[News] Oilers Scratch Yakupov... Again

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I love how people are writing Yakupov saying he'll never amount to be a player like Stamkos. Did they forget that Stamkos had a poor rookie year, and many people were wondering if he'd end up being a bust, or if Tampa should deal him?

In Stamkos' rookie season he had 46 points in 79 games and was a -13.
In Yakuov's rookie season he had 31 points in 41 games and was only -4.

Lol, this has been brought up like 5 times in this thread alone.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

For those that can't hear, details

As far as I can recount:

-Have you spoken to the coach about trust issues: No, doesn't really talk to Eakins

-You're averaging about 15 minutes per game this year, what is your target minutes per game, say 18?: Really? 15? Didn't think he was getting 15, and definitely not in the past few games

-How would you rate your defensive play?: Pretty good. Tired of being on the bench knowing he can be on the ice being aggressive and making plays

-What do you think will happen from here forward?: We'll see in the next couple of days what happens (now that I've gone public)


Not sure I heard all of it. He was being asked tough questions and really sounded like he didn't want to be there.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

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

He's only worth what someone is willing to pay.

If he's asking for a trade out of Oiler ville he's not nearly as expensive as some people think.

[flames_fan_down_under]

I don't want to play nine or five minutes.

The lowest he has played all season was just under 11 minutes. Not sure where he getting "five minutes" from. Sounds like Eakins just can't win with this kid.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

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

His upside is. His skill set is.

But IMO, what you are not considering is scenarios other than him achieving his full potential in the NHL.

As a simple example, consider a two-outcome scenario with a 50% chance he plays to his potential and a 50% chance he runs home to Russia.

You have to take his value in the first scenario (a high first + a prospect?) and multiply it by 50%, and then take his value in the 2nd scenario (a 3rd round pick?) and multiply that by 50%

Add those two up and that's his value - if you think there is a 50-50 chance of each.

Anyway, just an illustration, but that is why his value has been lowered. He is just as talented as he always was, but there are other possible outcomes to this that are less enticing.

As a GM, do you take that chance and throw a bunch of assets at him?

Or do you take those assets and use them for a safer bet?

The problem for a GM is that the risk/reward is skewed to the downside: if you're right, great - you get a really good player. But if you're wrong, you probably get fired.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by calumniate

As far as I can recount:

-Have you spoken to the coach about trust issues: No, doesn't really talk to Eakins

-You're averaging about 15 minutes per game this year, what is your target minutes per game, say 18?: Really? 15? Didn't think he was getting 15, and definitely not in the past few games

-How would you rate your defensive play?: Pretty good. Tired of being on the bench knowing he can be on the ice being aggressive and making plays

-What do you think will happen from here forward?: We'll see in the next couple of days what happens (now that I've gone public)


Not sure I heard all of it. He was being asked tough questions and really sounded like he didn't want to be there.

The bolded alone should pretty much get Eakins fired if true.

Eakins is well on his way to selling car insurance for a living.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The bolded alone should pretty much get Eakins fired if true.

Eakins is well on his way to selling car insurance for a living.

Didn't he sign a 4 year deal? I think he's safe for a bit even if he does deserve to be fired.

I wonder how much they're paying him. $1M/year?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

This is going to probably get better:

Stephen Whyno‏@SWhyno4m

Craig MacTavish said Yakupov talk was distracting to #Oilers, accused @CraigCustance of manufacturing story,

Did MacT get his MBA from the Kevin Lowe School of Public Relations?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I love how people are writing Yakupov saying he'll never amount to be a player like Stamkos. Did they forget that Stamkos had a poor rookie year, and many people were wondering if he'd end up being a bust, or if Tampa should deal him?

In Stamkos' rookie season he had 46 points in 79 games and was a -13.
In Yakuov's rookie season he had 31 points in 41 games and was only -4.

In 17 GP this season, 20-year-old Nail Yakupov has 2g, 2a, 4pts and is -14
In the first 17 GP of his second season, 19-year-old Steven Stamkos had 13g, 7a, 20pts and was +5

The comparison to Stamkos was disingenuous when Oiler mouth<s>breathers</s>pieces made it, and it serves no real purpose to perpetuate it.

But you are right in the rest of your comment that this is also very much the Oilers fault. They may not be using him well, but he never gave any indication he was going to be a difference maker at any point this season. Even when he was in the top six.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I love how people are writing Yakupov saying he'll never amount to be a player like Stamkos. Did they forget that Stamkos had a poor rookie year, and many people were wondering if he'd end up being a bust, or if Tampa should deal him?

In Stamkos' rookie season he had 46 points in 79 games and was a -13.
In Yakuov's rookie season he had 31 points in 41 games and was only -4.

Has Yakupov had a poor start? Yes, most definitely; but you could say the same thing about the entire Oilers roster (outside of Perron). Hall, Hopkins, and Eberle might be putting up better numbers, but they don't spend their nights on the fourth line playing with Ryan Smyth and Mark Arcobello. Would we like it if Monahan spent next season on the fourth line with Jackman and McGratton? This is just as much an Oilers problem as it has anything to do with Yakupov's attitude, or lack thereof. If he were on a different team I am sure he would show he's more than capable of putting up numbers that are expected from a first overall pick.

People weren't wondering, they are calling him a bust. I remember so many people laughing because of the seen Stamkos billboards

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The bolded alone should pretty much get Eakins fired if true.

Eakins is well on his way to selling car insurance for a living.

He can sell the swarm defense as full coverage...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by calumniate

As far as I can recount:

-Have you spoken to the coach about trust issues: No, doesn't really talk to Eakins

-You're averaging about 15 minutes per game this year, what is your target minutes per game, say 18?: Really? 15? Didn't think he was getting 15, and definitely not in the past few games

-How would you rate your defensive play?: Pretty good. Tired of being on the bench knowing he can be on the ice being aggressive and making plays

-What do you think will happen from here forward?: We'll see in the next couple of days what happens (now that I've gone public)


Not sure I heard all of it. He was being asked tough questions and really sounded like he didn't want to be there.

Hahaha This one sentence (combined with as a poster said, he hasn't been below 11 min) is what screams Yak is a prima donna to me. 20 yrs old, getting 10-15 min/night and complaining? Go f*** yourself, kid.

Eakins may be a bad coach, but he's certainly not getting any help from this, and his other, "superstar" youngsters.

[Shin Pad]

Drafting highly ranked Russians is a bit of gamble. You could get a Ovechkin or you could get Nailed

[habernac]

Galchenyuk has been a treat in Montreal. Coach has been trying all sorts of different things, not a word from the young man in the press. And you know they'd be fishing for that stuff in the French media.

[sureLoss]

Brian Lawton is on Edmonton radio suggesting the Oilers make a trade so that they can give ice time to Yakupov. Said that he traded Jussi Jokinen so Stamkos could get ice time.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by fotze

Plus he's American.

and also Larionovs client, I believe ... I guess Igor won't have to make a stop in Montreal on his way to Edmonton

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Brian Lawton is on Edmonton radio suggesting the Oilers make a trade so that they can give ice time to Yakupov. Said that he traded Jussi Jokinen so Stamkos could get ice time.

Hemsky would be the obvious choice to go. They probably should have traded him already anyway.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by fotze

Plus he's American.

Left Wisconsin at age 4, didn't come back until he was 15. I think there's a little (Belo)Russian there.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Hemsky would be the obvious choice to go. They probably should have traded him already anyway.

I don't think its a matter that Mac-T hasn't tried to trade Hemsky. I don't think any teams are all that fired up about taking him on at the price.

Hemsky is on a one way flight to Europe at the end of this season.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Hahaha This one sentence (combined with as a poster said, he hasn't been below 11 min) is what screams Yak is a prima donna to me. 20 yrs old, getting 10-15 min/night and complaining? Go f*** yourself, kid.

Eakins may be a bad coach, but he's certainly not getting any help from this, and his other, "superstar" youngsters.

I would agree, its definately a two way thing. But in the Hawks game after Yashin, errr Yak got off the snide and scored a goal, he went back to the bench and never saw the ice again.

To me that's not exactly how you build a young players confidence.

I'm pretty convinced that its not going to matter if Eakins has a 4 year deal left. His bad line matchups. His terrible defense, the death of their PP and PK and Yak saying that he's not even talking to his coach should be a death knell for Eakins.

I mean Katz has got the money to pay that, and plus he can demand that Eakins hang out at his house, participate in the Friday night Pajama parties and give him a job restocking shelves at Rexall drugs.