Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
Complete and utter waste of a high first round pick. Yakupov is the antithesis of everything the Flames are trying to build. You can't separate the skill from the attitude, and you can't force desire into him. Yakupov is the kind of player we need to stay the hell away from.
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I wonder if Capitals fans were saying the same thing in 2004 when they drafted Ovechkin. They were seemingly is a similar stage as the Flames are now when he was drafted. Yakupov may have had a bad couple weeks to start off the season, but his ceiling is still far greater than pretty much anyone in this upcoming draft. That and this draft is supposedly inferior to last years and next years drafts. Unless we finish are picking in the top 3 (Reinhart, Ekblad, Nylander), then we're likely going to end up with someone whose potential will likely be far less than what is expected from Yakupov..
Yakupov was very good last year, and only just turned 20 last month, so it's way too early to write him off. The Oilers are using him very poorly, so some of the blame should land at their feet as well. I for one don't think he's a flight risk, but sure he does have perceived attitude issues. Although that's not a whole lot different than many 20 somethings in the league. Take Evander Kane or PK Subban; talented Canadian players, who are older than Yakupov and have their own attitude issues. Ovechkin had his share as well, so did Lindros, Lemieux and many other players over the years. But that doesn't mean Yakupov won't become a great player just like all those other players became in their careers.
Now there is zero chance the Oilers would trade him to Calgary, so the merit of it is not even worth debating. But I don't think his value is as low as some on here are expecting.