Is there a chance that Yakupov is available? Or is this all strictly speculation?
if you read the edm media stuff, seems so. if theres a chance, you gotta make a play on this kid. he has top stuff. filthy skills.
theres no doubt hes got some issues mostly based on confidence. kid should have had a full season of ahl hockey to learn his trade. right now, that would help more than the healthy scratches. he had 17 goals as a true freshman last year. soph season can be frustrating as we know. hes pressing and fighting the game now. he says just that in his interviews. he knows whats wrong.
hes got no confidence right now. he just needs to play and stop forcing stuff. rather than relax, hes forcing things more and failing to play both ways isnt helping. hes pressing more, which is helping less and hes letting it effect his overall game. hes a kid. he thinks if hes not scoring, he shouldnt have to back check. its dumb but its understandable. he contributes on the score board, hes never known anything else.
he is a goal scorer. he expects to score. hes always scored. he isnt handling not scoring properly imo.
if you know anything about this kid though, hes dead serious about what he does. hes a fierce competitor and he does not like to lose. no one questions his work ethic nor his seriousness about wanting to be the best.
if theres anyway to pry him away, we have to do more than just kick the tires. nail yakupov on broadway would be ridiculous. he would be an instant star and the next big russian stud. he is that talented.
the nhl and nyc would see this kid become a star.
