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Johansen, Staal and The Russian Non-Factor

May 1, 2012, 9:11 PM ET [537 Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Once in a while when I listen to local sports radio I wonder how the hosts survive their job. There was all sorts of stupid talk in Edmonton on Tuesday regarding Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen, Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal, and what the "Russian Factor" means to potential Oiler Nail Yakupov. I'll deal with all three separately.

Johansen to Oilers
Look, I've spoken about the Oilers perhaps trying to acquire Ryan Johansen from the Columbus Blue Jackets, but if we're going to talk about this, we need to be realistic. I heard some goof today suggest the Oilers send Sam Gagner and the 1st overall pick to Columbus for Johansen and the 2nd overall pick. What?

Ryan Johansen will likely become a better center than Sam Gagner. How much better? Significantly. I like Sammy, but he's not big, he's not a great skater, and it appears he's capped out with respect to offensive growth. If he could stay healthy a whole season, he'd be a 55-60pts per season center. A decent 2nd line guy. While Johansen had a tough first year in the NHL, he has franchise center potential. He's got size and possesses a tremendous skill level. Put it to you this way: I believe Johansen for Yakupov would be almost an equal deal. It certainly would be closer to the mark than Johansen for Gagner.

"But Richard, if the Jackets made the deal, they'd move up a draft position." I'm not sure the Jackets want to move up a draft position if it means giving up their future franchise center. Franchise centers are almost impossible to find, and Columbus knows this more than anyone. If they had one, it's possible Nash would want to stick around. Why do you think they gave up so much for Jeff Carter?

I don't think Johansen to Edmonton is impossible, but the only way Jackets GM Scott Howson would consider making a deal is if they aren't giving up their 1st round pick (#2 overall). I've explained this before. The Jackets might consider a deal if they can take both Yakupov and his OHL center Alex Galchenyuk, in hopes that they both want to stick around. Translated, this means a potential deal could look like Johansen and a second asset for Edmonton's pick. Where the second asset could come from is a deal sending Rick Nash away. For example, Nash to Toronto for their 1st round pick (5th overall), Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson. From there, they deal Johansen and Franson to Edmonton for the 1st overall pick. Complicated, and truthfully, not that feasible.

Jordan Staal to Oilers
Did David Staples from the Cult of Hockey come up with this first? It's a terrible, awful suggestion. Staal has one year on his contract. If the Oil dealt for him, would he actually want to re-sign? Even if he does re-sign, what do the Penguins need to throw in to make this deal possible? Simon Despres, maybe? I heard a Penguins interview a few months ago with management saying there is no way they'd deal Despres. As good of a prospects as he is, I'm not sure Staal + Despres = Yakupov. I'm also not sure the Penguins are desperate to add another offensive star, considering it's a lack of defense that cost them in the playoffs this year. Staal is more of a solution in Pittsburgh than a problem.

My suggestion? If the rumors are true that Staal wants out of Pittsburgh, offer up Sam Gagner for him. If that doesn't work, wait till he's a UFA next summer, and offer up a big, long-term deal with the promise that he'll play in Edmonton's Top 6. I'd rather Staal play on a line with Yakupov than be moved for him.

The Russian Non-Factor
What's all this talk: "The Oilers should think carefully about Yakupov before drafting him because he's Russian, and we know what happens with Russian players." Dumb. Have you seen Yakupov interviewed? This guy has Hall-like passion. Have you seen him play? Even more Hall-like passion. What happened with Alex Radulov & Andrei Kostitsyn won't happen with Yakupov. Radulov and Kostitsyn are not exactly team guys. Keep in mind Radulov left his contract in North America to go to the KHL for the money. Yakupov came to North America as a teen to play Junior hockey because becoming an NHL star is everything to him. Apples and oranges, folks.

I bet you if I really tried I could find a stack of Russian players who don't fit into the alleged "Russian Factor". Pavel Datsyuk, there's one. Would you not want Datsyuk on your team because he's Russian? No, of course not. This guy brings it every single game.

All the Oilers need to do at the draft this year is the same thing they did last year and the year before: Take players who has a solid attitude and a passion to win. The Oilers players will eventually turn it around in Edmonton, and it won't be Horcoff, Hemsky or Smyth who change things. It will be Nuge, Hall, Eberle and soon Yakupov. Players who possess a freakish level of compete. Players, who unlike idiots like Radulov & Kostitsyn, live and die hockey, and want more than anything to see their name on the side of the Stanley Cup. Comparing Yakupov to Radulov is ignorant beyond belief.

One Additional Comment
630 CHED's Bob Stauffer said something extremely interesting during today's Oilers Now show. He eluded to a player the Oilers use to have in the room who has a reputation for being fat and lazy, but actually, he was really well liked by the players. Obviously, Dustin Penner was who he was speaking about. It's not impossible that Penner could return to the Oilers someday, because they need size up front and because the players liked him.

Stauffer also said that there is a player who is tremendously popular with the fans, but isn't as well liked in the room as people may believe. He went on to add that the guy might not, in fact, be the leader people think he is. Ryan Smyth, are your ears burning?

The more I think about what the Oilers will be up to this summer, the more I believe Smyth will not be back...for more than one reason. I believe he wants too much money to re-sign, and I'm not sure he's willing to play a secondary role to the kids. The kids MUST lead the team if things are going to change. For the vets, it's follow or get out of the way. My guess is, Smyth gets out of the way and signs in Calgary this summer.
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