The New York Islanders are attempting to lure Alexei Yashin back into the National Hockey League.

Islanders general manager Garth Snow and agent Mark Gandler both confirmed that there has been contact between the two parties.

"I've had discussions with both Mark and Alexei," Snow told Newsday on Friday. "I'd rather keep those conversations private, but Alexei has been skating at our practice rink in Syosset (N.Y.) and he looks great. I've been on record saying I'd explore all options and any player that would improve our team and help us make that step."

"At this time we are negotiating with the Islanders and are seriously considering their offer," Gandler told Sovietsky Sport.

Yashin, 37, has played the last four seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv and St. Petersburg SKA.

The second overall pick of the 1992 draft, Yashin collected 337 goals, 444 assists and 401 penalty minutes with the Ottawa Senators and Islanders.