It's a good possibility that they could turn out that way. Yakupov is on his way to proving you right. And not because he doesn't have the talent, he doesn't have the mindset to play in the NHL. He's an entitled brat that doesn't want to listen to his coaches.
- HonkFortheGoose

Edmonton should've taken Murray or Gally. Said it then and I stand by that.

Edmonton should've taken Murray or Gally. Said it then and I stand by that.
- dadeadhead

Oh, I know. You kept saying that the league was due for a bust at #1 and you thought that Yakupov was going to be it. He wouldn't be if he would allow himself to actually be coached. But, he's not. If he doesn't manage to turn around his attitude this year, he could end up in the KHL after this season, since this is the 3rd year of his ELC.

It's a good possibility that they could turn out that way. Yakupov is on his way to proving you right. And not because he doesn't have the talent, he doesn't have the mindset to play in the NHL. He's an entitled brat that doesn't want to listen to his coaches.
- HonkFortheGoose

Hes also a teenager in a dysfunctional organization.

Still a few years away from being a bust IMO

Oh, I know. You kept saying that the league was due for a bust at #1 and you thought that Yakupov was going to be it. He wouldn't be if he would allow himself to actually be coached. But, he's not. If he doesn't manage to turn around his attitude this year, he could end up in the KHL after this season, since this is the 3rd year of his ELC.
- HonkFortheGoose

Best thing would for him to get moved to a team like Pittsburgh (Malkin) that has a Russian in place to provide guidance.

He was destined to fail in Edmonton.

Hes also a teenager in a dysfunctional organization.

Still a few years away from being a bust IMO
- sbroads24

He'll be 21 in October.


He's old enough and been in North America long enough to know better.

He'll be 21 in October.


He's old enough and been in North America long enough to know better.
- dadeadhead

Especially since he played Jr hockey in North America as well.

Best thing would for him to get moved to a team like Pittsburgh (Malkin) that has a Russian in place to provide guidance.

He was destined to fail in Edmonton.
- dadeadhead

Edmonton needs to bring back Bryz to offer guidance to Yak

Especially since he played Jr hockey in North America as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah that's why I said that......

Hes also a teenager in a dysfunctional organization.

Still a few years away from being a bust IMO
- sbroads24

Even so, I think the window of him being a great player is closing. He might figure it out, and become serviceable, but far from a franchise changing player you would expect at #1 overall. Even if you turn out to be an okay player, your still a bust at #1 as far as I'm concerned.

He'll be 21 in October.


He's old enough and been in North America long enough to know better.
- dadeadhead

He might end up being a bust, although I doubt it considering he produced as an 18-19 year old. He was on pace for a 29 goal season had we played 82 He had a sophomore slump on a team that once again took a step backwards by hiring a coach that wasn't the right guy for the job.

For some reason people expect these kids to light it up there first few years now.

Stamkos had a rough 1st season because of inept coaching.

Even so, I think the window of him being a great player is closing. He might figure it out, and become serviceable, but far from a franchise changing player you would expect at #1 overall. Even if you turn out to be an okay player, your still a bust at #1 as far as I'm concerned.
- buffalofan19

#1 overall pick should be regular All Stars, faces of the franchise, and when all is said and done HHOF quality.

Anything short of that, IMO means bust.

He'll be 21 in October.


He's old enough and been in North America long enough to know better.
- dadeadhead

The org he is playing for is a complete mess and has killed his confidence. They sit him because his defensive play. Tell him to stop being creative and play more defense.

Not exactly what you do with a goal scoring winger.

Even so, I think the window of him being a great player is closing. He might figure it out, and become serviceable, but far from a franchise changing player you would expect at #1 overall. Even if you turn out to be an okay player, your still a bust at #1 as far as I'm concerned.
- buffalofan19

This.


#1 players need to be "game changers." Is he going to score goals and put up points? Sure. Is he doing it when it really matters? No. And that's the difference. If he had been picked in the middle of the 1st round, nobody really cares that he isn't a game changer. But he wasn't. He's a 1st overall. He just lacks the drive that he needs in order to actually be the player people thought he could be.

He might end up being a bust, although I doubt it considering he produced as an 18-19 year old. He was on pace for a 29 goal season had we played 82 He had a sophomore slump on a team that once again took a step backwards by hiring a coach that wasn't the right guy for the job.

For some reason people expect these kids to light it up there first few years now.

Stamkos had a rough 1st season because of inept coaching.
- sbroads24

I believe many said Stamkos is a bust after his first season as well. Wonder how that worked out for them.

Oh I forgot he is not Russian, so the bias does not apply.

Even so, I think the window of him being a great player is closing. He might figure it out, and become serviceable, but far from a franchise changing player you would expect at #1 overall. Even if you turn out to be an okay player, your still a bust at #1 as far as I'm concerned.
- buffalofan19

The chances of being great on EDM or Buffalo are slim to begin with.

I don't think Yakupov is gonna be an MVP candidate anytime soon, however neither is Murray or Galchenyuk

None of the 3 have done anything impressive yet

He might end up being a bust, although I doubt it considering he produced as an 18-19 year old. He was on pace for a 29 goal season had we played 82 He had a sophomore slump on a team that once again took a step backwards by hiring a coach that wasn't the right guy for the job.

For some reason people expect these kids to light it up there first few years now.

Stamkos had a rough 1st season because of inept coaching.
- sbroads24

There's a difference between inept coaching and a player who won't listen to the coach.

This.


#1 players need to be "game changers." Is he going to score goals and put up points? Sure. Is he doing it when it really matters? No. And that's the difference. If he had been picked in the middle of the 1st round, nobody really cares that he isn't a game changer. But he wasn't. He's a 1st overall. He just lacks the drive that he needs in order to actually be the player people thought he could be.
- HonkFortheGoose

He is also Russian, which means everyone stereotypes him. If he is a US/Canada born player, the bust word is never thrown out there, guaranteed.

The chances of being great on EDM or Buffalo are slim to begin with.

I don't think Yakupov is gonna be an MVP candidate anytime soon, however neither is Murray or Galchenyuk

None of the 3 have done anything impressive yet
- sbroads24

You could have said the same thing about Washington and Pittsburgh back in 2004 and 2005. That's why the worst teams get those picks, to get players to turn a franchise around.

The org he is playing for is a complete mess and has killed his confidence. They sit him because his defensive play. Tell him to stop being creative and play more defense.

Not exactly what you do with a goal scoring winger.
- ImThatGuy

Why is it ok to say this about players for other teams, but when someone says it about one of our guys, everyone gets mad and says it's just an excuse?

He might end up being a bust, although I doubt it considering he produced as an 18-19 year old. He was on pace for a 29 goal season had we played 82 He had a sophomore slump on a team that once again took a step backwards by hiring a coach that wasn't the right guy for the job.

For some reason people expect these kids to light it up there first few years now.

Stamkos had a rough 1st season because of inept coaching.
- sbroads24

He had a rough 1st part of his rookie season. Still scored 23 goals and followed it up with 51.

Yak was set up to fail from the start. Wrong franchise drafted him IMO. Would've been the perfect guy to fall at the draft, get taken by Pittsburgh at 8, and have a chip on his shoulder because of it.

Why is it ok to say this about players for other teams, but when someone says it about one of our guys, everyone gets mad and says it's just an excuse?
- HonkFortheGoose

Not sure what you mean... Grigorenko? If so i believe the confidence thing is real. they played him when he wasn't ready. Then said 4th line minutes and one screw up and you are out of the game. Oh yea your linemates are John Scott and Matt Ellis. Good luck.

He is also Russian, which means everyone stereotypes him. If he is a US/Canada born player, the bust word is never thrown out there, guaranteed.
- ImThatGuy

Had Galchenyuk never injured his knee, he would have gone #1 overall.

I'm not stereotyping him based on the fact that he's Russian. I'm stating what's actually been said about him. And that's that he has come right out and said that he's going to just play his game the way he wants to and doesn't care what the coach says. That is an issue when you're a player that's on your ELC. You have to be a team player and know that the coach is trying to help you grow as a player.

The chances of being great on EDM or Buffalo are slim to begin with.

I don't think Yakupov is gonna be an MVP candidate anytime soon, however neither is Murray or Galchenyuk

None of the 3 have done anything impressive yet
- sbroads24

Watch him make the jump this season.

Edmonton needed center help and defensive help at the time, they took a winger.

Not sure what you mean... Grigorenko? If so i believe the confidence thing is real. they played him when he wasn't ready. Then said 4th line minutes and one screw up and you are out of the game. Oh yea your linemates are John Scott and Matt Ellis. Good luck.
- ImThatGuy

It's happened with a lot of different guys. Grigorenko is one, but I agree that he wasn't handled correctly. But Myers is another one.

Not sure what you mean... Grigorenko? If so i believe the confidence thing is real. they played him when he wasn't ready. Then said 4th line minutes and one screw up and you are out of the game. Oh yea your linemates are John Scott and Matt Ellis. Good luck.
- ImThatGuy

They also didn't put him in a position to succeed overall either. Like DD said, he should have started on the wing, with some players that could skate. Would he still have some developing to do? Sure. Would he have looked like as much of a clueless liability? Most likely not. That being said, Grigorenko wasn't taken 1st overall. He fell to a double digit pick (was it 14?).