side was arrogant about it. When we had previously asked for something to be done, they said, 'Next year,' and next year they didn't deliver."
Gandler said he continues to be bemused by the Holden ruling, which essentially gave Yashin no choice but to return to the Senators. From Gandler's perspective, the Senators got their pound of flesh when Yashin wasn't allowed to play last year.
"The Senators kept his rights for a whole year," he said. "He couldn't play anywhere. They didn't pay him. They didn't terminate his contract. They kept a whole bundle of his rights. If he doesn't play one more year for the Ottawa Senators, he'll never play the rest of his life.
"He (Yashin) believes, and I believe, that contract disputes are personal and have nothing to do with the team and nothing to do with his feelings toward the team.
"We question anyone's sincerity when they sign and say they did it to be with the team and organization. You sign for yourself; you play for the team. That's what he conveyed to the public. Once he's back with the team, it's different."
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