How do you think Yakupov would have done in Columbus?
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viceroy
Registered User
Funny enough if Edmonton hadn't picked Yak at #1, he may have gone at 4th or worse. Colombus was hating on Russians at the time and if Galchenyuk wasn't available at #3 the Habs were very fond of Teuvu Teravainen.
So the Isles would then have picked him up at #4.
So the Isles would then have picked him up at #4.
Eagle Eye Cherry
guitar player
Before he came to the nhl, I always thought this guy was a 1st line player or something but I guess I was wrong.
Oiler fans keep selling this, but no one is buying. He's improved, but still pretty bad on defence.
As for the question, I think he'd be better, but not a tonne. I just don't see the insane skill level people talk about. It's just too bad for Edmonton that they had the top pick and he was the top prospect.
Honour Over Glory
Blomqvist for Vezina + ROTY
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Yak could be on any other team in the league and it'd be an improvement on his career.
He's mediocre on defense, but also, that statement where he's been one of your best...that's not saying much when he's been one of the best in a group of sad sacks in that department.
He's mediocre on defense, but also, that statement where he's been one of your best...that's not saying much when he's been one of the best in a group of sad sacks in that department.
People realize he's still playing his ELC contract right? There have been so many prospects that take a while to hit their stride.
Ryan Johansen was being scratched in the AHL at Yakupov's age. Sedins were average at best and could easily have been called busts up until they were 23-25.
Ryan Johansen was being scratched in the AHL at Yakupov's age. Sedins were average at best and could easily have been called busts up until they were 23-25.
he would have probably put up around the same on another team, if he was in the nhl. personally i always thought he needed a year or two in the ahl where he would be the go to man, and could work on his d at the same time. that being said, he was basically stuck in the johansen and nino stage, too good for juniors, too young for the ahl. he does look better defensively than he first did
KarmaPolice
Snack enthusiast
He's actually quite good defensively now, and getting better and better. He's really devoted himself to improving, which is a big reason why his point totals are down. He is never cheating on the offensive side anymore. So he's actually one off the more dependable guys now. At the start of the year? Not so much. I think he was a -6 after only his first 5 games. But things have improved a lot. He's still in the minus of course (crappy team) but has been only -7 in the 25 games after that. Relative to the rest of the team, that's actually really quite good.
I actually wish it was reversed. I wish CLB got Yak and Oilers got Murray. I believe Oilers were going to draft Murray but Mr. Katz gave the order to draft Yak--probably because his afro kid wanted him to be on the team. Who knows? Shows you why owners should stay out of things like this.
KarmaPolice
Snack enthusiast
That's a good point. Thornton took a while to get going. Hall was kind of average in his first couple of seasons before being a top 10 scorer the next two seasons. Even Stamkos had a bit of a slow start--at least in his rookie year. More recently, Drouin was sent back to the minors for an extra year, and has been a healthy scratch on occasion this year--on pace to only score 3 goals in over 70 games, though I'm sure it'll be more than that. But he's another smallish player. Montreal's own Tomas Plekanec took a few years to get going, including a couple years in the AHL. Or how about Pacioretty? Up and down from the AHL and NHL for about 3 seasons with not much success in the NHL until things started to click with him. So this happens to some really good players, and there's no shame in it taking a few years to hit your stride.
It seems smaller players sometimes take longer to hit their stride. Not always, but sometimes. Every player develops at a different pace. Yak had a very good rookie year, so there is some promise there. It's certainly too early to give up on the kid.
Thats the same as saying someone is the tallest midget. That doesnt amount to much.
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
It really is quite remarkable how frequently people forget about the existence of Fedor Tyutin.
Fans have occasionally been anti-Russian, but never the organization.Also, IIRC the Isles were pretty bound and determined to get a quality blueliner.
Crede777
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Howson went on record before the draft stating if Yakupov fell to #2, he would trade the pick to a team that wanted Yak bad enough. I don't think there was a scenario where we would have picked him. Our draft board reportedly favored Murray, Galchenyuk, and Forsberg.
candyman82
Registered User
When will this stupid "Columbus didn't want Russians" myth die? The same front office that drafted Murray picked up Nikitin, Anisimov, and Bobrovsky within a year of one another.
Derrty
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Hello Johnny
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SLAPSHOT723
QU! Bobcats!
It really is quite remarkable how frequently people forget about the existence of Fedor Tyutin.
Also, IIRC the Isles were pretty bound and determined to get a quality blueliner.
The rumor was they wanted Yakupov, and if he was available at #2 they would trade up to get him. They must have seen Reinhart as the best player at that spot so they took him, but they weren't against taking a forward. Don't forget, Okposo was playing pretty poorly, Yakupov would have gotten every opportunity to play next to JT.
candyman82
Registered User
Mc5RingsAndABeer
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Yea, tell that to all the scouts that ranked him a unanimous #1.
You were probably saying the same garbage about Duchene, Thornton, MSL, Datsyuk, Johansen, etc...
The problem is very simple. He has been overhyped into something he isn't by the Oilers fan based on a months worth of play. For the last two years the Oiler fans have been calling him an elite game breaking player. He did that for one month, but has been overmatched by older players for the rest of his career. Which is ok when you understand that he still is growing as a player.
He was the top prospect in a draft that wasn't all that wasn't widely considered to have high end talent. There were questions about his game. There were concerns about Murray... Columbus would not have taken him 2nd overall. They had an eye on Forsberg - a fact I have a friend who is one of their scouts - felt his game would translate better.
Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
Fair point. I only know the Islanders' draft plans for after Yakupov was picked.
* * *
I've not heard of any Forsberg over Yakupov stories, but I do know we took a long look at Forsberg. Indeed, until Howson stepped up to the podium I was reasonably certain that that was who we were taking.
