You new here tonight? Its the internet man. Guys on here know what little they see and here without actually being involved or there as being fact. Come on nate. You should know better around here. Guys that post on hb are like omnipotent all seeing and knowing gods. Or like santa claus
- ruttager17

Thanks for making me chuckle first thing in the morning.

i don't expect a kings ransom. yak has the potential to get what ryan got for ducks. not at the moment though. ducks got young roster forward, prospect, and 1st. edm does not need another draft pick. young stud d-man and young forward with potential be ideal.
- deks1

Difference is, Bobby Ryan is PROVEN. So far all Yak HAS is potential. Can you wait another 3-4 years ? Diaz and Georges are better than you know obviously. Swap out the draft pick for a roster (forward) player, because the Oil's high draft picks don't seem to be panning out in a team chemistry kind of way at the fault of management. You need some franking grit up front, n Taylor Hall ain't it. I would have taken Galchenyuk over Yak for that reason. JMHO.

If you don't get a Kings Ransom you don't trade him that (frank)ing simple.
- Reveen

Let em sit then. 1st overall stickboy. Can you say KHL ? If Eakins can't get in his head, no one can. It's THAT (frank)ing simple.

Difference is, Bobby Ryan is PROVEN. So far all Yak HAS is potential. Can you wait another 3-4 years ? Diaz and Georges are better than you know obviously. Swap out the draft pick for a roster (forward) player, because the Oil's high draft picks don't seem to be panning out in a team chemistry kind of way at the fault of management. You need some franking grit up front, n Taylor Hall ain't it. I would have taken Galchenyuk over Yak for that reason. JMHO.
- LakesideBlues

i agree. for a team to give up what ryan got for ducks to edm meaning gm is gambling on yak potential.

at this current stage, i don't think edm will be ready to be a contender for at least 3 more years...sad to say.

no point of living in the past of the draft. edm has yak now, edm and yak has to figure it out.

Yakupov gets his mojo from scoring. His confidence seems to really depend on his ability to get the other team on their heels.

There's two schools of thought on how to fix this:

1) Do everything possible to get him scoring and confident again.

2) get him to a point where he can elevate his game without getting a spark from the red light.

For a 20 year old kid that they hope to be part of their team for a long while? Maybe the 2nd option isn't so bad. Eakins may be going about it wrong, but avoiding the quick fix may be prudent.
- Morris

I read on a comment on Oilersnation (and have not researched to back it up) that Yak was played 31 seconds in the next 11 or so minutes after scoring that go-ahead goal in Chicago. That would put any player down.

I remember Dallas Eakins preaching that you have to get to know the individual players on a personal level. Doesn't seem to be practicing what he preaches.

I am in no way suggesting to fire Eakins, because we all know it isn't the coach. But maybe this heart to heart with Larionov might be good for both Eakins and Yakupov.

I honestly don't think this team improves without a better centre. Gagner and Arco are not the best options. I like Gagner's heart but his subpar skating makes it difficult to cover the entire ice. Gagner + 1st rounder for a centre like Jordan Staal is what we need.

My 2 cents.

@ ystoil

"Gagner + 1st rounder for a centre like Jordan Staal is what we need."
That might be what you need, but........
Dream on, dream until your dreams come true

Let em sit then. 1st overall stickboy. Can you say KHL ? If Eakins can't get in his head, no one can. It's THAT (frank)ing simple.
- LakesideBlues

Wow, you so smart. Me love you long time.

Wow, you so smart. Me love you long time.
- Reveen

Do you love me?

Wow, you so smart. Me love you long time.
- Reveen

MMM I like asian girls

@ ystoil

"Gagner + 1st rounder for a centre like Jordan Staal is what we need."
That might be what you need, but........
Dream on, dream until your dreams come true
- LakesideBlues

Not sure if value I stated or availability of the centre is your issue. Great post regardless

Time for Eakins to adapt to this team and get more out of our skilled players. I'm kinda getting sick of hearing the kids all talk about how they need to be better two-way players. Yes they do, but not at the expense of their overall play.

Not sure if value I stated or availability of the centre is your issue. Great post regardless
- ystoil

Sorry, Aerosmith on the radio. No disrespect intended. And it's the value I question, so would Shero.

I agree with anyone who thinks it was a bad pick. If you are going to continually pick "best player available", year after year, you had better be willing to trade a few to balance out your team. Since the Oil like to admire their baubles in the box, rather than create a beautiful Christmas tree, it was a purchase they did not need. They should start looking for a good strong tree stand! The damn thing is top heavy.

Sorry, Aerosmith on the radio. No disrespect intended. And it's the value I question, so would Shero.
- LakesideBlues

No problem haha.

I wasn't directly stating Jordan Staal but a centre like him. However, Staal fetched Sutter, 8th overall, Dumoulin.

Gagner is in the same conversation as Sutter and fills a top 6 role just as good, if not better. Our 1st rounder this year is likely top 3.

So if we say Sutter = Gagner, then I don't think it's far fetched to say 8th + Dumoulin gets you 3rd overall pick (which I don't think it would, ever). I think my deal is fair, in theory. Just depends on what the other team wants of course.

Time for Eakins to adapt to this team and get more out of our skilled players. I'm kinda getting sick of hearing the kids all talk about how they need to be better two-way players. Yes they do, but not at the expense of their overall play.
- Lahey

that's one of the least intelligent things I ever seen you write! Facts are, unless you're a bonafide true super star, which none of the Oilers young guys are, you're not allowed to cheat on the offensive side of things (for the most part). It's the same for ever player in the NHL with the exception of a few.

Time for Eakins to adapt to this team and get more out of our skilled players. I'm kinda getting sick of hearing the kids all talk about how they need to be better two-way players. Yes they do, but not at the expense of their overall play.
- Lahey

I think we need to acquire better 2 way players to mask defensive deficiencies of our offensive threats. Management's problem not Eakins, imo.

I'm really curious, what do Oilers fans want for Yakupov or think he's worth? I've got no idea.

I think we need to acquire better 2 way players to mask defensive deficiencies of our offensive threats. Management's problem not Eakins, imo.
- ystoil

Eakins is getting less out of this team than Kreuger did. Eakins has more to work with. It is time to coach to the strengths of our team. Everyone including the team talk about the Detroit way, well guess what Babcock wanted to coach one way and was forced to coach another way by how the players played.

It's pathetic that with more talent we are getting less results.

that's one of the least intelligent things I ever seen you write! Facts are, unless you're a bonafide true super star, which none of the Oilers young guys are, you're not allowed to cheat on the offensive side of things (for the most part). It's the same for ever player in the NHL with the exception of a few.
- LeftCoaster

At some point you have to start cutting some slack and look at other options

No problem haha.

I wasn't directly stating Jordan Staal but a centre like him. However, Staal fetched Sutter, 8th overall, Dumoulin.

Gagner is in the same conversation as Sutter and fills a top 6 role just as good, if not better. Our 1st rounder this year is likely top 3.

So if we say Sutter = Gagner, then I don't think it's far fetched to say 8th + Dumoulin gets you 3rd overall pick (which I don't think it would, ever). I think my deal is fair, in theory. Just depends on what the other team wants of course.
- ystoil

So if we say Sutter = Grit, then Sutter > Gagne because that's what you lack up front. Gagne is good don't get me wrong, but Sutter is, or is going to be, a two way stud.

Time for Eakins to adapt to this team and get more out of our skilled players. I'm kinda getting sick of hearing the kids all talk about how they need to be better two-way players. Yes they do, but not at the expense of their overall play.
- Lahey

I disagree. (frank) Yak. Listen to your coach and good things happen. His 2 way is brutal and hasnt improved. I would agree with you if he was showing some improvment, but he hasnt. Nothing wrong with trying to make a talented player into a complete player. With his dad talking about the KHL, and his agent talking trade I think MacT will be making a trade. He isnt worth it as far as im concerned

Eakins is getting less out of this team than Kreuger did. Eakins has more to work with. It is time to coach to the strengths of our team. Everyone including the team talk about the Detroit way, well guess what Babcock wanted to coach one way and was forced to coach another way by how the players played.

It's pathetic that with more talent we are getting less results.
- Lahey

Fair point. That's the unfortunate thing of a rookie coach. He needs to iron his own kinks out as well. I hope he adjusts.

A lot of people want things, doesn't mean it will happen. Back on the "stanley cup contender" thing again I see. 5 good games and you guys are cup contenders again? Two weeks ago half your fan base was calling for Sather to blow up the team?
- Cptmjl

i don't care about the rest of the fanbase...i've been consistent with how i view this team even when we were 2-7. you should know that

Homer you are.
- Cptmjl

stalker

If you don't get a Kings Ransom you don't trade him that (frank)ing simple.
- Reveen

Well then I guess for better or for worse, you're stuck with him. Guy has done nothing other than get drafted first overall and over celebrate a meaningless goal. Completely unproven. Yeah, he has potential. But he also has an already glaring problem when it comes to "team" and "team play". Guy has been in the league all of what, 60+ games and he's ready to bail on the team that drafted him???!!!!

Kings ransom? Pffft. I don't think any GM is giving up more than a first and a 4 - 6 player for a diva with doesn't play well with others issues...

Eakins is getting less out of this team than Kreuger did. Eakins has more to work with. It is time to coach to the strengths of our team. Everyone including the team talk about the Detroit way, well guess what Babcock wanted to coach one way and was forced to coach another way by how the players played.

It's pathetic that with more talent we are getting less results.
- Lahey

CHEMISTRY.

You think a team FULL of Gretzky's would be able to compete ?
That's a one off, bad analogy, but you get the idea.