[News] Oilers Scratch Yakupov... Again

[Erick Estrada]

Not sure if it's been posted but from ESPN;

Larionov said he'd like to sit down with Eakins, somebody he said he doesn't know at all. He said he's already had conversations with Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish and made it clear that they'd be open to a trade if the Oilers had soured on the forward taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Is it normal for a player's agent to sit with the head coach and discuss how his player is being used? Pretty bizarre IMO. Unfortunately this is what you sign on for when you draft a Russian player this high. Obviously not all of them are cut from the same cloth but there seems to be a major sense of entitlement with some of the top Russian prospects.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not sure if it's been posted but from ESPN;
Is it normal for a player's agent to sit with the head coach and discuss how his player is being used? Pretty bizarre IMO. Unfortunately this is what you sign on for when you draft a Russian player this high. Obviously not all of them are cut from the same cloth but there seems to be a major sense of entitlement with some of the top Russian prospects.

I would say it happens a lot more often with young players then we think or hear about. Especially top 10 draft picks that may not be living up to the headlines.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Is it normal for a player's agent to sit with the head coach and discuss how his player is being used? Pretty bizarre IMO. Unfortunately this is what you sign on for when you draft a Russian player this high. Obviously not all of them are cut from the same cloth but there seems to be a major sense of entitlement with some of the top Russian prospects.

It's certainly not normal, though it's not restricted to Russians. Cody Hodgson did the same thing (even had his dad involved in things) with the Canucks.

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, I'm sure agents talk to teams all the time about their players. They wouldn't be good agents otherwise. Not sure about talking to the coach though.

The problem here is that Larionov made sure his opinions (not happy) and threats (trade him if you're unhappy) got to the media. My impression is that Larionov is telling the world that Yakupov wants out. It likely is no coincidence that this public meeting was set up after the Oilers said he was going nowhere.

[jschick88]

@Sun_Tychkowski Yakupov essentially backs up everything Larionov said. He's unhappy, feels he deserves more minutes

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, I'm sure agents talk to teams all the time about their players. They wouldn't be good agents otherwise. Not sure about talking to the coach though.

The problem here is that Larionov made sure his opinions (not happy) and threats (trade him if you're unhappy) got to the media. My impression is that Larionov is telling the world that Yakupov wants out. It likely is no coincidence that this public meeting was set up after the Oilers said he was going nowhere.

And what about both at practically the same time?

I dont know, that seems fishy to me. Hes going to tell the GM that his player is amazing and then hes going to tell the coach how to coach his team?

I've never heard of this happening before, it seems really unusual.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by jschick88

@Sun_Tychkowski Yakupov essentially backs up everything Larionov said. He's unhappy, feels he deserves more minutes

The guy hasn't proven anything in the NHL and wants to dictate his ice time? I would be on the phones trying to unload him. If you can get a top team to offer their late 1st round pick you take it.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The guy hasn't proven anything in the NHL and wants to dictate his ice time? I would be on the phones trying to unload him. If you can get a top team to offer their late 1st round pick you take it.

But...but...but He's as good as Stamkos!

[The Yen Man]

What's funny is that, after watching the Eakins interview, where was saying he reassured Yakupov that he won't be traded and that he'll be an Oiler for a long time, I was thinking Yakupov's reaction was probably "this is probably the worst thing you can tell me coach!".

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, I'm sure agents talk to teams all the time about their players. They wouldn't be good agents otherwise.

The problem here is that Larionov made sure his opinions (not happy) and threats (trade him if you're unhappy) got to the media. My impression is that Larionov is telling the world that Yakupov wants out. It likely is no coincidence that this public meeting was set up after the Oilers said he was going nowhere.

I don't really like the going public part about it either, at least not right away like that before even sitting down for a discussion. Clearly they are leaning towards ending the relationship rather than fixing it.

Look who they are dealing with though. Perhaps one of the worst run clubs in the league. It must be difficult to not have the default position be one of distrust when dealing with the Oilers. If you were an agent that stood to lose millions because of decisions being made by a club, which let's face it; has a poor recent history of making good decisions, would you not go into this guns a'blazing? People talk about the "Russian factor" all the time, but I am sure agents have "factors" to consider when dealing with specific NHL teams.

[Robo]

[stemit14]

Love how the oilers are just letting this go on.... What kind of message are you sending letting this kid dictate how he should be used? They should be sending him down to the minors or trade him for something/anything after pulling this stuff with his agent. If he pouts and decides to go to Russia... Fine. Good riddance. His attitude exemplifies everything wrong with that organization.

It's not like this attitude problem snuck up on them... We could all see it coming before he was ever drafted. All you ever heard about him was his elaborate goal celebrations.... That was enough for me to know he had a hot shot, selfish attitude.

[Red John]

Let's all remember that Kevin Lowe forced the Yakupov pick even though scouts were ready to take Ryan Murray/Galchenyuk/trade down.

The gift to Flames fans that keeps on giving.

[Robo]

I think if yak is traded or bolts to Russia that may be the last straw for Lowe

[squiggs96]

The Oilers seem to be mailing in the rest of the season. Perhaps these will help:

[Vinny01]

I really hope the Oilers just blow their team up. The organization has to make a huge trade, or fire Lowe. The fans will not be happy otherwise

[browna]

Originally Posted by Robo

I think if yak is traded or bolts to Russia that may be the last straw for Lowe

It will be the last straw for sure for Lowe....so he'll go and fire his Euro scouts.

[flames_fan_down_under]

How entitled can this kid be? It seems Eakins had been trying to give him opportunities to prove himself, as there was a six game stretch where Yakupov was averaging close to 18 minutes a game. During that stretch he scored 1goal, had 1 assist, and was -10!!. Seems to me Yakupov had his opportunity to show he was willing to do the right things, when given the ice team that he apparently needs to succeed, and proved that he still has a lot of work to do.

[Don Benji]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I really hope the Oilers just blow their team up. The organization has to make a huge trade, or fire Lowe. The fans will not be happy otherwise

I prefer their fans to be unhappy. Don't change a thing Katz. If anything, bring in Jaroslav Pouzar as a skills coach to teach these kids "Oilers Hockey"

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The guy hasn't proven anything in the NHL and wants to dictate his ice time? I would be on the phones trying to unload him. If you can get a top team to offer their late 1st round pick you take it.

I know everyone loves Oiler misery, but don't get carried away. Yakupov is still worth more than a late 1st.