[Signing] Oilers sign Yakupov to short term bridge contract (2yrs, $2.5mil AAV)

[shogged]

nice deal, last team I expected it from

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Locke

Hes the poster-child for Edmonton's complete failure to develop their prospects.

The guy has zero hockey IQ and has probably never set foot behind his own blueline, but he shouldnt be this bad.

His career +/- is an astonishing -72 over 3 seasons.

The Oilers have given up 465 goals against at 5 on 5 over the last three years. Yakupov was on the ice for 28% of them. He was also on the ice for 42% of their 18 shorthanded goals.

[CroFlames]

So they are admitting they should have taken Murray.

[Enoch Root]

Probably about the same amount of money that we'll be paying Bouma for the next few years. Perfect!

[Erick Estrada]

He has the potential to be a decent powerplay specialist as he has a good shot but I don't think he's ever going to live up to his draft billing as he's just not a very good NHL player 5 on 5.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He has the potential to be a decent powerplay specialist as he has a good shot but I don't think he's ever going to live up to his draft billing as he's just not a very good NHL player 5 on 5.

His shot is hard, but tends to be dead centre (of the goalie). And usually when he's standing still, so not that hard to defend or block. It's best used on the PP, but unless there's another shooting option, pretty easy to predict.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Yakupov has a lot of potential still, sucks that he is ruining his hockey career in Edmonton.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Looking at the Oilers' whole situation, I can't help but wonder if they might try for a sign and trade here. Yak has looked pretty easy to replace, if not outright improve upon, and maybe the short term and relatively low dollars combined with the last glimmer of high-draft-pick shine make him an attractive fixer-upper for someone else.

[Gaudfather]

Yakupov the day after...

Spoiler!

[CanadaMatt]

This is a great deal for the Oilers...Yak must have an awful agent.

[#-3]

Saw the Alert that is was 2x5 this afternoon. I was disappointed to learn the mean $5 for 2 (2.5aav). Not that its some amazing contract win for the Oilers, but I almost wonder if Nail didn't bother looking for a better deal and just said to his agent, "whatever gets me closer to UFA".

[browna]

Fully expect the Oilers now to try and deal him now that they have him under a decent deal. This offseason or come trade deadline, and the Oilers will use him as a toss in for some overpriced has been that has name cache (see Bryzgalov).

Have faith that if it seems to good to be true with the Oilers, it probably is.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

So they are admitting they should have taken Murray.

Considering his injury history (and the Oilers reputation of dealing with past-injuries), I'm not sure he would've been a much better outcome for them. I think that would be a totally different pile of dung for them to deal with.

At this stage, they would've been better to take Hampus Lindholm or Jacob Trouba over both. Or of course, Galchenyuk.