One thing to note about last year is that Gagner was great at finding Yakupov in a shooting position, and we haven't seen Sam playing with the Oil yet this season.

I think Yakupov is probably one of the more talented one of the bunch however his hockey IQ is no where near Nuge. Yak comes from the Russian system where their strategy was to pass it to him and let him try and skate through everyone on his own. That obviously doesn't work in the NHL however with some coaching he has skills and a shot that any other team would never dream of trading.

Yakupov needs some solid coaching and needs to be put into better situations where he'll be useful. Stick him on the faceoff dot to the left of the other teams net on a power play and tell him to stay put, ala Brett Hull.

If the Oilers trade him he will haunt us forever as he will flourish in some other system, like Washington or Detroit where he`s allowed to play offence. My biggest concern with MacT is his distain for some highly talented offensive players. (See; Lupul, Shrimp, O`Mark)

Yak has the work ethic and certainly has the talent, skating ability and an amazing shot! If he`s not playing well or not scoring I`d look to coaching first rather than blame it on the player. He can be taught to play defence and to back check, but you can`t teach that shot!
- thebignewf

Schremp was claimed off waivers then demoted, other GMs/Coaches agreed with MacT. Omark has been put on waivers and went unclaimed, other GMs agreed with MacT. Lupul has been traded how many times? Leafs got him as a salary dump in that trade.

One thing to note about last year is that Gagner was great at finding Yakupov in a shooting position, and we haven't seen Sam playing with the Oil yet this season.

I think Yakupov is probably one of the more talented one of the bunch however his hockey IQ is no where near Nuge. Yak comes from the Russian system where their strategy was to pass it to him and let him try and skate through everyone on his own. That obviously doesn't work in the NHL however with some coaching he has skills and a shot that any other team would never dream of trading.

Yakupov needs some solid coaching and needs to be put into better situations where he'll be useful. Stick him on the faceoff dot to the left of the other teams net on a power play and tell him to stay put, ala Brett Hull.

If the Oilers trade him he will haunt us forever as he will flourish in some other system, like Washington or Detroit where he`s allowed to play offence. My biggest concern with MacT is his distain for some highly talented offensive players. (See; Lupul, Shrimp, O`Mark)

Yak has the work ethic and certainly has the talent, skating ability and an amazing shot! If he`s not playing well or not scoring I`d look to coaching first rather than blame it on the player. He can be taught to play defence and to back check, but you can`t teach that shot!
- thebignewf

mact has nothing to do with any of schremp (who is absolutely horrible) omark (who I wont say the same about, but doesn't bring nearly enough and is prob better suited to a European career where his talents make more impact) and lupul (who was given every opportunity and couldn't get it done. his team surrounding him wasn't great either. lupuls been traded multiple times and wasn't nearly as effective in his second stint in Anaheim nor in philly)


this haunting thing is getting old. no one ever wants to give anything of value or take risks, but they always want our gm to hit every deal out of the park.

who cares if he's a superstar snipe. we acquire a top pairing dman and top 6 power forward from a deal...we're a better team for it. short and long term.

I dunno, I realize it's a gamble and maybe we'd regret it hugely, but he is bringing absolutely nothing right now and I don't want to see this season slip away

Schremp was claimed off waivers then demoted, other GMs/Coaches agreed with MacT. Omark has been put on waivers and went unclaimed, other GMs agreed with MacT. Lupul has been traded how many times? Leafs got him as a salary dump in that trade.
- Al Hacker

didn't even see this before I posted.

this!!

it took years for oiler fans to finally realize how bad schremp was. I really thought id heard the last of him. but somehow we're now blaming it on mact??

I assume it'll be the same for omark in 2 years when some of you finally realize he's not nhl material

there's no explanation for lupul really

Nicely put. Also laughs can no longer pretend to be the big newf
- Lahey

Hey Lahey... Go (frank) yourself.

didn't even see this before I posted.

this!!

it took years for oiler fans to finally realize how bad schremp was. I really thought id heard the last of him. but somehow we're now blaming it on mact??

I assume it'll be the same for omark in 2 years when some of you finally realize he's not nhl material

there's no explanation for lupul really
- hugefemale dog77

BUT BUT what about PENNER????

Anyone else watch last nights goal exchange of Chicago and TB??? (frank)ing Khabby was swiss cheese...

BUT BUT what about PENNER????
- saskoil21

nugeishuge wanted him and gilbert back this offseason...

gilberts's brutal, but it's not even about penner being bad. him at the top of his game fills a need for sure.

but this franchise is moving forward hopefully with a new culture. it would be ridiculous to bring back players from a failed experiment that was most likely the worst couple seasons in franchise history

Anyone else watch last nights goal exchange of Chicago and TB??? (frank)ing Khabby was swiss cheese...
- saskoil21

Shocking. I still don't get why they signed him to such a large contract.

nugeishuge wanted him and gilbert back this offseason...

gilberts's brutal, but it's not even about penner being bad. him at the top of his game fills a need for sure.

but this franchise is moving forward hopefully with a new culture. it would be ridiculous to bring back players from a failed experiment that was most likely the worst couple seasons in franchise history
- hugefemale dog77

Agreed

Shocking. I still don't get why they signed him to such a large contract.
- Lahey

I was amazed too... and at that performance I am sure they are shaking their heads....

I was amazed too... and at that performance I am sure they are shaking their heads....
- saskoil21

To be honest our defense must be better than theirs. He never got lit up that bad here did he?

didn't even see this before I posted.

this!!

it took years for oiler fans to finally realize how bad schremp was. I really thought id heard the last of him. but somehow we're now blaming it on mact??

I assume it'll be the same for omark in 2 years when some of you finally realize he's not nhl material

there's no explanation for lupul really
- hugefemale dog77

I think the biggest explanation for Lupul is health.

nugeishuge wanted him and gilbert back this offseason...

gilberts's brutal, but it's not even about penner being bad. him at the top of his game fills a need for sure.

but this franchise is moving forward hopefully with a new culture. it would be ridiculous to bring back players from a failed experiment that was most likely the worst couple seasons in franchise history
- hugefemale dog77

That guy is a piece of work

mact has nothing to do with any of schremp (who is absolutely horrible) omark (who I wont say the same about, but doesn't bring nearly enough and is prob better suited to a European career where his talents make more impact) and lupul (who was given every opportunity and couldn't get it done. his team surrounding him wasn't great either. lupuls been traded multiple times and wasn't nearly as effective in his second stint in Anaheim nor in philly)


this haunting thing is getting old. no one ever wants to give anything of value or take risks, but they always want our gm to hit every deal out of the park.

who cares if he's a superstar snipe. we acquire a top pairing dman and top 6 power forward from a deal...we're a better team for it. short and long term.

I dunno, I realize it's a gamble and maybe we'd regret it hugely, but he is bringing absolutely nothing right now and I don't want to see this season slip away
- hugefemale dog77

great post

great post
- Bieksa#3

C'mon Nail! I want to see more of this..


- Killbot460

Just shows we need Gagner back. He was out there 50% of the times Yakupov scored his goals. Also PP looked way better last year with Gagner on it.