You want Darcy ?

- jaumiller

Darcy and Myers for Mact and Ference?

Oil fans and Islanders fans know this all to well I still can't believe the contract JT is on, you guys absolutely robbed him. That should be what every GM uses as a starting point for elite forwards
- WildMoose

JT definitely took a discount with that one. Guy wants to win and do it with us shockingly enough. He took that contract only bcs he knew he'd handcuff us from signing anyone else to help make the team competitive due to us straddling the floor. That's our salary cap unfortunately. His next one with us will be a monster though as it should be.

Cannot see Mtl trading PK, Cannot see Edm trading 2 of their top RW talents.
- OilHorse

Habs can throw in Gorges.

I know both sides will cry foul and disagree and say it could never happen. But, if there is one team out there that really thinks they could instantly convert Yakupov into a star it is the Canadiens. We also know that the relationship between Subban and management is deteriorating fast. So the trade proposal.

From Montreal: Subban and a #1 pick

From Edmonton: Eberle and Yakupov
- spatso

You want Darcy ?

- jaumiller

GMs who know how to rebuild

Brian Burke, I have been a strong critic of his trading top draft pics away. Still believe the Kessel deal was a mistake. Yet, he clearly did a very good job on the Leaf rebuild. He appears to be following the same plan of mixing youth with veterans in Calgary.

Bryan Murray did a great job of building a powerhouse in Anahiem. Doing the same in Ottawa now. Seems to be able to mix youth with veterans. Made some amazing trades for players like Methot, Turris and Bobby Ryan (although I am not sure I like how much he gave up in the Ryan deal).

Steve Yzerman has been able to do that same kind of mix of vets and top prospects. The key is you want to weed out the expensive vets on retirement contracts that are no longer productive. You want to keep the vets that can help the kids grow their game.

I think Oiler management has become so blinded by their drafting that they have not seen how they have failed to provide a proper development enviornment for the kids.

JT definitely took a discount with that one. Guy wants to win and do it with us shockingly enough. He took that contract only bcs he knew he'd handcuff us from signing anyone else to help make the team competitive due to us straddling the floor. That's our salary cap unfortunately. His next one with us will be a monster though as it should be.
- Cptmjl

Could you imagine how much he would get if he ever made it to free agency

No this is a huge deal. Larionov is a highly respected but soft spoken hockey voice. When he speaks people listen.

He is saying to Edmonton coaching and management that he wants to get his guy out if they cannot get their act together.

Somebody earlier posted that Edmonton management has become so incestuous they are incapable of being objective in evaluating their overall team situation. The evidence of this is just down the road watching Calgary integrating some good prospects supported by some good veteran leadership and support.

I was a supporter of the original hiring of Mac T. But I have changed my opinion. A complete outsider needs to come in and make some changes that mixes the young with a balance of good veteran support. I think Mac T and all the ancient Oilers cannot be trusted.
- spatso

Look at it in the context of what's already been said:

"I wanted to also let him know that all of these reports in the media – the people that are making up trades for him – are absolutely, 100 percent untrue. This kid is not going anywhere. Guys like Joe Thornton, the kid here Stamkos, those guys struggled early in their careers and boy they turned out to be pretty good players. So Nail Yakupov is not being shopped, he’s not going anywhere"

"He's not going anywhere and I wanted him to hear that from me and look me in my eyes and let him know that, hey, we're attached at the hip. We're going to make him a better player and it's okay to struggle."

Thus when Larionov says that his client would be open to a trade "if Edmonton is unhappy with him", he's re-iterating precisely what's just been denied. Edmonton isn't unhappy with him, and isn't interested in a trade. It's all posturing as he chose the precise words that Edmonton has already denied purposefully.

I have no doubt Yakupov is frustrated, but I would think a former player with the work ethic and well-roundedness of Larionov will be able to approach these discussions fruitfully and reasonably. Yakupov needs to get better, and while I haven't completely supported each step Eakins has taken, it's fairly clear that he hasn't earned that primo ice time this season. If Larionov really intends to get Yakupov out of there, the last thing he wants to do is say that his struggling player demands more ice time wherever he may land.

Look at it in the context of what's already been said:

"I wanted to also let him know that all of these reports in the media – the people that are making up trades for him – are absolutely, 100 percent untrue. This kid is not going anywhere. Guys like Joe Thornton, the kid here Stamkos, those guys struggled early in their careers and boy they turned out to be pretty good players. So Nail Yakupov is not being shopped, he’s not going anywhere"

"He's not going anywhere and I wanted him to hear that from me and look me in my eyes and let him know that, hey, we're attached at the hip. We're going to make him a better player and it's okay to struggle."

Thus when Larionov says that his client would be open to a trade "if Edmonton is unhappy with him", he's re-iterating precisely what's just been denied. Edmonton isn't unhappy with him, and isn't interested in a trade. It's all posturing as he chose the precise words that Edmonton has already denied purposefully.

I have no doubt Yakupov is frustrated, but I would think a former player with the work ethic and well-roundedness of Larionov will be able to approach these discussions fruitfully and reasonably. Yakupov needs to get better, and while I haven't completely supported each step Eakins has taken, it's fairly clear that he hasn't earned that primo ice time this season. If Larionov really intends to get Yakupov out of there, the last thing he wants to do is say that his struggling player demands more ice time wherever he may land.
- Morris

FREAKOUT MORRIS! DANCE THE DANCE OF LIFE!

Simply pointing out Hawks first round picks have produced results quickly
Toews is 25
Not sure Hall RNH Eberley ever will
But I do agree things should improve
- PEIHawkFan

I think the thing that really helped Toews and Kane excel so quickly when being drafted and continuing that growth over the years they have been with the Hawks is Chicago had already drafted years before them their top 2 dmen, as well as Buf, a couple of their role players etc. That makes a huge difference.
I think if Nurse, Klefbom, J.Shultz where drafted and played in the minors a couple of years before Hall, RNH, Yak where drafted it would make a huge difference as well.
Chicago having the stability they did on there back-end was huge for Toews and Kane.

GMs who know how to rebuild

Brian Burke, I have been a strong critic of his trading top draft pics away. Still believe the Kessel deal was a mistake. Yet, he clearly did a very good job on the Leaf rebuild. He appears to be following the same plan of mixing youth with veterans in Calgary.

Bryan Murray did a great job of building a powerhouse in Anahiem. Doing the same in Ottawa now. Seems to be able to mix youth with veterans. Made some amazing trades for players like Methot, Turris and Bobby Ryan (although I am not sure I like how much he gave up in the Ryan deal).

Steve Yzerman has been able to do that same kind of mix of vets and top prospects. The key is you want to weed out the expensive vets on retirement contracts that are no longer productive. You want to keep the vets that can help the kids grow their game.

I think Oiler management has become so blinded by their drafting that they have not seen how they have failed to provide a proper development enviornment for the kids.
- spatso

Extremely well said. You can add Shero, Chiarelli and Bowman to the list of GM that can build. Edmonton's management team are seriously clueless. It is unacceptable to have so many great draft choices and to be so far away from the playoffs again. No team can have 4 superstar forwards. You could not afford them anyways. They need to get top level supporting cast a top D and a goalie. Ex: you parlay Yak for some of that. In this case the winner of the trade is which team improved the most not the team that got the better player. Yak may score 50 and never won the Stanley Cup. Oilers can make the trade that help them win the Stanley Cup. Who's the winner now?

GMs who know how to rebuild

Brian Burke, I have been a strong critic of his trading top draft pics away. Still believe the Kessel deal was a mistake. Yet, he clearly did a very good job on the Leaf rebuild. He appears to be following the same plan of mixing youth with veterans in Calgary.

Bryan Murray did a great job of building a powerhouse in Anahiem. Doing the same in Ottawa now. Seems to be able to mix youth with veterans. Made some amazing trades for players like Methot, Turris and Bobby Ryan (although I am not sure I like how much he gave up in the Ryan deal).

Steve Yzerman has been able to do that same kind of mix of vets and top prospects. The key is you want to weed out the expensive vets on retirement contracts that are no longer productive. You want to keep the vets that can help the kids grow their game.

I think Oiler management has become so blinded by their drafting that they have not seen how they have failed to provide a proper development enviornment for the kids.
- spatso

MacT just got the job, so for better or worse we'd need to give him some time to judge his aptitude. Though it fell short of his "bold plans", MacT has done more in this summer than any summer Tambs had. And indeed, if he had succeeding in acquiring Schneider, Coburn and Clarkson as was publicised, than he would have wholly succeeded in providing that mix of youth and vets you're describing.

As a personal note, you were pretty strongly against Burke until the product on the ice forced you to change your position. We may find out something similar about the Edmonton old boys club. We can make trades and signings, but insofar as we've - for better or worse - built our core around the players we've drafted, the team is more likely to improve by them clicking than by any move we make right now.

The Oilers are a disgrace. The reason Hall/Eberle and don't forget the failed Paajarvi Experiment - didn't have to answer for their mistakes - is because the Oilers wanted to lose and get high draft picks. When managements purpose is to lose, it might get them one top prospect - but it breeds a losing culture among all their other prospects.(Prospects who should have spent time in the AHL to begin with)

The Oilers are just getting what they deserve. Loss. Loss. And more losses. They're pretty close to being too late to taking advantage of young players on bargain rookies contracts - so that window of opportunity has closed.

Lose on Oilers! And to all those brilliant Oilers fans chirping Brian Burke and saying to Leafs fans "That's not how you rebuild". Time to eat crow. Yo!

Look at it in the context of what's already been said:

"I wanted to also let him know that all of these reports in the media – the people that are making up trades for him – are absolutely, 100 percent untrue. This kid is not going anywhere. Guys like Joe Thornton, the kid here Stamkos, those guys struggled early in their careers and boy they turned out to be pretty good players. So Nail Yakupov is not being shopped, he’s not going anywhere"

"He's not going anywhere and I wanted him to hear that from me and look me in my eyes and let him know that, hey, we're attached at the hip. We're going to make him a better player and it's okay to struggle."

Thus when Larionov says that his client would be open to a trade "if Edmonton is unhappy with him", he's re-iterating precisely what's just been denied. Edmonton isn't unhappy with him, and isn't interested in a trade. It's all posturing as he chose the precise words that Edmonton has already denied purposefully.

I have no doubt Yakupov is frustrated, but I would think a former player with the work ethic and well-roundedness of Larionov will be able to approach these discussions fruitfully and reasonably. Yakupov needs to get better, and while I haven't completely supported each step Eakins has taken, it's fairly clear that he hasn't earned that primo ice time this season. If Larionov really intends to get Yakupov out of there, the last thing he wants to do is say that his struggling player demands more ice time wherever he may land.
- Morris

Three weeks ago we were reading reports that Edmonton was shopping Yakupov. Then we read the Friday statement that they do not want to trade him. Larionov is a pretty low key guy. But, you know he had to put a call into Mac T when everything first started three weeks ago and rumors were floated that Yakupov was being shopped by the Oilers.

So now the Oilers say he is not being shopped. Larionov wants to know what is going on now. You also have to believe that he does not have much respect for they the Oilers are managing this situation.

Three weeks ago we were reading reports that Edmonton was shopping Yakupov. Then we read the Friday statement that they do not want to trade him. Larionov is a pretty low key guy. But, you know he had to put a call into Mac T when everything first started three weeks ago and rumors were floated that Yakupov was being shopped by the Oilers.

So now the Oilers say he is not being shopped. Larionov wants to know what is going on now. You also have to believe that he does not have much respect for they the Oilers are managing this situation.
- spatso

I'm sure Larionov wants to hear himself that they're happy with him and that they have a plan for him. Given that that's what they just said publicly, I think they'll gladly tell that to him personally.

All I was saying is that the mere fact that Larionov is meeting with them does not indicate that Yakupov is on the outs. That would be as baseless an assumption as saying that Yakupov trades are imminent just because he was scratched. Which as you, Larionov and the Oilers management have all acknowledged, is absurd.

Extremely well said. You can add Shero, Chiarelli and Bowman to the list of GM that can build. Edmonton's management team are seriously clueless. It is unacceptable to have so many great draft choices and to be so far away from the playoffs again. No team can have 4 superstar forwards. You could not afford them anyways. They need to get top level supporting cast a top D and a goalie. Ex: you parlay Yak for some of that. In this case the winner of the trade is which team improved the most not the team that got the better player. Yak may score 50 and never won the Stanley Cup. Oilers can make the trade that help them win the Stanley Cup. Who's the winner now?
- Champ

I agree. But sometimes a trade works for both teams.

Boston fans were horrified by the trading of Joe Thornton. Yet, it also marked the beginning of the Bruins rebuild. The Bruins are now perrenial Stanley Cup contenders. San Jose has never made it to the finals, yet it does appear they did win the trade.

Look at it in the context of what's already been said:

"I wanted to also let him know that all of these reports in the media – the people that are making up trades for him – are absolutely, 100 percent untrue. This kid is not going anywhere. Guys like Joe Thornton, the kid here Stamkos, those guys struggled early in their careers and boy they turned out to be pretty good players. So Nail Yakupov is not being shopped, he’s not going anywhere"

"He's not going anywhere and I wanted him to hear that from me and look me in my eyes and let him know that, hey, we're attached at the hip. We're going to make him a better player and it's okay to struggle."

Thus when Larionov says that his client would be open to a trade "if Edmonton is unhappy with him", he's re-iterating precisely what's just been denied. Edmonton isn't unhappy with him, and isn't interested in a trade. It's all posturing as he chose the precise words that Edmonton has already denied purposefully.

I have no doubt Yakupov is frustrated, but I would think a former player with the work ethic and well-roundedness of Larionov will be able to approach these discussions fruitfully and reasonably. Yakupov needs to get better, and while I haven't completely supported each step Eakins has taken, it's fairly clear that he hasn't earned that primo ice time this season. If Larionov really intends to get Yakupov out of there, the last thing he wants to do is say that his struggling player demands more ice time wherever he may land.
- Morris

Always keep in mind that Larionov can take him back home. Can't trust those Russians. Yak will always be a problem for Edm. After next year, they will demand star money which he will not deserve. He will get $8-10 on Russia. If he wants out he will force the Oilers hand. They won't want to lose him for nothing.

The Oilers are a disgrace. The reason Hall/Eberle and don't forget the failed Paajarvi Experiment - didn't have to answer for their mistakes - is because the Oilers wanted to lose and get high draft picks. When managements purpose is to lose, it might get them one top prospect - but it breeds a losing culture among all their other prospects.(Prospects who should have spent time in the AHL to begin with)

The Oilers are just getting what they deserve. Loss. Loss. And more losses. They're pretty close to being too late to taking advantage of young players on bargain rookies contracts - so that window of opportunity has closed.

Lose on Oilers! And to all those brilliant Oilers fans chirping Brian Burke and saying to Leafs fans "That's not how you rebuild". Time to eat crow. Yo!
- Njuice

1967

I agree. But sometimes a trade works for both teams.

Boston fans were horrified by the trading of Joe Thornton. Yet, it also marked the beginning of the Bruins rebuild. The Bruins are now perrenial Stanley Cup contenders. San Jose has never made it to the finals, yet it does appear they did win the trade.
- spatso

The thornton trade isn't a great model for the Oilers, as 1) we don't have a Hart-calibre player to trade and 2) Our rebuild doesn't need a rebuild.

I don't think anyone in the Oilers organization is opposed to a trade at this juncture though.

I'm sure Larionov wants to hear himself that they're happy with him and that they have a plan for him. Given that that's what they just said publicly, I think they'll gladly tell that to him personally.

All I was saying is that the mere fact that Larionov is meeting with them does not indicate that Yakupov is on the outs. That would be as baseless an assumption as saying that Yakupov trades are imminent just because he was scratched. Which as you, Larionov and the Oilers management have all acknowledged, is absurd.
- Morris

Absurd, yes. But it seems to repeat with the Oilers. A large part of the problem has to do with the constant crisis mentality of the Oiler franchise. Does anybody believe they have a master plan to turn this all around. I used to think they did. But, now, I am not so sure.

Always keep in mind that Larionov can take him back home. Can't trust those Russians. Yak will always be a problem for Edm. After next year, they will demand star money which he will not deserve. He will get $8-10 on Russia. If he wants out he will force the Oilers hand. They won't want to lose him for nothing.
- Champ

Ehhhh...I don't worry too much about Yak and Russia. Larionov was actually the first to debunk KHL rumours in all of this, and Yakupov made himself unpopular with Russian media when he called himself a Tatar first, and a Russian second. He's been over here playing NA hockey for 4 years now and appears to love it.

I feel like he'd be more likely to want another NHL team than to want to go play in the KHL.

Absurd, yes. But it seems to repeat with the Oilers. A large part of the problem has to do with the constant crisis mentality of the Oiler franchise. Does anybody believe they have a master plan to turn this all around. I used to think they did. But, now, I am not so sure.
- spatso

Again, I'm forced to be patient with MacT, as he just took over. On-ice play has been bad, but the kind of moves he's made have generally been good.

Maybe I'm a cynic, but I'm not sure that (m)any GMs have a master plan as such. I think some GMs really have a pulse on which players can be good for a team, but we tend to only ascribe genius retroactively, don't we?

1967
- WildMoose

Good argument. That has a whole lot to do with the current state of NHL teams.

Yakupov is what? 20? Too early to call him a failure. Maybe some of these kids should spend some time in the minors learning how to be a pro athlete - instead of being 'thrown to the wolves'.

In Edmonton's defence - they actually aren't intentionally tanking this season which is nice. Only now the fact that they are horrible seems worse because they are actually trying to win....finally.

Yakupov is what? 20? Too early to call him a failure. Maybe some of these kids should spend some time in the minors learning how to be a pro athlete - instead of being 'thrown to the wolves'.

In Edmonton's defence - they actually aren't intentionally tanking this season which is nice. Only now the fact that they are horrible seems worse because they are actually trying to win....finally.
- Njuice

Agreed. I think there's something a little askew when Eakins gets criticized with Yakupov for giving him sheltered minutes. I don't think Yakupov has much to learn in the AHL, but he does have a lot to learn in the NHL and should be sheltered accordingly. Maybe Eakins gives him 4th line time against 4th line competition because he wants to give him the opportunity to drive the bulk of puck possession on the line and, since he's in a slump, provide him with lesser competition to get his confidence up? How rude of him!

As for the team, if you build it around young kids, don't be surprised if it doesn't click right away. We could - and SHOULD - make moves to improve, but a climb towards playoffs and beyond will come primarily because our core guys are taking the next step.

Good argument. That has a whole lot to do with the current state of NHL teams.
- Njuice

Eh, you came in with a comment that provided little (read: no) constructive criticism. I'm sure you're pissed from hearing 5 years of "leafs rebuild sucks" and "oilers know how to really build", but what you're railing against there is trolls and media, not really anything to do with what happens on the ice or in the management offices.

I'm sure you're an intelligent guy, but don't resort to the cheap trolling "win" it just plays into the same old tired crap. Which is probably why that retort was the tiredest joke in the game.