Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins will open the Nail Jail and allow Yakupov to skate free.
Yakupov will play tonight in Pittsburgh.
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Nail Yakupov didn't participate in this morning's optional game day skate in Pittsburgh.
Curious decision on his part considering he's been a healthy scratch for the past two games. Getting benched vs. Alex Ovechkin hurts. Sitting against Geno Malkin is enough to push the offensive Russian sniper over the edge.
Oilers first year coach Dallas Eakins isn't blinking first. He turfed the former first overall pick in the draft in Toronto on Saturday night, then again in Washington on Monday night.
The Oilers lost both games.
After the skate on Monday in D.C, Yakupov let his feelings be known about his two game vacation in the press box.
“I wasn’t happy about it...,” said Yakupov. “You can say a million words about getting better but coach says I’m not playing, so I’m not playing.
“I’m not happy about it. I just want to play every game.
“I’m going to play my game,” he said. “I’m not going to change but maybe play better without the puck, or forecheck more, but I love playing with the puck. I really don’t like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift. I don’t think it’s my game.”
Dallas Eakins is not one to kow tow to his star players. Take a look at the rough ride that Nazem Kadri received at the hands of Eakins when the two men were a part of the Toronto Marlies. Eakins called out Kadri's effort and his physical conditioning. Eakins won that battle. He's got leverage on Yakupov right now and he's using it. He wants Yakupov to comply with the Eakins system and his methods. The kid is stubborn and obstinate about buying in to the North American/NHL style.
Yak doesn't like fore checking and hitting. He doesn't think its his game. Yakupov loves playing with the puck. Problem being, he can't touch the puck from his front row seat on press row.
eakins wants Yakupov to start playing the game the "right way".
“The kids’ passion is to score and he was just going to take it all on himself to do that,” said Eakins. “I don’t care how good you are, you can’t produce by yourself in this league. You have to use your linemates, so it was more of a reset button for him. He can come in fresh with a new perspective.
“He’s young and he has so much to learn about the proper way to play the game and once he grasps that, he is going to be dangerous when he steps on the ice. The thing about these guys who have that special gift of being able to put the puck in the net, is that once it starts not going in for them in the first couple of games, it can snowball quickly the other way where they maybe start cheating for offence then maybe looking away from the defensive part of the game.
“I love his passion and he loves to play and he takes it real personally when things aren’t going his way and those are great attributes to have — except when it really starts to affect your game.”
The Oilers are in need of a change in attitude, according to their captain.
"You can't carry baggage around," captain Andrew Ference said. "It's a lot of adversity. It's easy to be a good teammate and do the right things when you're winning and have a good attitude, but it's a real test when things aren't going your way."
The Oilers are house of horrors right now. Their goaltending is a nightmare. Their team D has at times been atrocious. The last thing that Eakins needs right now is a headache caused by one of his skilled forwards.
One wonders is Yakupov angling for a trade?
He sure is acting like it.
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Former Sabres goalie Marty Biron cleared waivers today.
Will he report to AHL Hartford? Or, will he retire?
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Pat Kaleta's discipline hearing in Manhattan will commence at 2pm EDT today.
I'm thinking that PK36 will receive between a 12-15 games suspension. He's already serve 2 games
I can guarantee you that Brendan Shanahan does not want Kaleta on the ice for the November 15-16 home-and-home series with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There will be plenty enough fireworks in those games.
The reason for the hearing is that Kaleta made questionable contact with Columbus D-man Jack Johnson in the first period of the Blue Jackets' 4-1 win in Buffalo on Thursday night. There was no penalty called on the play.
Kaleta was suspended for the past two games pending today's hearing.
According to the NHL, Kaleta was offered the opportunity for an in-person hearing as required by provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for any suspension that can exceed five games.
He is suspended pending his hearing. Kaleta was forced to sit out the last two games against Chicago and Minnesota.
At 3:10 of the first period, Kaleta collided with Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson near the boards just inside the Buffalo zone. No penalty was assessed for that hit, but Kaleta received a fighting major after engaging with the Blue Jackets' Jared Boll after the hit.
Johnson remained in the game.
The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.
Press play on the below video and fast forward to the :29 second mark.
Kaleta enters the picture, at a rapid rate and hits Johnson, who had just thrown a pass. Lega check. Kaleta's check was not late as it occurred a second after the pass left Johnson's stick.
It appears from the video as though Kaleta made high contact with Johnson. Was Kaleta's principle point of contact Johnson's head? Shoulder? Chest?
Did Kaleta violate Rule 48?
Thats for Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Saftey to determine.
Kaleta and Shanahan have developed quite an interesting relationship the past two years.
An in-person hearing carries with it a 5+ game suspension.
The NHL suspended Kaleta for 5 games last season for this hit on Brad Richards.
Kaleta was suspended for four games in 2011 fior this head butt in Jakub Voracek
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