Why is Yakupov a bust?

[Brownies]

Ryan Murray is a third pairing defenseman. He's a bust for a 2OA pick.

Selecting an NHL player with a 20th pick is really good, but HFboard would have you think otherwise.

 

[tempest2i]

Selecting an NHL player with a 20th pick is really good, but HFboard would have you think otherwise.

Are you under the impression that Ryan Murray was drafted 20th overall?

 

[Menzinger]

Based on some articles/interviews around the time of his trade, seems as if the poor kid suffers from mental health issues like anxiety and that the Oilers weren't exactly a great environment for him. He doesn't drink so difficult to socialize with his teammates who seemingly liked to party and am overly critical local media.

Obviously not the only reason he hasn't panned out as expected but likely played a fair part in it

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Year|Team|Lea|GP|GS|A|PT|PIM|+/-|GPG
2010-11|Sarnia Sting|OHL|65|49|52|101|71|-2|.754
2011-12|Sarnia Sting|OHL|42|31|38|69|30|15|.738
2012-13|Nizhnekamsk|KHL|22|10|8|18|33|-4|.455
2012-13|Edmonton Oilers|NHL|48|17|14|31|24|-4|.354
2013-14|Edmonton Oilers|NHL|63|11|13|24|36|-33|.175
2014-15|Edmonton Oilers|NHL|81|14|19|33|18|-35|.173
2015-16|Edmonton Oilers|NHL|60|8|15|23|24|-16|.133
2016-17|St. Louis Blues|NHL|37|3|5|8|10|-4|.081

It is intriguing that Yakupov's goals per game rate has progressively declined over time ever since his first junior season no matter what change of leagues or teams .

Looks like a case of zero confidence right now. Not sure how else you can explain going from .354 goals per game as an 19 year old to .081 as a 23 year old, declining each season in between.

 

[FlameChampion]

From watching him play in Edmonton, I think hes a very stubborn player. He can skate well, can be good on forecheck, can lay some hits and be physical but he doesnt want to. I dont think he wants to adapt his playstyle at all. He sees himself as a certain type of player and I think coaches want him to be something else. Therefore the coaching staffs dont like how he plays. So he has that going against him.

I think socially wise he doesnt fit into the hockey culture. He is very religious and him having a hard time fitting in, I think has hard for him mentally to feel engaged as part of a team.

Combined with those things and not putting up production or getting much ice time has really killed his confidence.

I know people have said that he has low hockey IQ. Hes definitely doesnt have strong hockey IQ, but you would think at some point he wouldnt of got this far if he didnt have some. But I think all of these factors, and the time that has now passed, I cant see him really taking off.

Hes a good kid and a good person, so I hope that if he gets another chance he can make it work (assuming his heart is still in hockey).

 

[sandysan]

He was more talented than other players, and never really had to use his hickey-IQ as a result. He was rushed in to the NHL and never given the chance to develop a strong mental game. His mind couldn't keep up with the speed of the NHL, and he would have benefited from playing in the AHL to develop that IQ against slower and less talented players, where he would have still held a skill advantage over most. This would have boosted his confidence and taught him how to use his skill at an NHL-level.

So it's one of 3 things....
1. His hockey-IQ was never high enough to be an NHL player
2. He was poorly developed and his brain was never given a chance to catch up to his skill level
3. 1 and 2

if the idea is that he can't keep pace at the nhl level, I'm not sure what playing against AHL level players would do. He might tear up the AHL ( like he did in juniors) only to be right back where he is now.

And people talk about losing confidence, I don't see it. Its not that the oilers killed his confidence its that most shifts he has no idea where to go without the puck which means his linemates also have no idea where he will be. Its also ( in my opinion) why when he does have the puck he tries to do way too much with it because if he passes it, its likely he wont be seeing it again anytime soon.

he's been given less responsibility in st louis, the albatross of 1OA has been lifted, but in addition to know knowing where to be on the 1st and 2nd lines, on the thrid and fourth its even worse. there asre guys who tear it up whjen they are young and have to adapt to another role in the NHL ( play more physically, better defensively etc). I dont see any such progression in yakupov.

By all accounts he's a good kid who tries hard and wants to do well, but unless he fundamentally changes the way he plays ( which at this point seems less and less likely) I dont think he is long for the NHL.

 

[westc2]

Not sure why there's all this talk about Yakupov...it's been pretty obvious for the past couple seasons that's he's not a first line type of player.

I think he's fine as a middle 6 winger. He's been playing alright and is contributing for the Blues right now. Picked up an assist in the past 2 games.

He's not going to be able to ask for much money and I would bet he'd like to stay with the Blues since he's got a couple fellow Russians in Tarasenko and Barbashev here.

Basically I'm saying I don't the Blues have any reason to give up on him yet.

 

[Steve Zissou]

He's been playing alright and is contributing for the Blues right now. Picked up an assist in the past 2 games.

 

[Bolt32]

I remember watching the world Juniors with Yakupov. He would take the puck and try and skate around everyone, hardly ever passing it. Numerous of times I would see Kucherov wide open in the circle. Instead he tried doing everything himself.

At that moment, I knew he just wasn't there mentally. I hoped he would get himself out of that funk, or whatever you want to call it. He had all the raw skill, just couldn't read the play at that speed. Really bad Hockey IQ.

 

[Advanced stats]

Selecting an NHL player with a 20th pick is really good, but HFboard would have you think otherwise.

You realize he said 2-OA and not 20-A right?

 

[Panda Bear]

His confidence got destroyed, he lost whatever routines/habits made him successful, and he's been unable to recover them. Add on that he was always an "instincts first, second and third" player, and you have someone unable to adapt his game.

The most coach-ruined player that I've ever seen.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I remember watching the world Juniors with Yakupov. He would take the puck and try and skate around everyone, hardly ever passing it. Numerous of times I would see Kucherov wide open in the circle. Instead he tried doing everything himself.

At that moment, I knew he just wasn't there mentally. I hoped he would get himself out of that funk, or whatever you want to call it. He had all the raw skill, just couldn't read the play at that speed. Really bad Hockey IQ.

With that sort of thing, I wonder if it's hockey IQ or simply a lack of vision. The ability to execute skill plays at high speed AND have your eyes up and scanning the rest of the ice (plus the above-average peripheral vision that most pro athletes have) is one of those talents that separates the wheat from the chaff at the top level.

 

[ViD]

3 game point streak

quietly roaring back

 

[The Kingslayer]

I think Dallas Eakins broke this kid.

 

[MaxV]

Kinda hard to produce if you don't play.

 

[Aerchon]

From watching him play in Edmonton, I think hes a very stubborn player. He can skate well, can be good on forecheck, can lay some hits and be physical but he doesnt want to. I dont think he wants to adapt his playstyle at all. He sees himself as a certain type of player and I think coaches want him to be something else. Therefore the coaching staffs dont like how he plays. So he has that going against him.

I think socially wise he doesnt fit into the hockey culture. He is very religious and him having a hard time fitting in, I think has hard for him mentally to feel engaged as part of a team.

Combined with those things and not putting up production or getting much ice time has really killed his confidence.

I know people have said that he has low hockey IQ. Hes definitely doesnt have strong hockey IQ, but you would think at some point he wouldnt of got this far if he didnt have some. But I think all of these factors, and the time that has now passed, I cant see him really taking off.

Hes a good kid and a good person, so I hope that if he gets another chance he can make it work (assuming his heart is still in hockey).

Great post sums up most of how I feel.

Also need to add he just doesn't use his linemates at all. His style is no style. No structure. He is so unpredictable no one, including himself, knows where he is going to go or pass or anything.

The swarm of bees comment was probably very damaging to him but fits him so perfectly I will never forget it.

 

[westc2]

The assist streak continues. 3 in a row!

Giddy up indeed

 

[tfong]

Without reading the initial 7 pages, its what I've always said he lacks. Hockey IQ. He has literally everything else including a good work ethic and willingness to get physical. Just too bad he is still playing with the JR mentality.

 

[The Macho King]

I swear, the more I watch hockey the more I'm coming to the mindset that I will take a smart player with limited physical tools over a guy with no hockey brain. Seeing the difference between (say) Brayden Point and Vlad Namestnikov... give me the short dude with all sorts of brains over the skilled guy who only gets to the right spot on the ice by accident every time.

 

[Rebels57]

Needs to go to the KHL a.s.a.p.

 

[Not So Mighty]

People kept thinking he'd finally have a break out year after he left Edmonton, but his abilities have actually declined even more. What went wrong?

Yeah, I also have not seen this supposed trend in opinion.

 

[Luigi Habs]

From watching him play in Edmonton, I think hes a very stubborn player. He can skate well, can be good on forecheck, can lay some hits and be physical but he doesnt want to. I dont think he wants to adapt his playstyle at all. He sees himself as a certain type of player and I think coaches want him to be something else. Therefore the coaching staffs dont like how he plays. So he has that going against him.

I think socially wise he doesnt fit into the hockey culture. He is very religious and him having a hard time fitting in, I think has hard for him mentally to feel engaged as part of a team.

Combined with those things and not putting up production or getting much ice time has really killed his confidence.

I know people have said that he has low hockey IQ. Hes definitely doesnt have strong hockey IQ, but you would think at some point he wouldnt of got this far if he didnt have some. But I think all of these factors, and the time that has now passed, I cant see him really taking off.

Hes a good kid and a good person, so I hope that if he gets another chance he can make it work (assuming his heart is still in hockey).

Nazem Kadri is also religious but he's doing fine in the NHL.

 

[THall4]

The assist streak continues. 3 in a row!

Giddy up indeed

Its his annual March ramp up....hes done this every year hes been in the NHL..

 

[Weast]

Yeah, I also have not seen this supposed trend in opinion.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2133911&highlight=
People for the most part thought he would be good for 30 points

 

[Hockeyisl1fe]

His assist last night shows exactly what's wrong with him. Entering the zone and Pietrangelo is wide open on the right side; he tries to deke through Yotes' defense by himself. He ends up losing the puck, but fortunately for him it bounces right for Pietrangelo.