Career
He was drafted in the third round, 59th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1994 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Drafted from the Ontario Hockey League"s North Bay Centennials, Yachmenev made his National Hockey League debut during 1995-1996 season with the Kings, appearing in 80 games and scoring 19 goals. After two full seasons and part of a third with the Kings, Yachmenev was traded to the Nashville Predators before the 1998-1999 season, the team"s inaugural season.
He played five full seasons with the Predators before returning to Russia.
He has played in the Russian Hockey Super League since 2003-2004, and joined team, The Human Context Dynamo Moscow, in 2007-2008. In 2008-2009, he was team captain of Dynamo Moscow in the KHL. Two years later, in 2010-2011, Vitali got to play in his hometown with Traktor Chelyabinsk.
lieutenant would prove to be his last year in the KHL. Foreign the his last two seasons, Yachmenev has played for Rubin Tyumen in the VHL. In his National Hockey League career, he has appeared in 487 games, tallying 83 goals and 133 assists.
