Rather let the kid be good at what he is good at first. Instead of forcing him to play a role he can't which then hurts him in what he's good at. Let him get his confidence up first. Not like this team was some sort of contender that couldn't afford to have their top pick making some mistakes.
- Lahey

Eakins handled him poorly, but Yak was bad and lazy in the D zone. Both have to be better. Can't pin Yak's performance entirely on Eakins and vice versa.

Eakins handled him poorly, but Yak was bad and lazy in the D zone. Both have to be better. Can't pin Yak's performance entirely on Eakins and vice versa.
- Jeropotato

I don't know if I would say he was lazy. Maybe on occasion. To me he always back checked hard, it was knowing who to pick up, when to collapse and help the D, and when to stay at the point to let his dman take the winger on the wall. Stuff like that he had trouble with. Start of the year I noticed a lot of mistakes. Towards the end, a lot of his "minuses" weren't his fault - he got better IMO. TSN liked to overplay the plus/minus thing.

You can't pin his performance entirely on Eakins, but maybe Eakins system takes longer to get the hang of.

Derp
- Jeropotato

Eakins coaching methodology really paid dividends... I especially like the 'earn your ice time' best... It really paid off -esp for Gags who was traded for what basically a 6th and salary dumps in the end Ya the rookie coach for sophmore players worked out as planned... The owner is spending closer and closer to cap ceiling - by the time we are a .500 team we will have to trade off a good chunk of the talent - if they stay here long enough... but ya I am the derp...

Rather let the kid be good at what he is good at first. Instead of forcing him to play a role he can't which then hurts him in what he's good at. Let him get his confidence up first. Not like this team was some sort of contender that couldn't afford to have their top pick making some mistakes.
- Lahey

His approach wasn't great, but his goal was fine. Using the media as a discipline tool was a horrible approach.

The longer someone has a bad habit the harder it is to break. Allowing Yak to ignore defensive responsibility could make it harder down the road to develop the 200 foot game.

His approach wasn't great, but his goal was fine. Using the media as a discipline tool was a horrible approach.

The longer someone has a bad habit the harder it is to break. Allowing Yak to ignore defensive responsibility could make it harder down the road to develop the 200 foot game.
- Al Hacker

When the kid is struggling and is only getting 2 points in over a dozen games or 1 point in 6 or 7 games, it's time for the coach to try help the kid out.

MacT is all about developing players going into last year, breaking their confidence doesn't seem to be a good way.

Yes the kid needs to learn, but breaking him is just going to result in another Russian going back home.

Hendo.... I think your article might be a little too scathing. What if Yak is just cheap and didn't want to pay Horcoff for the number?

Eakins coaching methodology really paid dividends... I especially like the 'earn your ice time' best... It really paid off -esp for Gags who was traded for what basically a 6th and salary dumps in the end :duh: Ya the rookie coach for sophmore players worked out as planned... The owner is spending closer and closer to cap ceiling - by the time we are a .500 team we will have to trade off a good chunk of the talent - if they stay here long enough... but ya I am the derp...
- saskoil21

So....what?

No news is boring.

I completely agree with you about how this was handled. It's normal to wait until it was offered by the organization, or Horcoff himself, but it should have been done from the get-go. I wouldn't be surprised if it were Horcoff holding onto the number rather than the organization not wanted to offer it to Yakupov. Ever since his big contract and the C on his chest, Horcoff seemed to think that he was really something. He was the worst captain in Oilers history.

My order of worst captains:

1. Horcoff
2. Moreau
3. Ference

I also think that Yakupov will actually pick up his game a little now that he has his number. These guys are more superstitious than you can imagine. (somebody teach him how to play in the other two zones please).

What's the over under for Yaks production this yr?

I say 22 Goals and 48 points.
- Jeropotato

I'm not worried about his production, just want to see positive numbers on the defensive side. (well, maybe not positive but a vast improvement)

Hahaha so Yakupov is going to be good because he wears the number he wants? That's absurd! Only...he is Russian so yeah, maybe he hasn't been trying for the last two seasons because he's a gigantic communistic baby.

My bet though is he is still going to suck.
- Allan Bester

After a few posts that have monumental levels of stupid in them, and all from leaf fans, im concerned for the education system in Ontario.

Are these morons just trolling, and trying to come off super silly, or are they actually this dumb?

I'm not worried about his production, just want to see positive numbers on the defensive side. (well, maybe not positive but a vast improvement)
- JLO961

To be honest, I want both...but yeah, some competency with the 200ft game is a must if he wants a 10-15 yr NHL Career. Easier to teach him the tough lessons now than when he's older, I think.
Regardless, Yak will most likely enter training camp with a better understanding of the game and what is being asked of him, and Eakins will likely have reflected on what he did poorly in regards to Yak, a compromise will be met and we should have a fairly good season from Yak.

After a few posts that have monumental levels of stupid in them, and all from leaf fans, im concerned for the education system in Ontario.

Are these morons just trolling, and trying to come off super silly, or are they actually this dumb?
- hugefemale dog77

Haven't you ever watched Degrassi? People from Ontario are that dumb.

I completely agree with you about how this was handled. It's normal to wait until it was offered by the organization, or Horcoff himself, but it should have been done from the get-go. I wouldn't be surprised if it were Horcoff holding onto the number rather than the organization not wanted to offer it to Yakupov. Ever since his big contract and the C on his chest, Horcoff seemed to think that he was really something. He was the worst captain in Oilers history.

My order of worst captains:

1. Horcoff
2. Moreau
3. Ference

I also think that Yakupov will actually pick up his game a little now that he has his number. These guys are more superstitious than you can imagine. (somebody teach him how to play in the other two zones please).
- JLO961

Pretty easy to pick on those guys when those were Captains of the worst Oilers teams in History.Mark Messier couldn't have led those Sad Sack teams to a strip bar.

Also...you forgot about Shayne Corson. Good player...terrible Oilers Captain.

After reading all of these Yakupov debates, I agree with pretty much everything Zeroporatoes is saying. You don't f'n reward a kid for missing his assignment every shift. Benching him for a period, calling him out in the room, etc. is fine. Sitting an entire game, in WSH, against Ovechkin....too much. "they both need to be better" is bang on. If Ference weren't jogging in the electo-neon panty race all of the time, he'd spend some time with Yakupov and earn his respect. This team has needed an exceptional captain for quite some time. Just give it to Hall if no one else is willing or able.

Eakins coaching methodology really paid dividends... I especially like the 'earn your ice time' best... It really paid off -esp for Gags who was traded for what basically a 6th and salary dumps in the end Ya the rookie coach for sophmore players worked out as planned... The owner is spending closer and closer to cap ceiling - by the time we are a .500 team we will have to trade off a good chunk of the talent - if they stay here long enough... but ya I am the derp...
- saskoil21

Omg.
More posts about what tampa got for gagner.
How is this relevant? We got purcell.
Tampa clearing space has no bearing on our side of the trade.

Id assume the market for gags was small. But the scenario isnt hard to figure out.
Edm wouldnt give gags for a 6th etc
Pho didnt want a winger
Tbay wanted to clear space
Gags -->tbay--->pho

And yaks needs to learn the defensive side. He will not be fed minutes with only offensive guys to pad his numbers. This is neither the best thing for him, nor the oilers. Kind of a derp post bro

Pretty easy to pick on those guys when those were Captains of the worst Oilers teams in History.Mark Messier couldn't have led those Sad Sack teams to a strip bar.

Also...you forgot about Shayne Corson. Good player...terrible Oilers Captain.

- Jeropotato

yeah, I was just thinking that. They were pretty bad league wide too I guess...I'm just not willing to look it up and rank them. lol

After reading all of these Yakupov debates, I agree with pretty much everything Zeroporatoes is saying. You don't f'n reward a kid for missing his assignment every shift. Benching him for a period, calling him out in the room, etc. is fine. Sitting an entire game, in WSH, against Ovechkin....too much. "they both need to be better" is bang on. If Ference weren't jogging in the electo-neon panty race all of the time, he'd spend some time with Yakupov and earn his respect. This team has needed an exceptional captain for quite some time. Just give it to Hall if no one else is willing or able.
- JLO961

GFY

After reading all of these Yakupov debates, I agree with pretty much everything Zeroporatoes is saying. You don't f'n reward a kid for missing his assignment every shift. Benching him for a period, calling him out in the room, etc. is fine. Sitting an entire game, in WSH, against Ovechkin....too much. "they both need to be better" is bang on. If Ference weren't jogging in the electo-neon panty race all of the time, he'd spend some time with Yakupov and earn his respect. This team has needed an exceptional captain for quite some time. Just give it to Hall if no one else is willing or able.
- JLO961

Pretty easy to pick on those guys when those were Captains of the worst Oilers teams in History.Mark Messier couldn't have led those Sad Sack teams to a strip bar.

Also...you forgot about Shayne Corson. Good player...terrible Oilers Captain.

- Jeropotato

I thought of Corson too, he's a gamer and he put forth the effort etc. That team was probably worse than this one.

Also, I actually believe that if this team had a 28yr old Mark Messier leading them that they would be a VERY good team. It's what they need the most, in my opinion.

- ChetManly

zeropotato......

I thought of Corson too, he's a gamer and he put forth the effort etc. That team was probably worse than this one.

Also, I actually believe that if this team had a 28yr old Mark Messier leading them that they would be a VERY good team. It's what they need the most, in my opinion.
- JLO961

The problem isn't leadership or coaching...it's a lack of NHL hockey players in all positions.

And Corson was a drunken Hooligan who spent way too much time at barry T's.

The problem isn't leadership or coaching...it's a lack of NHL hockey players in all positions.
- Jeropotato

yeah, it sure doesn't f'n help. A guy like Mess could get guys like Jimmy Carson, Kovalev, etc. going though. I want a guy like that.

yeah, it sure doesn't f'n help. A guy like Mess could get guys like Jimmy Carson, Kovalev, etc. going though. I want a guy like that.
- JLO961

Not doubting that....but a great Captain on a poopty roster can only change so much.

yeah, it sure doesn't f'n help. A guy like Mess could get guys like Jimmy Carson, Kovalev, etc. going though. I want a guy like that.
- JLO961

Hall seems to be getting like that. He is only 22 years old too.