Quote:
Originally Posted by trackercowe
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.
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His value
to us is as low as some here, myself included, are saying. Hartley and the Flames are trying to build a team that is all going the same direction, all willing to work hard every shift, and willing to sacrifice for each other. Not one of those characteristics describes Yakupov. He is simply the wrong player for our team.
Never mind the fact that his agent implicitly demanded a trade on his behalf yesterday because the Oilers aren't letting him play the game he wants to play.
He is also going to be expecting another one of those $6 million contracts the Oilers hand out after next year, and is the kind of player you simply can't push too hard because of the flight risk. If we do end up in the 4-6 range at the draft and we do want to trade that pick, we can grab a player who is a better fit for us. Lower talent ceiling perhaps, but greater chance of reward. I'd rather dangle that pick for a young defenceman than for a small, soft forward.