[FAN]

Originally Posted by cral12

I probably got permanently barred from Edm for writing this article back in Jan. '13:

Case For Trading Nail Yakupov

A day later Dave Staples of Edm Journal wrote this rebuttal:
Trade Nail Yakupov? Not if you want to win a Stanley Cup.

Not trying to do a "i told you so", but interesting to reflect back.

I don't understand. Your main point is that Yakupov likely won't reach his potential and doesn't fill an organizational need so "it is in the best interest of the Oilers to pursue a deal involving Yakupov, but the potential deal has to have a meaningful return."

Staples' main point was that Yakupov has potential, that it is easy to find a place for a player like him ,and that "Trading him now makes little sense because it’s hard to find that same kind of value in return."

It seems you are both agreeing with each other only you phrased things differently. Look to trade Yakupov, but only if the right deal comes along vs Trading Yakupov doesn't make any sense because you're unlikely to get good/equal value for him.