If they don't want to play him regulary with skilled players or the top 2 lines, fine, but he should be on the 1st line PP
- SpoiledByOil

Why though? He isn't producing then why force feed him pp time? He's got less points than Matt Hendricks and Arcobello and just as many points as Petry, Draisaitl and Benoit Pouliot who has played 18 less games.

His shot is described as "dangerous" but it's only put 4 goals in the net this year. He might have a player in there somewhere but forcing minutes on him probably isn't the best way to get him there.

Why though? He isn't producing then why force feed him pp time? He's got less points than Matt Hendricks and Arcobello and just as many points as Petry, Draisaitl and Benoit Pouliot who has played 18 less games.

His shot is described as "dangerous" but it's only put 4 goals in the net this year. He might have a player in there somewhere but forcing minutes on him probably isn't the best way to get him there.
- Dangles13

so lets just banish him to no mans land and say (frank) it, why even play him at all? What's the point, he's already a seasoned vet, may as well just put him on waivers, no point in trying to kick start him when we're fighting for a playoff spot
#Oilerlogic

Why though? He isn't producing then why force feed him pp time? He's got less points than Matt Hendricks and Arcobello and just as many points as Petry, Draisaitl and Benoit Pouliot who has played 18 less games.

His shot is described as "dangerous" but it's only put 4 goals in the net this year. He might have a player in there somewhere but forcing minutes on him probably isn't the best way to get him there.
- Dangles13

and you're right, Teddy Purcell definetly deserves to be there more, why develop a 1st overall pick when you can use an older veteren who probably doesn't factor in to the long term success of the team at all, i mean he has scored 20% more goals than Yakupov (1) playing basically the whole year on the top 2 lines

so lets just banish him to no mans land and say (frank) it, why even play him at all? What's the point, he's already a seasoned vet, may as well just put him on waivers, no point in trying to kick start him
#Oilerlogic
- SpoiledByOil

Perhaps we let the new coach have some time with him and Nelson gets him to work on going to the net with the puck and causing defenders to change the way he is defended.

We have Yakupov on a contract year having his worst professional season ever. He will be a very cheap player to have next season. If he shows progression under Nelson and he works on what he needs to in the offseason he could come back a very dangerous player next season.

Perhaps we let the new coach have some time with him and Nelson gets him to work on going to the net with the puck and causing defenders to change the way he is defended.

We have Yakupov on a contract year having his worst professional season ever. He will be a very cheap player to have next season. If he shows progression under Nelson and he works on what he needs to in the offseason he could come back a very dangerous player next season.
- Dangles13

Don't play him on the top 2 lines, fine, but you won't convince me Purcell deserves to be on the #1 PP over him

This blog should have been one letter long.

F
- Dirty_Irbe_Pads

Kessel for the leadership award??

and you're right, Teddy Purcell definetly deserves to be there more, why develop a 1st overall pick when you can use an older veteren who probably doesn't factor in to the long term success of the team at all, i mean he has scored 20% more goals than Yakupov (1) playing basically the whole year on the top 2 lines
- SpoiledByOil

Purcell has almost double the points Yakupov does. Why would we ruin the success of our "core" players by saddling them with an offensive black hole?

Don't play him on the top 2 lines, fine, but you won't convince me Purcell deserves to be on the #1 PP over him
- SpoiledByOil

Well... logic isn't for everybody.

Well... logic isn't for everybody.
- Dangles13

I don't think that Yakupov playing on the first pp is the difference in him being a good player or a bust is what I mean by this.

(frank) eh?

So side note, I have buddies in St.Paul Minnesota and they were talking about how the city basically shut down yesterday because of wind chill advisory.. it was -1f and -18f with windchill
- Oilfan19

wussys. We hit -52 with windchill in Edmonton in February 2009. And we didn't shut the jobsite down.

How's life in leaf land? Sounds like it's all sunshine and rainbows over there
- SpoiledByOil

Kessel for the leadership award??
- Oilfan19

Purcell has almost double the points Yakupov does. Why would we ruin the success of our "core" players by saddling them with an offensive black hole?
- Dangles13

if you consider 17 points in 41 games success in the top 2 lines then i don't even know what to say to that. He's also playing about 2 min more a game with far better players, he should have a lot more than 17 points to Yakupovs 9.

Are we fighting for a playoff spot? No, the number one agenda we should have is getting young slumping players going, i could give a flying (frank) about Purcell.

Offensive black hole? He scored 11 goals in 10 games, 48 games into his rookie season. Then Eakins came and banished him to the 4th line and he regressed horribly, i don't understand how you can't add 1 + 1.

Purcell is some kind of offensive stelwart? Are we pushing for a playoff spot? If this isn't the case then your points mean nothing.

Well... logic isn't for everybody.
- Dangles13

Yea you display that quite clearly

I don't think that Yakupov playing on the first pp is the difference in him being a good player or a bust is what I mean by this.
- Dangles13

Is the difference of him gaining confidence or not, i don't expect the keyboard warriors to understand this

wussys. We hit -52 with windchill in Edmonton in February 2009. And we didn't shut the jobsite down.
- ChetManly

I know right, (frank) I remember I had hockey practice at millwoods that day and the heater was broken

As to your previous question about Yakupov being sent to the minors, I would definitely be for that. He could go down for about a month and light up the score sheet and he seems like the kind of guy that would want to prove to everybody what he can do.

I would expect him to light up the AHL but on the other side he could go down and not score then all of his confidence would be completely gone and he would be toast as an Oiler.

It is a moot point because he cannot go to the minors without needing waivers and I don't see him passing many teams.
- Dangles13

Aww, thanks for the response buddy

Yeah, that's the fear, if he can't produce in the AHL either than there's a waste of a pick.

BUT, since that's not the case, It'll be interesting to see how Nelson works with Yakupov. With the way he has handled a lot of the other younger guys, I can see Nelson reviving Yak's confidence.

I do believe that if Yakupov can have Nuge for the rest of the season, and told just to go out and shoot the puck, we will see the change happen and get Yakupov back on track.

Purcell has almost double the points Yakupov does. Why would we ruin the success of our "core" players by saddling them with an offensive black hole?
- Dangles13

WTF?

Yea you display that quite clearly
- SpoiledByOil

settle down you two.

the arguing should be saved for the outsiders.

I know right, (frank) I remember I had hockey practice at millwoods that day and the heater was broken
- Oilfan19

we probably felt the same. imagine how difficult it was trying to find our little guy when trying to piss in the frozen portapotty.

settle down you two.

the arguing should be saved for the outsiders.
- ChetManly

I can't, it drives me nuts when people spew garbage and think its genius.

What the (frank) are we trying to save this year that we wouldn't want to try and get Yakupov going and not break up the "success" of our top 2 lines?

Cleary me and Dangles have a different idea of what success is.

But I do respect him as a poster, i just don't agree with what he's saying

if you consider 17 points in 41 games success in the top 2 lines then i don't even know what to say to that. He's also playing about 2 min more a game with far better players, he should have a lot more than 17 points to Yakupovs 9.

Are we fighting for a playoff spot? No, the number one agenda we should have is getting young slumping players going, i could give a flying (frank) about Purcell.

Offensive black hole? He scored 11 goals in 10 games, 48 games into his rookie season. Then Eakins came and banished him to the 4th line and he regressed horribly, i don't understand how you can't add 1 + 1.

Purcell is some kind of offensive stelwart? Are we pushing for a playoff spot? If this isn't the case then your points mean nothing.
- SpoiledByOil

I never said he was a successful top 6 only that he is better than Yakupov. Yakupov is being out scored by Matt Hendricks who plays with far worse offensive players.

He scored a bunch of goals 2 years ago? Dallas Eakins played Yakupov 15 seconds less a night than Krueger and played him in much easier zone starts. Eakins also played him with Nuge, Eberle, Gagner as is most common line mates. Krueger played him with Gagner, Paajarvi and Horcoff.

we probably felt the same. imagine how difficult it was trying to find our little guy when trying to piss in the frozen portapotty.
- ChetManly

(frank) man, would of been brutal. I used to fill propane at work and that poop sucked at only -30some. Your gloves would be completely frozen

I can't, it drives me nuts when people spew garbage and think its genius.

What the (frank) are we trying to save this year that we wouldn't want to try and get Yakupov going and not break up the "success" of our top 2 lines?

Cleary me and Dangles have a different idea of what success is.

But I do respect him as a poster, i just don't agree with what he's saying
- SpoiledByOil

Ok, i'm glad to hear this. you guys both have different views and both have solid points. Not everyone can agree on everything, all of the time.

except we can all agree about JB....

I never said he was a successful top 6 only that he is better than Yakupov. Yakupov is being out scored by Matt Hendricks who plays with far worse offensive players.

He scored a bunch of goals 2 years ago? Dallas Eakins played Yakupov 15 seconds less a night than Krueger and played him in much easier zone starts. Eakins also played him with Nuge, Eberle, Gagner as is most common line mates. Krueger played him with Gagner, Paajarvi and Horcoff.
- Dangles13

Yak and Horcs had a great connection.