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What's The (No) Deal With Yakupov? |
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It was a saga that started with a forgotten footnote in a blog I posted on July 1 (http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=77922)—that the Hawks had reached out to the Oilers to kick the tires on RW Nail Yakupov.
After some mild hubbub and discussion around that for a few weeks, the rumor died—or actually went dormant—until Chief at Barstool Sports tweeted yesterday that he'd heard a deal was close between the Hawks and the Oil, involving Yakupov and a couple of the Hawks "non-NHL" prospects (i.e., Ville Pokka, Ryan Hartman, Mark McNeill—although Hartman is a good bet to make the Hawks, but whatever)
Not too long after that, I heard from the original source on the July tip: "yes, the teams are close to a deal, names have been agreed on, but the deal is not done, there is a sticking point that needs to be worked out."
Then within minutes, I heard: "the deal is getting close but NOT done; there are other teams potentially in the mix. Can't name players, but one coming from the Hawks might surprise."
Then, I heard: "the issue holding this thing up is retained salary (by Edmonton), the teams are not in agreement."
Then, the whole thing went dark, and there was some press scuttlebutt in Canada last night that the deal was dead—the Hawks really want to go with their young guys, etc.
OK, what's going on here?
Well, before this whole Yakupov thing percolated and blew the top off the coffeemaker yesterday, there were perhaps some fans and scribes getting a little out over their skis about the "validation" of the Hawks' youth movement—especially after a 6-1 win over the Red Wings night before last.
As I cautioned on the blog, however, everyone seems to be forgetting that the Hawks—and the many rookies who pitched in that night—had the Wings overmatched. Detroit's two best defensemen in the game were Jonathan Ericsson and Dan Dekeyser. Most of the Wings' better forwards didn't dress.
This is the nature of the preseason. Home and away mismatches depending on who is dressed by which team, lots of mistakes and open ice and opportunities that will not be there when the regular season starts.
Nothing to get too up or too down about. But you have to maintain perspective—especially on a Joel Quenneville-coached team— that the anticipated tsunami of rookies in the Hawk lineup this year likely will be more like a small wave. 2, maybe 3 rookies, that's it. And even then, they'll be kept ion a short leash, and not plugged in to roles that aren't right for them or the team.
Hence, why, when no one knows these players better than the Hawks themselves, the team has been fairly dogged in pursuit of bargain basement free agents like Jamie McGinn, Thomas Vanek, Jiri Hudler and even Jimmy Vesey. And why they kicked the tires on Yakupov in July—and returned to the bargaining table yesterday (if not earlier).
The Hawks are not buying the hype—which is a healthy thing.
I feel compelled at this point to remind readers that statements like "we like our team" and "we want to go with our kids" are filtered out to someone like, say, Bob McKenzie, there may be a reason they are telling the journalist something, and that message in particular. As in: that
is what we want fans, and the front offices of other teams, to think.
A simple, yet obvious rhetorical question is raised by yesterday's events:
If the Hawks have in fact had conversations with the Oilers about Yakupov (and I am 99.9% certain they have, and did yesterday), then how "happy" are they with the certainty of the "answers" presented by their "kids" (this year at least).
I'm not here to dump on the Hawks rookies. Although I've been highly skeptical, 3 players in particular have impressed me as guys who can contribute in specific, limited roles this year, if given the chance: Ryan Hartman, Tyler Motte, and Gustav Forsling.
I am a huge fan of Alexandre Fortin, but the likelihood of his sticking with the Hawks and not going back to junior is quite low. As it really should be.
Forsling simply might be too deep on the depth chart. Have to wait and see, but the odds of his staying in Chicago seem to be inching up.
Motte and Hartman are making their case because they are showing that they can produce in high-traffic situations and have no fear of NHL contact. Again, it's much easier to make plays when the games are loosely checked and the defenders on the ice are Grand Rapids Griffins or Belleville Bulls.
Motte and Hartman are showing that their production may translate to the regular season.
But I suspect, if those two make the club, it will be in third and fourth line roles. Which is entirely appropriate and good for them. Hopefully for the Hawks, too.
In the top 6, Richard Panik remains the likeliest candidate to fill the still gaping LW role, vacated last summer by Brandon Saad.
Sure, Yakupov is a talented yet under-productive right wing. But, say you put him at RW with countrymen Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin (who yesterday had some praise for Yakupov), perhaps he flourishes playing with two talented guys who can communicate with him and play the game the right way.
Then you bump Patrick Kane up with Jonathan Toews, and they can lug the rough around the edges, but game Panik around and be quite productive.
Marian Hossa joins Marcus Kruger and Motte for a now kind of interesting, two-way third line—and Bob's Your Uncle.
But it's all theory.
Still, the evidence suggests that although there are some encouraging signs among the rookies and prospects— especially the from Motte, Fortin and Forsling— the Hawk front office is not as "content" with the Great Youth Movement at this point as some might want to believe.
And the Yakupov pot may just have gone back to a low boil for now.
Stay tuned.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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