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Todd Cordell
Trading Nail Yakupov seems inevitable at this point as both sides want to move on. In saying that I don't think the Edmonton Oilers should trade Yakupov right now. He has not lived up to the billing in Edmonton but one of the many reasons for that is a lack of quality linemates. He has never really gotten the chance to play for a quality center over an extended period of time. With Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl in the fold he could play on any of three scoring lines and have a legitimate chance to produce. Even giving him 15-20 games riding shot gun with one of those guys would boost his value. Sure, a lot of players could produce alongside that kind of talent but if Yakupov puts up, say, 11 points in 15 games with those guys than you'd know he could do the same in Chicago with Jonathan Toews and/or Patrick Kane on his line.
I think if Edmonton is going to trade Yakupov, and it's almost certain they will, the least they could do is give Yakupov a few weeks in a good situation so he can produce and up his value.
Matt Henderson
Obviously the answer to that should be "not yet". There's no question that these two parties need to go their separate ways. The Oilers have had Yakupov playing with 4th line talent for a long time. There's never been a willingness to let him play with talented centermen since he joined the team. His top 2 linemates to this day are Derek Roy and Sam Gagner. Gagner hasnt been an Oiler in 2 years and Roy only played 46 games for the team.
When paired with offensively minded centers Gagner, Roy, and McDavid he performed phenomenally. When paired with Letestu or similar talent he's been invisible. He has improved his defensive play every year, but hasnt been credited with that by the media.
Edmonton should move on from Yakupov, but with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins they can finally play him with an offensively minded centre on a regular basis. He ought to be able to perform significantly more than he did a year ago just because of that.
Yakupov's value today is rock bottom. Absolute rock bottom. Why move him now when in a few weeks there's a very real chance he will look like a revived player? I dont know.
Jason Lewis
Honestly, no.
At this point, how high is the value of Nail Yakupov? Hm? What exactly will the Oilers swing for him. The rumor was for a couple of draft picks and AHL players + salary retention. If that is the going rate then the Oilers need to just sit on Yakupov for at least another year and see if this lineup can help bolster his value. This is probably the best roster the Oilers have had in several years, and a good year from Yakupov would not only help Edmonton on the ice, it would help them off the ice if they plan on dishing a still young Nail Yakupov.
Unfortunately at this point in time, Edmonton are selling low on an asset that could be valuable, and wisely a perennially competitive team is trying to buy low.
Adam French
Sure...why the heck not?
Yakupov's erratic game that served him so well in junior and presented him as a star in the NHL hasn't translated well in the NHL. Call it "ruining," call it "lack of opportunity," call it "being a bust." It doesn't matter now, it just hasn't happened in Edmonton for him. He hasn't developed any question, whether that's on him or the team, refer to the point above, it doesn't matter. It hasn't happened outside of 14 or so games with McJesus and 30 or so games with Derek Roy of all people.
It seems obvious to me with the move of Taylor Hall that Edmonton is in a culture shift. Their signings and trades all point to it. They are getting bigger and they are trying to become harder to play against in the physically demanding West.
Yakupov just doesn't fit this new Oilers "brand" they are trying to build. So I think it is time to cut and run. Sure, he might explode and become a top-6 player or become the player everyone thought he would be when draft and after his rookie season elsewhere. But that is the risk you take making any move and it doesn't seem likely he will manage that transition in Edmonton.
Throw him out on the market and see if you can get a formerly highly thought of defensive prospect that is middling like Yakupov or not seemingly getting their shot.
Jordan Schmaltz, Dylan Blujus, Ville Pokka, Jamie Oleksiak, Joe Morrow, Scott Mayfield, Derek Forbort or Mark Pysyk.
Somebody along that vein. Maybe it works out.
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