More than 25 years after the Ottawa Senators traded Alexei Yashin to the New York Islanders, the deal remains significant in franchise history. Yashin’s trade in 2001 brought Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt, and the second overall pick, which was used to select Jason Spezza, who became a franchise star. The trade tree continued with Spezza leading to Nick Paul, who was later traded to Tampa Bay for Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick, used to select Blake Montgomery. This trade tree reflects the long-lasting impact of Yashin’s departure on the team.
