I think Eakins needs to put the top line back together

Hall Hopkins Eberle. Those 3 can really cycle the puck.

I think Eakins needs to put the top line back together

Hall Hopkins Eberle. Those 3 can really cycle the puck.
- OilHead1989

Yeah I was excited about seeing Hall-Gags-Yak and Perron-Nuge-Ebs eventually, but I think that top line looked really good together when they got the time.

I like

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov
Joensuu-Nuge-Eberle
Perron-Gordon-Hemksy
Smyth-Acton-Brown

with

Hall-Nuge-Eberle-Yakupov-Schultz on the first PP

Yeah I was excited about seeing Hall-Gags-Yak and Perron-Nuge-Ebs eventually, but I think that top line looked really good together when they got the time.

I like

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov
Joensuu-Nuge-Eberle
Perron-Gordon-Hemksy
Smyth-Acton-Brown

with

Hall-Nuge-Eberle-Yakupov-Schultz on the first PP
- Morris

RNH is a first line Center, he came back amazingly ready to lead this team. I am so impressed with his play and determination, there's no way he loses that 1C role anytime soon. Yak should be back in the lineup, but he's not first line ready yet. You don't want your other top six guys having to constantly backtrack into their own zone because Yak didn't dish the puck and broke up the play. It's a waste of the other top six talent. Until Yakupov starts to play responsibly he will just bring down the other guys. This is the most likely reason he plays on the third line. He needs defensive support, the way he plays. He needs to grow up.

Anyone want to give me a primer on pages 25 through 45?

I really don't think we need to make drastic changes to our roster, I just think the guys we have need to play better.
- Morris

pretty much agree, we just need to get a number one goalie and get rid of Arcobello at 2C.

would you do oshie + jake allen for hall + dubnyk?
- rangerdanger94

Fuk no

RNH is a first line Center, he came back amazingly ready to lead this team. I am so impressed with his play and determination, there's no way he loses that 1C role anytime soon. Yak should be back in the lineup, but he's not first line ready yet. You don't want your other top six guys having to constantly backtrack into their own zone because Yak didn't dish the puck and broke up the play. It's a waste of the other top six talent. Until Yakupov starts to play responsibly he will just bring down the other guys. This is the most likely reason he plays on the third line. He needs defensive support, the way he plays. He needs to grow up.
- JLO961

It doesnt reall matter who's called 2 center.
In his scenario we're goin with 3 fairly balanced lines and gags has better wingers than nuge. I suspect whatever line is going is the number 1 that day.

1A
1B
2

Players that have struggled thus far but could help our team: Brian Boyle (NYR), Colin Greening (OTT), Daniel Paille (BOS), Tyler Myers (BUF), Adam Larsson (NJ), Wayne Simmonds (PHI), Keith Yandle (PHO)

It doesnt reall matter who's called 2 center.
In his scenario we're goin with 3 fairly balanced lines and gags has better wingers than nuge. I suspect whatever line is going is the number 1 that day.

1A
1B
2
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah that was kind of my feeling.

I think he's right about feeding Yak that kind of ice time and linemates though. Though he does fit well with Hall and Gagner, he ought to show he deserves that kind of role. That being said, even flipping Hemsky and Yakupov leaves three pretty solid lines there, and still gives Yak two good players to work with.

Anyone want to give me a primer on pages 25 through 45?

I really don't think we need to make drastic changes to our roster, I just think the guys we have need to play better.
- Morris

It was remarkably yogurt-free.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 9m

Expect the Yakupov exile to end tonight in Pittsburgh where the Oilers face the Penguins.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 9m

Expect the Yakupov exile to end tonight in Pittsburgh where the Oilers face the Penguins.


- deks1

Eakins kinda has to play him doesn't he?

I mean, he can't continue to sit him while the Oilers keep losing. I know the problem isn't Yakupov sitting, but if this crap continues, Eakins own job is at stake and this Yakupov stuff won't help his cause.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 9m

Expect the Yakupov exile to end tonight in Pittsburgh where the Oilers face the Penguins.


- deks1

There's a big difference between two games and three games.

Without speculating too wildly, scratching him for the first game was about what he had done so far. Scratching him for the second game, given what he said about his playing style, was about getting on the same page about what the expectations are.

I'll bet Yakupov gets a similar ES assignment, but may be chucked increased PP time than he's seen to date.

There's a big difference between two games and three games.

Without speculating too wildly, scratching him for the first game was about what he had done so far. Scratching him for the second game, given what he said about his playing style, was about getting on the same page about what the expectations are.

I'll bet Yakupov gets a similar ES assignment, but may be chucked increased PP time than he's seen to date.
- Morris

Dallas expects his players to go both directions, no floaters on his team. He and Yak are not going to get along.

Dallas expects his players to go both directions, no floaters on his team. He and Yak are not going to get along.
- bixll

Yep. Trade for solid D, if you can get it.

Dallas expects his players to go both directions, no floaters on his team. He and Yak are not going to get along.
- bixll

ehh...

I think Yakupov likes having the puck on his stick. Contemporary statistics are now suggesting with greater and greater currency that the best way to play defense is to not allow the opposition to possess the puck in the first place, and Yakupov can be really good at that.

I don't think Yakupov will ever be a PF, but I don't think he's destined to permanently be a floater. He can be energized in stripping the puck and having an active stick, I just don't know that he'll be a hit machine or anything.

Yzerman and Bowman didn't get along at first for this very reason.

Yep. Trade for solid D, if you can get it.
- powerhouse

Drafted him last year, scratched him twice and traded him before he's played 50 games with us? Somehow I don't think this is the time to trade him in terms of maximizing value.

I think Eakins needs to put the top line back together

Hall Hopkins Eberle. Those 3 can really cycle the puck.
- OilHead1989

I think Eakins needs to put the goalie tutor in net.

ehh...

I think Yakupov likes having the puck on his stick. Contemporary statistics are now suggesting with greater and greater currency that the best way to play defense is to not allow the opposition to possess the puck in the first place, and Yakupov can be really good at that.

I don't think Yakupov will ever be a PF, but I don't think he's destined to permanently be a floater. He can be energized in stripping the puck and having an active stick, I just don't know that he'll be a hit machine or anything.

Yzerman and Bowman didn't get along at first for this very reason.
- Morris

Yak is no, and never will be a Stevie Y..

Drafted him last year, scratched him twice and traded him before he's played 50 games with us? Somehow I don't think this is the time to trade him in terms of maximizing value.
- Morris

Yeah, you are right. It's just that when I see a player with that amount of talent who does not get the N American style of play I wonder what good he can do for you. Kind of reminds me of Semin.

Yeah, you are right. It's just that when I see a player with that amount of talent who does not get the N American style of play I wonder what good he can do for you. Kind of reminds me of Semin.
- powerhouse

He was good last year. The problem is he started slow and is fighting the puck this year, that and we have other options. Something this team never really had before.

Yeah, you are right. It's just that when I see a player with that amount of talent who does not get the N American style of play I wonder what good he can do for you. Kind of reminds me of Semin.
- powerhouse

Several other Russian players come to mind.

Yak is no, and never will be a Stevie Y..
- bixll

Nope, he's not, but the mere fact that a coach and player have different ideas about playing style initially doesn't doom them to ever get on the same page. And perhaps there's no greater example than Bowman and Stevie Y.

But of course you knew what I was trying to say and opted to ignore that for the cheap undercut.

Nope, he's not, but the mere fact that a coach and player have different ideas about playing style initially doesn't doom them to ever get on the same page. And perhaps there's no greater example than Bowman and Stevie Y.

But of course you knew what I was trying to say and opted to ignore that for the cheap undercut.
- Morris

Don't make this personal.

Yeah, you are right. It's just that when I see a player with that amount of talent who does not get the N American style of play I wonder what good he can do for you. Kind of reminds me of Semin.
- powerhouse

Funny you should mention Semin, I remember there was an article by Yost a couple years back when Semin was still with Washington. The coach was mad that Semin kept trying zone entries by skating it in instead of dumping and chasing.

Given a legitimate statistical analysis it came out that Semin was more successful than any other player on Washington for zone entries. Not only did Semin keep possession more by skating in than by dumping in, but the players who dumped it in were actually worse at keeping the puck in on a conservative dump and chase play.

Yakupov definitely needs to adjust to the North American game if he wants to succeed, and he's demonstrated in bursts the ability to do that. I wouldn't be so quick to say that he needs to change his style of play completely, and I don't think Eakins thinks that either.

Don't make this personal.
- bixll

Not personal, I'm addressing your rhetorical style.

I used Bowman and Yzerman as an example. Am I arguing that because Bowman and Stevie had similar friction as Eakins and Yak, that means Yakupov will become Stevie Y? Of course not. Just saying, a guy who's lauded for being one of the better two-way centres of that era, widely considered a complete player and a great leader, who won a Selke in 2000, had friction with Bowman when he was charged with becoming a 200 ft. player. Leopards can change their spots.