[Trade] Yakupov to St. Louis for conditional 3rd + Zach Pochiro

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Table 5

With the Flames poor depth on RW, and nobody really stepping up this training camp, I think the Flames missed out on an opportunity. Knowing we would've needed to pay more with us being a direct rival, I personally would've been ok with trading a 2017 2nd for him. I think he's worth the low risk, and this upcoming draft isn't that great anyway.

Anything more than a 3rd would be an overpayment IMO, 4th would have been my comfort zone. The Flames have a massive hole on their top right wing but that's only because guys like Brouwer and Frolik have very defined roles on our team and you don't want to shuffle them around. Either are better options than Yakupov.

Spending a 2nd round pick is a massive price when the odds are he'll be gone by this summer anyways. Don't have any faith he'll turn his game around, and giving up an asset like that to watch him flounder would've been brutal.

There will be plenty of reclamation projects on waivers over the long weekend if we want one.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

This thread is the first time I've heard that the Oilers scouts wanted Murray. Katz really stepped in? Do we have a source for that?

I personally heard this from one of the Oilers VPs. We were sitting next to each other at a dinner event.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Table 5

With the Flames poor depth on RW, and nobody really stepping up this training camp, I think the Flames missed out on an opportunity. Knowing we would've needed to pay more with us being a direct rival, I personally would've been ok with trading a 2017 2nd for him. I think he's worth the low risk, and this upcoming draft isn't that great anyway.

I would have added him also, but i doubt Edmonton would have traded him to us. Edmonton did not want to take any money back, which they would have had to with Calgary . Also my gut tells me that another reason he was traded to the Blues, other than money , was that he might have a hard time succeeding in Hitchcocks defensive style. It would look better for Edmonton if Yak does not succeed and goes back to the KHL.

[dammage79]

Both the Hall and Yak trades were like the Iggy trade, they waited too long to pull the trigger.

Even a year ago, yeah okay two years ago they could have actually gotten some really good pieces to help their team. But here we are, and we as Flames fans know all too well the price of hanging on just a little too long.

[thefoss1957]

So ends in failure, the "Fail for Nail" strategy...from the look on his face, when told that the Oil won the draft lottery, I can hardly wait for the dishonor when Connor inevitably bolts to a more desirable destination to stick a fork in the whole "Dishonor for Connor" plan, at his first opportunity...

[TheoFleury]

Wonder what McDavid thinks of his GM's trading abilities? 16OA+33OA+Hall+Yakupov for Larsson+Reinhart+cond. 3rd+Pochiro? Three separate trades to 'accomplish' that? All of this over close to one calendar year? Yeesh, that is some stinky asset management over a really short time period. Probably the three worst trades in the NHL over that time... All by one guy! Or a group of guys? Who really knows?

Could've had Connor and Dermott coming out of the 2015 draft with McDavid, now that would've been scary!

Chia pet should be happy the Flames snagged Hamilton, or he probably wouldn't have Talbot either lol.

Anyone who thinks their management has actually changed is deluding themselves.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Spending a 2nd round pick is a massive price when the odds are he'll be gone by this summer anyways. Don't have any faith he'll turn his game around, and giving up an asset like that to watch him flounder would've been brutal.

There will be plenty of reclamation projects on waivers over the long weekend if we want one.

I understand why others like yourself would pass, but I think every team has to play these lottery tickets once in a while. Two of the best teams in the West, Chicago and St.Louis, seemed to think he was worth it. I think the potential of Yak being a Top 6 winger is still decent...and the chances of him being any kind of NHLer is probably higher than that 2nd round pick in a rather poor draft.

I'm not going to sleep over it by any means, but I would've liked to see it happen. Even if just for the Oiler comedy potential.

[#BoringMonahan]

I was kinda hoping he'd get traded to MTL and end up playing with Galchenyuk, then watch those two light it up over there. I feel as though that's where he could've really thrived.

Still, it's going to be interesting to see how he does now that he's out of Edmonton. Mind blowing how in the timespan of a few months they've moved out two 1st overall picks - for very mediocre returns.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

So ends in failure, the "Fail for Nail" strategy...from the look on his face, when told that the Oil won the draft lottery, I can hardly wait for the dishonor when Connor inevitably bolts to a more desirable destination to stick a fork in the whole "Dishonor for Connor" plan, at his first opportunity...

Putting the C on McDavid probably has nothing to do with building the team but was to keep him happy. If the Oilers continue to struggle it will be all on Conner and not the organization just like it was on Hall and Yakupov. The Oilers tinker a lot with small stuff but don't have a good grasp on the bigger picture. Building your team by selecting a bunch of first overalls has turned out to be a terrible poorly thought out strategy. They basically sat back all these years without putting in the work to build a a decent team thinking that somehow all these magical pieces would come together. A lot of talent wasted on a misguided lazy strategy.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by TheoFleury

Could've had Connor and Dermott coming out of the 2015 draft with McDavid, now that would've been scary!

All the "scary" is currently located in Winnipeg instead... And that's only slightly better as a scenario.

[Nsd1]

Should've traded Wotherspoon for him.

[CSharp]

That's too bad, Oilers could've had Wideman to reunite with Russell, heh.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

No chance the Oilers risk trading him to us or Vancouver for anything short of a massive overpayment. Optics shoukd he actually turn it around would haunt the team and fan base for too long in a Flames or Nucks uni, I'm sure there is pretty much nothing reasonable we could have done to get Chia to consider us as an option.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Hitch will turn him around into a dependable defensive e player that can pot a few.

Yak works hard but it is obvious he is pulling in a different direction than the rest of the oarsman

Hitch is good, but he isn't capable of the impossible

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Check the conditions on the draft pick. I think you'd rather he score 14 goals and no more.

Fair enough.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Honestly the Oilers need to take away the trading rights on Chia's computer account.

The Reinhart trade was breathtakingly bad

The Hall for Larsson trade isn't a great trade value wise.

Now Yak for a conditional third and a prospect that is so far from the NHL that he's already practicing his "I was a NHL prospect, at his local beer league game"

The only thing he's done well is draft first overall and pick McMenis, which frankly I could have done for a 1/4 of the salary.

Make no mistake, this team looks to be worse then last year especially offensively.

This was their starting D on opening night last year:

Klefbom-Schultz
Sekera-Fayne
Reinhart - Gryba

I think they'll be better. But still 14th in the West. Next year they won't be 14th, though. 15th.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

While this is true, I think the worst thing about the Yakupov pick were the reports that the Oilers scouting staff in an overwhelming majority wanted Murray over Yakupov but were overruled by Katz.

This is true. Bob McKenzie (and Eric Duhatschek) has said as much.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...295033/?page=3

[TorqueDog]

Patrik Štefan is still a bigger first overall draft bust in my mind, I think Yak has a real chance to redeem himself with a team like St. Louis (and further indict the Oilers as a place where player development stagnates and rots).

Magnus Pääjärvi got the same chance, but it was pretty evident that he needed more AHL seasoning.

[JerryUnderscore]

Fascinating. Thanks guys!

This just goes to show why owns should never get involved in the day-to-day operations of a hockey team. Your scouts are the ones that have seen these kids play.

I'm glad for our sake that Edmonton didn't choose Murray with that pick!

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

I'm glad for our sake that Edmonton didn't choose Murray with that pick!

In a twisted way it most likely would have been better. Lowe/MacT would probably still be in charge and they probably wouldn't have horseshoe'd their way into McJesus.