Confirmed Trade: [EDM/STL] Yakupov for Zach Pochiro + Cndl 2017 3rd (becomes 2018 2nd if Yak hits 15G)

[Speed Shooter]

On the one hand, this is long overdue and it's actually a decent return for the Oilers, given just how far Yakupov has fallen. Heck, it's better than what we got for Nikita "Filly don't do rebounds" Filatov, and we actually didn't hold on to him quite as long (three years instead of four).

On the other hand, I can't help but remember, shortly after the 2012 lottery results were announced, just how many Oil fans started pushing really, really hard for us to trade them Ryan Johansen and the #2 overall so that we could take Our Appointed-By-Outsiders Savior Yakupov and they could then draft Ryan Murray with a clear conscience.

For the majority of Oil fans, I feel for you; even when you see it coming, getting these kind of busts confirmed still kinda sucks. Decent return, tho, all things considered.
For those other Oil fans described above, tho... CHOKE ON IT.

I am not sure what universe "Zack Pochiro + Conditional 3rd" can be referred to as a decent return in a trade.

 

[Mr Positive]

There's literally zero risk for the Blues. What is questionable about it? He sucks and we can just play Jaskin in the spot like we planned and just waive him. If he's decent we gave up essentially nothing for a third line winger. There's nothing questionable about it.

This is similar to when we traded Horcoff was traded to Dallas, but even better for St.Louis really. Horcoff was garbage here in Edmonton. He was hated, he had horrid stats, and he was our scapegoat. In Dallas, he was a good veteran checking center.

We had to get rid of Yak because he's got a poisoned history here. The player is still intriguing.

 

[Frank Drebin]

For reference

DiPietro played 318 NHL games
Stefan played 455
Daigle played 616

Yak needs to carve himself a niche pretty quick to be considered as "successful" as any of those 3.

My opinion, yak doesn't hit 400 NHL games.

 

[Spektre]

Well, most busted 1st overall picks have some excuse for failing.

But yeah, DiPietro was progressing before his knees went.

As for the rest of the 1st overall's (not including 60's pick that were not true best players available), here's some that were worse than Yak...

Greg Joly (1974)
Doug Wickenheiser (1980)
Patrik Stefan (1999)

As it stands, unless he comes around in St. Louis, he should fall into the Alexandre Daigle / Brian Lawton territory... although he may still up his game to Joe Murphy / Billy Harris levels.

Although Wickenheiser will never be thought of as a great player the ever lasting memory of him will be The Monday Night Miracle. That, and the 14 fund in his name which is a charity fund for cancer.

 

[Treb]

I thinks Stefan was better..

Patrik Stefan 455 gp 64-124-188 0.141 gpg 0.273 apg 0.413 ppg

Nail Yakupov 250 gp 50-61-111 0.2 gpg 0.244 apg 0.44 ppg

Yakupov is better than Stefan.

Anyway, the true 1st overall busts:
1964: Claude Gauthier
1965: André Veilleux
1967: Rick Pagnutti

 

[rojac]

For reference

DiPietro played 318 NHL games
Stefan played 455
Daigle played 616

Yak needs to carve himself a niche pretty quick to be considered as "successful" as any of those 3.

My opinion, yak doesn't hit 400 NHL games.

He's already played 252. You don't think he plays 2 more NHL seasons?

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

"If Yak scores 15, it's a 2nd."

I bet when he plays the Jets this year he gets most of his 15 goals vs Pavs!

Hahaha Edm.

 

[542365]

I'm in the minority then, thinking that the Oilers did ok and St. Louis did something questionable.

There's literally zero risk for the Blues. What is questionable about it? He sucks and we can just play Jaskin in the spot like we planned and just waive him. If he's decent we gave up essentially nothing for a third line winger. There's nothing questionable about it.

 

[rynryn]

Can Yak be taken in the expansion draft?

also I think this is a good deal for both clubs. no risk as some Blues people have said. If Yeo can get Zucker to score 20 from the 3rd and 4th line in one year I don't see why that's not an attainable mark to set for Yak.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

That doesn't mean he restricts offense. Picking the dead-puck era and the current era where scoring is down, most coaches will have a similar result. Hitch hasn't had many players capable of 80+ points in those eras.

In that same time, he's had multiple 40 goal scorers and has seen players put up the best offensive seasons of their careers. Hitchcock does not restrict offense.

Um, yes he does.

Number of 80+ point scorers by year that Hitchcock coached:

95/96 - 35
96/97 - 22
97/98 - 9
98/99 - 14
99/00 - 9
00/01 - 20
01/02 - 4
02/03 - 14
03/04 - 8
05/06 - 26
06/07 - 28
07/08 - 19
08/09 - 17
09/10 - 17
10/11 - 9
11/12 - 9
13/14 - 7
14/15 - 5
15/16 - 5


Sure there are some down years recently as well late 90s and early 00s, but there were years in the mid 90s and mid 00s where scoring was ABUNDANT and Hitchcock managed only one 80 point scorer in Modano who is arguably the greatest Amercian player all time

 

[belair]

Can Yak be taken in the expansion draft?

Yes and I think he will be if he plays well in St Louis.

 

[kurtcobang]

There's literally zero risk for the Blues. What is questionable about it? He sucks and we can just play Jaskin in the spot like we planned and just waive him. If he's decent we gave up essentially nothing for a third line winger. There's nothing questionable about it.

I'm guessing he comes out with a great first 10 games with hype off the charts then disappears for the next 40. He will get to 400 games and a pension just based on him visually looking like a player. He is the definition of a tease lol and Stefan never looked as good as Yak does when he is confident and shooting from everywhere

 

[krutovsdonut]

that deal with the devil that pocklington made sure has a long pay back.

 

[Frank Drebin]

He's already played 252. You don't think he plays 2 more NHL seasons?

He's not good enough for the oilers

 

[skyo]

Chiarelli probably asking for a 1st to a 2nd all summer,
dropped price to a conditional 3rd, sold.

 

[Viqsi]

I am not sure what universe "Zack Pochiro + Conditional 3rd" can be referred to as a decent return in a trade.

The condition is that they potentially get a higher pick - the 3rd doesn't disappear or something. Also: free cap space.

 

[smackdaddy]

I am not sure what universe "Zack Pochiro + Conditional 3rd" can be referred to as a decent return in a trade.

It's called the "cap universe".

 

[Spektre]

Yes and I think he will be if he plays well in St Louis.

I don't follow the logic.

Players to be protected by the Blues:

Stastny, Steen, Tarasenko, Lehtera, Perron, Berglund, Yakupov.

Even saying they'd protect Lehtera, Perron, & Berglund is up for debate.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Um, yes he does.

Number of 80+ point scorers by year that Hitchcock coached:

95/96 - 35
96/97 - 22
97/98 - 9
98/99 - 14
99/00 - 9
00/01 - 20
01/02 - 4
02/03 - 14
03/04 - 8
05/06 - 26
06/07 - 28
07/08 - 19
08/09 - 17
09/10 - 17
10/11 - 9
11/12 - 9
13/14 - 7
14/15 - 5
15/16 - 5


Sure there are some down years recently as well late 90s and early 00s, but there were years in the mid 90s and mid 00s where scoring was ABUNDANT and Hitchcock managed only one 80 point scorer in Modano who is arguably the greatest Amercian player all time

And in Dallas Hull was on pace for it twice, but had injuries, 58 in 60 and 79 in 79. Nash had 79 in 78 in Columbus. Gagne had 79 in 72 in Philly. Tarasenko is still growing and could push for it. He's also had plenty of others in the mid 70s. So, pretty much every place he's been, there have been players that over a full season would have hit 80 or more.

You also see increases in production for lesser tier players, and you fail to see an increase for players to leave Hitchcock while still being in their prime. So, who exactly do you believe he's held back. The evidence does not hold your claim up.

 

[smackdaddy]

I don't follow the logic.

Players to be protected by the Blues:

Stastny, Steen, Tarasenko, Lehtera, Perron, Berglund, Yakupov.

Even saying they'd protect Lehtera, Perron, & Berglund is up for debate.

In all seriousness, you would protect Yakupov?

Who would you expose, then?

 

[lomiller1]

Yak was CONSENSUS #1 in 2012. Anyone saying otherwise is rewriting history. Yea Forsburg or Parynko would have been nice but no one can say he wasn't the universal #1 that year. "Bure light" as I recall. Oh well Mcdavid cures all best of luck to Yak in STL

He was the consensus #1, or close to to it, but he backed into it and everyone knew it halfway though his draft year. The players who could have challenged him faded or were injured leaving a bunch of D-men that were either hard to project or safe up uninspiring. He would not have challenged for #1 in either 2011 or 2013, maybe not even top 5. This is despite the fact that 2011 itself was considered a draft without a clear elite talent.

This was all pretty clear by the time the lottery happened, but Oiler fans went into major revisionist mode as soon as they won the lottery claiming it was jealousy.

My opinion then was that the oilers should have traded down and tried tom get multiple first rounders for him. (Possibly Pittsburgh's 2) It was a D heavy draft with lots of talent but at the time no clear star and the Oilers needed D. With 2 high picks they should have got at least 1 and possibly 2 good D. Eg Trouba and Maatta had they traded for the Pens 2 picks. (not sure of the timing where they acquired the second pick.)

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

And in Dallas Hull was on pace for it twice, but had injuries, 58 in 60 and 79 in 79. Nash had 79 in 78 in Columbus. Gagne had 79 in 72 in Philly. Tarasenko is still growing and could push for it. He's also had plenty of others in the mid 70s. So, pretty much every place he's been, there have been players that over a full season would have hit 80 or more.

You also see increases in production for lesser tier players, and you fail to see an increase for players to leave Hitchcock while still being in their prime.

And thats part of the long storied Hitchcock effect.

A lot of players either get "burned out" by hitch or injured playing his systems because he demands so much physical play

And to your bolded point, there isnt "plenty" of others

Hitchcock in 19 seasons has only ever had SEVEN 70+ point players
Recchi
Modano
Hull
Gagne
Forsberg
Nash
Tarasenko

not sure I would call 7 in his entire coaching career "plenty"

 

[rynryn]

neither the Oilers nor the Blues are worse for this trade. that's the important thing.

 

[Spektre]

In all seriousness, you would protect Yakupov?

Who would you expose, then?

Go look at the rest of the roster and you tell me. Remember the original comment said the Blues would expose Yak if he had a good year. If he had a bad year then I understand the logic but not if he has a good year.

 

[Paradise*]