The Oilers management blew it hard with drafting Yakupov. They needed to trade down and draft Seth Jones.

How many Oilers fans look at what Jones brings to the table and wish they had that on the team?

This was strictly a case of greedy management not seeing the forest through the trees.

If they trade Yaks no, they're trading at a low point in his value. Foolish. That said, they've been really foolish in their management of him. They should have put him in the AHL to start, let him rack up a TON of points and get teams salivating. Now you have a disgruntled Russian, who is playing below your coach's standards.

One last thing, the team isn't failing because of him. Management has done a poor job of balancing a roster to complement the bona fide super stars on the team. Real shame.
- sensano

I think this statement about sums it up... Except for the fact that Yak and Jones were in two different draft classses.

The Oilers management blew it hard with drafting Yakupov. They needed to trade down and draft Seth Jones.

How many Oilers fans look at what Jones brings to the table and wish they had that on the team?

This was strictly a case of greedy management not seeing the forest through the trees.

If they trade Yaks no, they're trading at a low point in his value. Foolish. That said, they've been really foolish in their management of him. They should have put him in the AHL to start, let him rack up a TON of points and get teams salivating. Now you have a disgruntled Russian, who is playing below your coach's standards.

One last thing, the team isn't failing because of him. Management has done a poor job of balancing a roster to complement the bona fide super stars on the team. Real shame.
- sensano

You must mean Murray since Yaks wasnt even in the same draft as Jones ( they took Nurse in this past draft )

The Oilers management blew it hard with drafting Yakupov. They needed to trade down and draft Seth Jones.


- sensano

You must mean Murray since Yaks wasnt even in the same draft as Jones ( they took Nurse in this past draft )
- blizzzard

YUP!

Let me just get off my soapbox and eat some crow...good catch.

Point is that they needed some D to be developing with their forward stars.

I still don't get the Smid trade to us outside salary dump. I'd say some greater master plan but we know thats not the case with Oiler management... He's not great but who's a better d-man on the Oilers now? Ference? Shultz?
- geta02it

Petry by a country mile. Ference wasn't getting moved and Schultz has been playing better as of late.

But yeah, it was an odd move and primarily a cap dump.

Curious to see how things turn out for Yakupov though. Tough situation there.

Daigle was a number one pick who was automatically the most skilled player on his team. He was given massive ice time and every chance to succeed. He had no work ethic and thought he could coast by.

Yakupov was a number one pick and is not the most skilled player on his team. His team has lots of depth when it comes to offense first guys. He has been given some opportunities but obviously does not do well in his new coach's offensive schemes.

Yakupov is far more rugged and has more dimension to his game than Daigle ever did (ok, maybe not as much as the reborn Daigle that surfaced as a two way player late in his twenties). He's the kind of guy that you need to stick on one of the top two lines, that hopefully has some veteran leadership to help him develop. His defensive game will develop over time, but he needs to be used as a primary shooter, not a third line guy.

The best course of action for both the team and player at this point is a trade. The Oilers would still get a very good return for the kid and could hopefully find someone that isn't a one way offensive guy to better build their depth. I don't think his trade value has diminished at this point and the comments made by his agent will have little effect, especially as it's a quote likely taken out of context. Don't forget, part of an agent's job is to stick up for the guy that's making him millions...

The Oilers management blew it hard with drafting Yakupov. They needed to trade down and draft Seth Jones.

How many Oilers fans look at what Jones brings to the table and wish they had that on the team?

This was strictly a case of greedy management not seeing the forest through the trees.

If they trade Yaks no, they're trading at a low point in his value. Foolish. That said, they've been really foolish in their management of him. They should have put him in the AHL to start, let him rack up a TON of points and get teams salivating. Now you have a disgruntled Russian, who is playing below your coach's standards.

One last thing, the team isn't failing because of him. Management has done a poor job of balancing a roster to complement the bona fide super stars on the team. Real shame.
- sensano

Well Yakupov and Jones were in two different years so it wouldn't have been a function of "trading down".

But I understand the general sentiment.

How were the Oilers supposed to trade down and draft a guy who wasn't available until the following draft ? They were drafting 7th in Jone's draft year, can't really blame a team for not being able to trade up to draft a guy. Just wanted to point out that little error.
- FlareKnight

This has been pointed out to me. I have resigned as couch GM.

Boyes to Cowtown - what a day for cowboys

http://instantostrich.com/
- Morris

i said started.. obviously we would need to add something..

The Oilers management blew it hard with drafting Yakupov. They needed to trade down and draft Seth Jones.

How many Oilers fans look at what Jones brings to the table and wish they had that on the team?

This was strictly a case of greedy management not seeing the forest through the trees.

If they trade Yaks no, they're trading at a low point in his value. Foolish. That said, they've been really foolish in their management of him. They should have put him in the AHL to start, let him rack up a TON of points and get teams salivating. Now you have a disgruntled Russian, who is playing below your coach's standards.

One last thing, the team isn't failing because of him. Management has done a poor job of balancing a roster to complement the bona fide super stars on the team. Real shame.
- sensano

You should be a GM, you have all the answers. Wrong, but all the answers.

He had no work ethic and thought he could coast by.
- Routs

I beg to differ. Daigle worked it hard - he dated Pamela Anderson in her prime.

Hey Jax,
Coco's coming back!

hockeyprospectus defines Core Age as:

The sum of each skater's GVT multiplied by age on
a team, divided by the team GVT. It is a better measure
of the average age of a team, weighting the best
players the most.

GVT is essentially the wins above replacement of hockey.

If someone wants to dig in to what their core ages are, http://www.hockeyprospect...table/index_2012_2013.php
- Morris

Too much math!

Interesting though...

YUP!

Let me just get off my soapbox and eat some crow...good catch.

Point is that they needed some D to be developing with their forward stars.
- sensano

Should be interesting to see the next couple of years.

Schultz has played less than 100 pro games, Larsen just played his 100th, Petry is still only in his 4th season and Belov has played 17 NHL games.

In the prospect ranks we've got Nurse (7th overall), Klefbom (19th overall), Musil (31st overall), Marincin (46th overall) and Gernat who just debuted in the AHL after nearly a PPG career in the WHL.

Our D core could be good eventually, but we'll need an intermediate move imo.

you guys remember Alexandre Daigle lifting you out of your seats every time he touched the puck because you just knew something fantastic was about to happen?




yeah, me neither.
- Fountain-San

Wait Daigle was traded to the Flyers...I see what you are up to Ek, sneaky Flyersbuzz

I think this statement about sums it up... Except for the fact that Yak and Jones were in two different draft classses.
- MnGump

oh boy

Hey Jax,
Coco's coming back!


- carcus

awesome...

Hey Jax,
Coco's coming back!


- carcus

This was the reaction to seeing the number of hits Ek got by posting Canucks, Rangers, Habs, Hurricanes, Flyers, Devils, Flames, Florida, Washington, Caps, Yakupov, and "trade winds" on the same page.

Hey Jax,
Coco's coming back!


- carcus

Hey Jax,
Coco's coming back!


- carcus

Holy crap this is awesome!

This was the reaction to seeing the number of hits Ek got by posting Canucks, Rangers, Habs, Hurricanes, Flyers, Devils, Flames, Florida, Washington, Caps, Yakupov, and "trade winds" on the same page.
- Maskdman3

Meh. Hits don't equal income, although there is an impressions metric advertisers use for payouts, but with so many of us blocking all ads, I imagine that pay type is going to vanish. I haven't seen an ad on HB in a good year plus, ever since the video commercials were put on the right column...that's just obnoxious.

The best measurement for a site is raw traffic.

I find it funny when people say a team is looking to get "younger and faster". Isn't that what every team wants to do? Maybe with the exception of the Flyers.
- DarthKane

We're trendsetters