Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinordi
Yakupov, I consistently hear this line of argument. That the Oil should have given up a projected 40 goal sniper for, at most, a number two defenceman in Murray. Makes utterly no sense. Yak actually put together a very good rookie season, projected at 30 goals over 82 games. A 30 goal scoring rookie? Sure it's just projected and it wouldn't have likely lasted but even so, a 25 goal scoring rookie? Who in this era scored more as a rookie? It's an impressive list of guys. I just don't know why Yakupov is so poorly thought of around these parts.
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5 goals (almost 30% of his total) came in the last two, meaningless games at the end of the season. Very difficult to try and project those numbers.
I won't speak for others, but my complaint with Yakupov isn't with respect to talent - I fully acknowledge that he has boatloads of talent. My complaint is that he is a selfish player who scores a good chunk of his goals at meaningless times. When things really matter, he is invisible.
It is all opinions of course, but I don't want him on my team.
As for calling Murray a #2 defenseman, while at the same time slotting Yakupov in for 40 goals, is pretty silly and meaningless.