In the NHL, Alexei Yashin, (or Ya$hin, whichever way you prefer), is becoming even more hated than commissioner Gary Bettman. With his views against simple laws most high schoolers learn on the first day of business class, it is clear he just does not understand the way the courts work: you sign a contract, work it out, get paid, and then either leave the organization or re-sign.

Yashin's view is to sign a long-term contract, work half of it, whine, get more money, and a longer contract. Then, repeat this process, which he did when he was "only" earning $1 million a year. The Senators gave in at that time and boosted it to his current $3.6 million deal.

This time, however, the Senators are taking a stand, representing all major league sport teams against overpaid athletes and resisting the tempting talents of a potential superstar player by not giving him a bigger deal when he already has one for more money than he deserves.

Notice I said "potential superstar."

There is no doubt in my mind that Yashin is a great player. He finished the 1998-1999 season in star fashion with a Hart Memorial Trophy nomination as the player most valuable to his team. However, when it comes to the playoffs, he's a complete fluke and fails to make things happen on the ice.

All of the past great players of the game - Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Patrick Roy to name a few - have had to win a Stanley Cup to be named a true superstar, and Yashin has not even come close to earning that status or the money that comes along with it.

This past week, Yashin filed an application to the Ontario Superior Court, hoping that a judge there will overrule the decision an arbitrator made on June 28 for Yashin to play the 2000-2001 NHL season with the Senators at his current $3.6 million contract. The application Yashin filed, should it be approved, would make him a Group II free agent, which means any team has the right to sign him to an offer sheet, which the Senators can either match or decline by receiving draft picks instead.