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

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

That's revisionist history. Yakupov may not have been a consensus #1 OA, but he was a consensus top-3. The Oilers didn't go off the board drafting him. It was a weak draft, and the Oilers handled Yakupov's development badly, because that's what the Oilers do.

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.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yakupov may not have been a consensus #1 OA, but he was a consensus top-3. The Oilers didn't go off the board drafting him.

true. Still, of the top prospects available, Yakupov was probably the worst fit for them. They had already drafted a franchise winger in Hall, and Eberle had just come off a 34 goal/76 point season. They had zero need for another small winger with no 200 ft game. Their scouts wanted Murray, there was a talented center in Galchenyuk (who the Flames had at 1, IIRC) available, there was another talented defenseman in Reilly (who the Leafs had at 1, IIRC) available. It was a wide open draft and the smart play would have been to either listen to the scouts and pick Murray, or draft down. Instead, they took the flashy shiny toy because Katz said so. It doesn't take hindsight to criticize that decision, a lot of people did so back then as well.

[RobbieT]

Best Tweet I've read:

You know who is better than Zach Pochiro? Nail Yakupov...

Hahahahaha

[JerryUnderscore]

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 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?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I hope he scores 30+ this season now.

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

[devo22]

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?

we do.

At the Friday morning meeting of the scouts and front office personnel, then general manager Steve Tambellini would tell the scouts who the team would be choosing later that night.

But that morning proceeded strangely. Head amateur scout Stu MacGregor would ask the scouts to vote, and then he would leave the room. He’d come back with some alternate criteria to describe the type of player the Oilers wanted to choose, and they’d vote again.

Every time, the vote came back the same. Nine votes for defenceman Ryan Murray, and two for Nail Yakupov. Truth be told, one of those Yakupov votes had started as a vote for Alex Galchenyuk, then morphed into support for Yakupov.

With the advice of their on-the-ground scouts tucked away, the Oilers brain trust of the day — Tambellini, president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe, soon-to-be GM Craig MacTavish, and owner Daryl Katz — would meet that afternoon to finalize the decision.

The scouts were, to a man, surprised when that Friday morning meeting ended, and Tambellini did not stand up to declare who the 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick would be. All they knew was that Murray was the overwhelming favourite. One of the Oilers Ontario scouts is believed to have had Yakupov outside his Top 5. The other had him second on the Sarnia Sting — behind his junior teammate Galchenyuk. A European scout was Yakupov’s biggest champion among the scouts.

That evening, dressed in a flat grey suit with a blue striped tie, Tambellini recited the line that every recent GM has come to know so well: “The Edmonton Oilers are so proud to select, from the Sarnia Sting, Nail Yakupov.”

Nine to two.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/o...yakupov-start/

[sureLoss]

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?

If the spector article wasn't enough:

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/s...16521780609024
https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/s...17253430833152

[iloveicedhockey]

Based on previous drafting and development, that conditional third may as well be a 7th, or considerations.

The oilers just cap dumped a no. 1 pick of 4 years ago.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

This might be the best part...

Pool Party a no go? Doubt the Oilers care, in you go on the top line.

That's a big deal because most Oiler fans had him penciled into their top 6 to help soften the burning sting in their backside from the Hall trade.

OMG like with Lucic and Poolparty (Stupid nickname) the Oilers offense will be better then EVAH (Followed by girlish scream).

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

And one really wonders why someone didn't bid that up a bit. Seriously. I have no idea who he plays with on STL mind you.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

And one really wonders why someone didn't bid that up a bit. Seriously. I have no idea who he plays with on STL mind you.

Why would any team bid that up.

A) I think the secret is out that it wasn't coaching that ruined Yak, its his low hockey IQ and inability to think the game at an NHL level. He doesn't see the ice well, doesn't use his team mates well, goes into vapor lock when he doesn't have the puck.

B) I would think most teams probably believed that if a deal wasn't found that Yak would be waived so they were probably waiting for that. Probably a lot of them believe that Yak will still probably waived by a brutal Hitch at some point.

[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

[Sylvanfan]

I hope he scores 14 this year and 30 next year. This is a good year to learn, play say 60 games, and get ready to explode next year.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

And one really wonders why someone didn't bid that up a bit. Seriously. I have no idea who he plays with on STL mind you.

Well if you believe Dreger, the Oilers couldn't even get a 3rd round pick for him at the last trade deadline. So a 3rd that might become a 2nd could be considered a bid up.

[Bourque's Twin]

Great opportunity for Pochiro. Good chance he sticks with the big club's top 6 D.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Well if you believe Dreger, the Oilers couldn't even get a 3rd round pick for him at the last trade deadline. So a 3rd that might become a 2nd could be considered a bid up.

I'm just saying I consider it a missed opportunity for 28 GMs.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I'm just saying I consider it a missed opportunity for 28 GMs.

Not really.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Great opportunity for Pochiro. Good chance he sticks with the big club's top 6 D.

So the Oilers are going to shore up their defence with an ECHL-level forward?

Yeah, I could see it.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Not really.

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.

[bob-loblaw]