this, i would like to know because all I've heard is about Kessel blowing up about something...
- ChetManly

Some guy asked him if he is uncoachable and if he is the reason carlyle got fired

Everything I post is genius. Eakins tried playing Yakupov for almost 18 minutes a night before he got fired and it produced no results. Yakupov just sucks, his shooting percentages have dropped from 20% his rookie season to ~5% this year.
- Dangles13

actually he was producing, when Hall was injured he played 3-4 games at 18 minutes and got 3-4 points

I wouldn't sell Yakupov off yet.
- ChetManly

Nelson already moved him off the line with Lander and newby.

Said they want to free him up and try to get more offense from him. I hope he can get more going with out forgetting to back check some though.

OK guys, we have a disagreement on the Leafs thread about a trade for RNH.

The Leafs need a freaking #1 C, probably more than anything else. So I am putting it to you guys.

Nonis calls and wants RNH. What do you ask in return. Try to be reasonable. If you honestly would not part with him for any combination of Leafs assets then just "hang up", but I'm pretty sure that is not reasonable

They tried to make Yak something he simply is not. Teach him defensive basics but don't try to make him into some two-way god. The kid was meant to score goals. Now his confidence and gameplay is all (frank)ed up. I don't blame Eakins for everything but I think that one is squarely on him, trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

This 100%, confidence is everything in the NHL

OK guys, we have a disagreement on the Leafs thread about a trade for RNH.

The Leafs need a freaking #1 C, probably more than anything else. So I am putting it to you guys.

Nonis calls and wants RNH. What do you ask in return. Try to be reasonable. If you honestly would not part with him for any combination of Leafs assets then just "hang up", but I'm pretty sure that is not reasonable
- Aetherial

hang up. without Nuge, we don't have a 1C either.

Some guy asked him if he is uncoachable and if he is the reason carlyle got fired
- Oilfan19

well.......isn't he?

OK guys, we have a disagreement on the Leafs thread about a trade for RNH.

The Leafs need a freaking #1 C, probably more than anything else. So I am putting it to you guys.

Nonis calls and wants RNH. What do you ask in return. Try to be reasonable. If you honestly would not part with him for any combination of Leafs assets then just "hang up", but I'm pretty sure that is not reasonable
- Aetherial

Hang up.

Without him we have zero center depth.

Some guy asked him if he is uncoachable and if he is the reason carlyle got fired
- Oilfan19

Then the douchebag reporter tried to tell everyone about how he was "manning up" and calling him out face to face.

The problem was that he has a history of saying crap about the Leafs and Kessel.

In light of everything that is going down with the Leafs (down the drain that is), I am 100% with Kessel on this one. He has his flaws, but I am glad he called the guy an idiot

Hang up.

Without him we have zero center depth.
- Iggysbff

Yeah, like I said, I don't think that is "reasonable", but I do understand the sentiment.

I think in the same situation I might have the same answer you do, for those exact reasons. This is probably because I can feel the pain of having no current or potential future #1C.

Hang up.

Without him we have zero center depth.
- Iggysbff

No poop...

actually he was producing, when Hall was injured he played 3-4 games at 18 minutes and got 3-4 points
- SpoiledByOil

No, I'm talking about like right before. Yakupov was playing around 17-19 minutes a night for 7 games and only had 1 goal in those 7 games.

Then the douchebag reporter tried to tell everyone about how he was "manning up" and calling him out face to face.

The problem was that he has a history of saying crap about the Leafs and Kessel.

In light of everything that is going down with the Leafs (down the drain that is), I am 100% with Kessel on this one. He has his flaws, but I am glad he called the guy an idiot
- Aetherial

The problem that I have with Kessel is that, from my view, he is an offensive dynamo with an incredible shot, but he isn't a "good ol' canadian boy that plays a solid two-way game'. I think that's where the issues stem from.

But that's a topic for the leafs thread and not the oilers thread

Edmonton improved in every defensive category that can be recorded except goals against. Their 1st line is below average, their middle 6 was barely passable, almost half of their defense took D's, and their goaltending took 0's.

I stand by the marks. This is how all of your underlying numbers can increase but your team actually moves down in the standings.
- Matt_Henderson

I think 'goals against' is kind of the most important stat there is Matt. Wouldn't you agree?

I'm a big believer in team defense and your team has none, regardless of what the advanced stats suggest.

Yeah, like I said, I don't think that is "reasonable", but I do understand the sentiment.

I think in the same situation I might have the same answer you do, for those exact reasons. This is probably because I can feel the pain of having no current or potential future #1C.
- Aetherial

who makes a better 1C? Bozak or Kadri?

I think 'goals against' is kind of the most important stat there is Matt. Wouldn't you agree?

I'm a big believer in team defense and your team has none, regardless of what the advanced stats suggest.
- bloatedmosquito

not if you are winning the games!

Then the douchebag reporter tried to tell everyone about how he was "manning up" and calling him out face to face.

The problem was that he has a history of saying crap about the Leafs and Kessel.

In light of everything that is going down with the Leafs (down the drain that is), I am 100% with Kessel on this one. He has his flaws, but I am glad he called the guy an idiot
- Aetherial

Yeah it's nice when the players fight back, Kessel has pretty much had it with them this year.

OK guys, we have a disagreement on the Leafs thread about a trade for RNH.

The Leafs need a freaking #1 C, probably more than anything else. So I am putting it to you guys.

Nonis calls and wants RNH. What do you ask in return. Try to be reasonable. If you honestly would not part with him for any combination of Leafs assets then just "hang up", but I'm pretty sure that is not reasonable
- Aetherial

you didn't call us to ask about our Cs? Rude

OK guys, we have a disagreement on the Leafs thread about a trade for RNH.

The Leafs need a freaking #1 C, probably more than anything else. So I am putting it to you guys.

Nonis calls and wants RNH. What do you ask in return. Try to be reasonable. If you honestly would not part with him for any combination of Leafs assets then just "hang up", but I'm pretty sure that is not reasonable
- Aetherial

Yeah I would hang up. We need nuge and with the two way game developing he is a very important piece if we ever want to turn it around.

OK guys, we have a disagreement on the Leafs thread about a trade for RNH.

The Leafs need a freaking #1 C, probably more than anything else. So I am putting it to you guys.

Nonis calls and wants RNH. What do you ask in return. Try to be reasonable. If you honestly would not part with him for any combination of Leafs assets then just "hang up", but I'm pretty sure that is not reasonable
- Aetherial

If the leafs need a #1 centre, then why the (frank) would Nonis be calling about RNH? Those itty bitty tiny shoulders won't be able to hold up crashing and banging with the best d-men in the league.

He's super skilled but not a true #1 on a contending team.

No, I'm talking about like right before. Yakupov was playing around 17-19 minutes a night for 7 games and only had 1 goal in those 7 games.
- Dangles13

i don't remember him ever playing 7 games straight at those minutes, i'll take your word for it, but it still takes longer than 7 games to try and get someone going who's struggeling.

This season is already lost, there's no reason why he shouldn't be playing top line minutes with skilled players to finish the season, worse case scenario, he continues to struggle and we stay at the bottom getting a good pick, best case scenario, he becomes the player we drafted.

i don't see any positives to not having him finish this year with skilled players at 17-18 min a night.

you didn't call us to ask about our Cs? Rude
- DDM-Coga

Duchene and Iggy to Boston though? Now your C depth is worse than the oilers

If the leafs need a #1 centre, then why the (frank) would Nonis be calling about RNH? Those itty bitty tiny shoulders won't be able to hold up crashing and banging with the best d-men in the league.

He's suoer skilled but not a true #1 on a contending team.
- bloatedmosquito

If the leafs need a #1 centre, then why the (frank) would Nonis be calling about RNH? Those itty bitty tiny shoulders won't be able to hold up crashing and banging with the best d-men in the league.

He's suoer skilled but not a true #1 on a contending team.
- bloatedmosquito

I see you didn't get any smarter over the holidays....

- Oilfan19

I know, the thought of RNH as a #1 centre makes me laugh too.