I never understood why he got the "attitude" label in the first place.

is it cuz he celebrated a little too much on his first goal?

is it because he said he wanted a bigger role/minutes on the team.

to me, that seems like a guy who wants to play, and wants to contribute. Attitude problems are the guys getting in poop off the ice, or publically criticizing teammates or coaches. i've never heard anything like that about him.

i honestly think that because of the so-called "russian factor", every little thing he does that is even a little negative, will be blown out of proportion 1000 times worse than if he had been Canadian or American.

it's pretty sad if you ask me. the kid has been labelled, and has done nothing to deserve it.
- sensarmy_11

100% Bubba

Well you should make that trade in a heart beat. Oilers are in a similar situation as the Senators...they need to build up their defense. Trading for a veteran D is the most effective way is to trade for a top 4 D with experience. Boychuck could organize most of the defense on ice immediately, however, the oilers coaching staff kept on trying to fix it themselves for years and amounted to nothing. Let a veteran come in and truly help organize the defense. Don't forget Boychuck has been developed by Bruins, a much more competitive team than the Oilers. That fact alone, should be enough to convince you that Boychuck is worth Yakupov, especially in today's hockey market for top four D's.
- PtotheY

And this is the second thing that again shows you have absolutely no hockey knowledge whatsoever...my goodness...

Well you should make that trade in a heart beat. Oilers are in a similar situation as the Senators...they need to build up their defense. Trading for a veteran D is the most effective way is to trade for a top 4 D with experience. Boychuck could organize most of the defense on ice immediately, however, the oilers coaching staff kept on trying to fix it themselves for years and amounted to nothing. Let a veteran come in and truly help organize the defense. Don't forget Boychuck has been developed by Bruins, a much more competitive team than the Oilers. That fact alone, should be enough to convince you that Boychuck is worth Yakupov, especially in today's hockey market for top four D's.
- PtotheY

don't forget that boychuk has played a majority of his career playing next to one of the best d-men in NHL history.......that tends to make players seem to be better then they actually are.

boychuk is essentially methot.....an okay d-man, who benefits from playing next to an elite player.

not even mike milbury would be stupid enough to trade yakupov for boychuk

People are so insistent on over selling Turris. He hasn't put up number one center points yet, so lets not start calling him a top 15 center yet.

I say this as a huge turris fan.
- david22

This.

Turris is a good player right now. Let's hope we see him turn into a great player, that some think already walks among us.

He's shown promise, but is not there yet.

unrelated but Bobby Ryan actually sounded pretty positive about contract talks with the sens and signing on long term today...interesting to see how this all goes with him back in town now..he indicated everything was good so far with the talks and he expected it to get more serious now that hes here...

ive been pretty 50/50 on wether he stays, so thats nice to hear...i know him and his fiance love the city and he enjoys playing here..but well see what that all translates too.

If you trade a guy two seasons removed from being 1st overall, who lead rookies in scoring for a team's 3rd best dman with a year left on his contract, it's a bad trade.

The Panthers shouldn't trade Huberdeau for Jake Muzzin.
The Habs shouldn't trade Alex Galchenyuk for Radko Gudas.
The Sens shouldn't trade Mika Zibanejad for Jared Spurgeon.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Yakupov is better, but also I think hes overrated... hes got the pooptiest attitude in a player.. So yeah, if the sens would trade for boychuck, I wouldn't think I would trade someone like Zibanijad for Boychuck. HOwever, teams are more likely to pay less or to be less likely to trade when you have a player that has attitude problems.
- PtotheY

how so...? because he's russian or what? Works his ass off, is respectful to teammates/opponents, and loves the game.

when Mike Milbury takes over the Oilers, that's when Oiler fans should worry about these kinds of trade rumours. Trust me, I know. The pain. It hurts.

Well you should make that trade in a heart beat. Oilers are in a similar situation as the Senators...they need to build up their defense. Trading for a veteran D is the most effective way is to trade for a top 4 D with experience. Boychuck could organize most of the defense on ice immediately, however, the oilers coaching staff kept on trying to fix it themselves for years and amounted to nothing. Let a veteran come in and truly help organize the defense. Don't forget Boychuck has been developed by Bruins, a much more competitive team than the Oilers. That fact alone, should be enough to convince you that Boychuck is worth Yakupov, especially in today's hockey market for top four D's.
- PtotheY

Boychuk is a ufa after this coming season. There's absolutely no chance that this deal happens straight up. If yak is involved in a trade for boychuk, the bruins would need to add to their end of the package and send over something of quality. This isn't an alexander daigle situation for edmonton, yak can play and there's zero chance the oilers move him for a guy who can walk after one season.

when Mike Milbury takes over the Oilers, that's when Oiler fans should worry about these kinds of trade rumours. Trust me, I know. The pain. It hurts.
- Isles_since_6

god, i CAN'T WAIT for that to happen.......

phillips for hall......maybe we'll throw in a 3rd, cuz no HB trade offer is complete without a 3rd

don't forget that boychuk has played a majority of his career playing next to one of the best d-men in NHL history.......that tends to make players seem to be better then they actually are.

boychuk is essentially methot.....an okay d-man, who benefits from playing next to an elite player.

not even mike milbury would be stupid enough to trade yakupov for boychuk
- sensarmy_11

I beg to differ with the bolded part. We moved Luongo for garbage so we could draft dipietro and passed on keeping luongo and drafting heatley or gaborik. the spezza(pick) and chara trade for yashin...

seriously, we could have had one heck of a good team if it wasn't for Milbury. I honestly think he went to bed at night trying to decide how best to screw over the fan base.

Boychuk is a ufa after this coming season. There's absolutely no chance that this deal happens straight up. If yak is involved in a trade for boychuk, the bruins would need to add to their end of the package and send over something of quality. This isn't an alexander daigle situation for edmonton, yak can play and there's zero chance the oilers move him for a guy who can walk after one season.
- Isles_since_6

agreed. if the bruins are trading a d-man for yakupov, his name is gonna be Hamilton......pretty much the ONLY d-man on that team edmonton would move yakupov for, IMO. obviously chara is great, but he's old and nearing the end, he wouldn't fetch a 19 year old 1st overall pick

I beg to differ with the bolded part. We moved Luongo for garbage so we could draft dipietro and passed on keeping luongo and drafting heatley or gaborik. the spezza(pick) and chara trade for yashin...

seriously, we could have had one heck of a good team if it wasn't for Milbury. I honestly think he went to bed at night trying to decide how best to screw over the fan base.
- Isles_since_6

you're right......my post should be edited to say "ONLY milbury would be stupid enough to do that"

agreed. if the bruins are trading a d-man for yakupov, his name is gonna be Hamilton......pretty much the ONLY d-man on that team edmonton would move yakupov for, IMO. obviously chara is great, but he's old and nearing the end, he wouldn't fetch a 19 year old 1st overall pick
- sensarmy_11

I find it very likely that Boychuk will be available next summer anyways.

Hamilton and Krug are progressing, they're never going to move Chara, and Seidenberg just re-signed last summer.

you're right......my post should be edited to say "ONLY milbury would be stupid enough to do that"
- sensarmy_11

Then I fully agree lol

unrelated but Bobby Ryan actually sounded pretty positive about contract talks with the sens and signing on long term today...interesting to see how this all goes with him back in town now..he indicated everything was good so far with the talks and he expected it to get more serious now that hes here...

ive been pretty 50/50 on wether he stays, so thats nice to hear...i know him and his fiance love the city and he enjoys playing here..but well see what that all translates too.
- TheMike12

was having the same thoughts today.... it's really good news. Ryan looks set to have a big season. Who knows if he will, but I think he will. Ceci is another guy that I think is flying under the radar. He's got a lot to offer and him and Weircioch bring a lot of offensive support for Karlsson on the back end. I'd keep those 3 and try and trade either Gryba or Cowen (I'd wait at least until 2015)

this is always comes back in my head when talking about Ryan's contract:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPJV5pVonCY

50:45

This.

Turris is a good player right now. Let's hope we see him turn into a great player, that some think already walks among us.

He's shown promise, but is not there yet.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think this is the point where I differ with many people. I think Turris had a great season last year. I would be more than content if he simply duplicates last year's results, especially his defensive play. If he has the same numbers as last year and if the team is successful he will get lots of recognition. I think Turris will help Karlsson just run away and hide from all other Dmen in terms of offensive production. More important Turris will set the tone for every center in getting back and helping out in your own end. Had Ottawa been a contending playoff team throughout the season last year Turris would have been a legitimate Selke trophy candidate.

I always find it amusing to hear fans insist that they want to be a more successful team (like LA or Boston). And, so, they assume that by adding more offensive firepower it automatically makes a team better. But we all know Boston and LA win because they are so good defensively. Indeed, many of their goals are scored as a direct result of their defensive play.

Why does everyone make the assumption that Dallas is a better team by adding Jason Spezza? Do you really believe he will be more productive in Dallas? Do you think he will become more defensively responsible? More than likely Jason Spezza will have good offensive numbers but team results for Dallas will likely suffer (they are going to give up more goals 5 on 5).

There is a significant coincidence in the physical and psychological phenomena of offensive and defensive play. They are acausal connected. Teams that play great defensive hockey know they can win and they have the confidence that they can score enough to make it so.

Teams that give up too many goals always lose when it matters. Even though they may score a lot of goals, giving up too many allows the physical and psychological tone of the team to fall out of harmony. The team starts playing as individuals rather than as a team.

Everything you need to know about probable team success can be found in the goals against given up by each team. In the East, last year

Boston 177
NYR. 193
Montreal. 204
Pittsburgh 207

Ottawa. 265
NYI. 267
Florida. 268

If you could send one writer to Syria who would it be? Brenna, Garrioch or Haggerty?

If you could send one writer to Syria who would it be? Brenna, Garrioch or Haggerty?
- riceroni

Make a quick edit on that. It is not what you really wanted to say. I know your joking but it could hit a nasty nerve with people.

If you trade a guy two seasons removed from being 1st overall, who lead rookies in scoring for a team's 3rd best dman with a year left on his contract, it's a bad trade.

The Panthers shouldn't trade Huberdeau for Jake Muzzin.
The Habs shouldn't trade Alex Galchenyuk for Radko Gudas.
The Sens shouldn't trade Mika Zibanejad for Jared Spurgeon.

Etc. Etc. Etc.
- Morris

I agree with the point you're making. But just an FYI, Muzzin actually brought up Doughty's numbers. He's damn good.

I always find it amusing to hear fans insist that they want to be a more successful team (like LA or Boston). And, so, they assume that by adding more offensive firepower it automatically makes a team better. But we all know Boston and LA win because they are so good defensively. Indeed, many of their goals are scored as a direct result of their defensive play.

Why does everyone make the assumption that Dallas is a better team by adding Jason Spezza? Do you really believe he will be more productive in Dallas? Do you think he will become more defensively responsible? More than likely Jason Spezza will have good offensive numbers but team results for Dallas will likely suffer (they are going to give up more goals 5 on 5).

There is a significant coincidence in the physical and psychological phenomena of offensive and defensive play. They are acausal connected. Teams that play great defensive hockey know they can win and they have the confidence that they can score enough to make it so.

Teams that give up too many goals always lose when it matters. Even though they may score a lot of goals, giving up too many allows the physical and psychological tone of the team to fall out of harmony. The team starts playing as individuals rather than as a team.

Everything you need to know about probable team success can be found in the goals against given up by each team. In the East, last year

Boston 177
NYR. 193
Montreal. 204
Pittsburgh 207

Ottawa. 265
NYI. 267
Florida. 268
- spatso

I think it's safe to say that Spezza is going to do really well in Dallas this year, and likely for the following couple of years too. He's not the centerpiece of that team. He's not the captain. He is a hired playmaker, a complementary player, and if they match him up with one solid 2-way player and one shooter, he will put up great numbers. He did not fit the defensive system that MacLean and Murray are building, and didn't want to sign him long term due to health and longevity.

I agree with the rest of your post, BTW.

was having the same thoughts today.... it's really good news. Ryan looks set to have a big season. Who knows if he will, but I think he will. Ceci is another guy that I think is flying under the radar. He's got a lot to offer and him and Weircioch bring a lot of offensive support for Karlsson on the back end. I'd keep those 3 and try and trade either Gryba or Cowen (I'd wait at least until 2015)
- AlfieisKing

I found it interesting that he spends his summers in IDAHO ..... kinda far from his 'home sweet home' of Philly/NJ......

I guess was can put to rest his love for playing in Philly above anywhere else....

I think it's safe to say that Spezza is going to do really well in Dallas this year, and likely for the following couple of years too. He's not the centerpiece of that team. He's not the captain. He is a hired playmaker, a complementary player, and if they match him up with one solid 2-way player and one shooter, he will put up great numbers. He did not fit the defensive system that MacLean and Murray are building, and didn't want to sign him long term due to health and longevity.

I agree with the rest of your post, BTW.
- Stringer74

i do not disagree. I think Spezza will have a good season in Dallas, lots of firepower. but the larger question was about Dallas (the team as a whole) and if they will do better than last year (playoffs).

Dallas was 8th in goals against in the West and they locked down the final playoff spot. If they had given up a half dozen more goals they would not have made the playoffs. Maybe this year they will give up a lot more goals than last year.