Just a BIT of bias there, eh?
- MaximumBone

best ALLTIME tbh

best ALLTIME tbh
- rangerdanger94

Yup! He's definitely right up there with Coffey, Lidstrom, Orr, and Marc-Andre Bergeron.

Don't watch too many Oiler games, but I seen the Devils/Oilers game. Yakupov's play when he didn't have the puck is laziest thing. He would just stand there like the whistle had gone while play was going on.
I feel for Eakins because he is supposed to find a way to get him going.

If I was the Oilers, I would sell high now.
- flipneil

haha ur dum

Yup! He's definitely right up there with Coffey, Lidstrom, Orr, and Marc-Andre Bergeron.
- MaximumBone

definitely somewhere in between a lidstrom and a MAB

So what I'm getting from this is that Dmen are COMPLETELY unpredictable. Am I right?
- MaximumBone

Not completely but they perception of GM's is that the risks are greater. Many Dman have been crushed by being exposed to quickly to to much preasure.

haha ur dum
- sanfordnson

Come on. Yakupov does have a tendency to float, and doesn't move his feet much when he doesn't have the puck. I like the guy and even I have noticed it. He's getting better in that regard, but I see him standing around waiting for the puck to come to him way too often.

It's one of those things I think can be worked out of his game, but it is there atm.

Come on. Yakupov does have a tendency to float, and doesn't move his feet much when he doesn't have the puck. I like the guy and even I have noticed it. He's getting better in that regard, but I see him standing around waiting for the puck to come to him way too often.

It's one of those things I think can be worked out of his game, but it is there atm.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

haha u want my body

Ekman-Larsson just turned 22 in July & had 178 games of NHL experience going into this season. He was drafted 6th overall in 09. He leads Pho in TOI game 25:41 & is 7th overall in the entire NHL. He is 23rd for scoring by Dman & is +3 on a team where almost everyone else is a minus. Yandle is minus 17 by comparassion. In 2 more years he will be 1 of the 5 best Dman in the NHL. Offense is coming & coming fast but he was taught to shut people down 1st. A stud already & only 22.

Think Lidstrom good.
- striker777

Some think Olli maata will be joining him soon

Come on. Yakupov does have a tendency to float, and doesn't move his feet much when he doesn't have the puck. I like the guy and even I have noticed it. He's getting better in that regard, but I see him standing around waiting for the puck to come to him way too often.

It's one of those things I think can be worked out of his game, but it is there atm.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

Another thing to consider is that, while his defensive play is often lacking, he's a solid forechecker and it's not like he doesn't try. Just the past two games, he's out-competed Nash and Jagr for pucks they had possession of.

Some think Olli maata will be joining him soon
- Brianandr1

They're called, 'Penguins Fans'.

Another thing to consider is that, while his defensive play is often lacking, he's a solid forechecker and it's not like he doesn't try. Just the past two games, he's out-competed Nash and Jagr for pucks they had possession of.
- MaximumBone

He's not dominant after the equivalent of 1 season trade him immediately.

For sure, he definitely is. I really hope he can keep it up, but a lot of people need to learn to temper expectations (not you, but some of the others here). The pitfalls for the sophomore Dman are many and can at times derail careers.
- MaximumBone

Fowler regressed significantly as a sophmore but is back on track again. It happens to forwards as well. It seems to be more common with players who have really good rookie years. Not sure why but some assume it's they think it's going to be easy going forward as it was so easy in year 1 & they don't work as hard to prepair themseleves physically & menatlly.

Another thing to consider is that, while his defensive play is often lacking, he's a solid forechecker and it's not like he doesn't try. Just the past two games, he's out-competed Nash and Jagr for pucks they had possession of.
- MaximumBone

That's whats weird about him. Sometimes he is great on the forecheck, plays physical, throws the body, etc. Where he seems to get lost is his board play. When there is a battle for the puck along the boards he is either waiting for the D-man to win it to him in the defensive zone, or waiting for the other forward in the offensive zone. I'd like to see him engage a little more when he isn't the first man to the puck. Seems to lack common sense when it comes to puck support. He's a little static on the powerplay too (but getting better).

While we're talking about young Dmen who are succeeding, let's bring up Marincin's play for those ignorant of Edmonton's young Dmen! He's up to averaging 20ish minutes/night and is a +4 (which is ASTOUNDING for Edmonton Dmen) through 22 games. His possession stats are also GREAT!



Just wanted to join the circle-jerk over young Dmen

He's not dominant after the equivalent of 1 season trade him immediately.
- sanfordnson

I hate that about oilers fans too. I don't want Yakupov traded. But I do if it nets us the help we need on defense.

That's whats weird about him. Sometimes he is great on the forecheck, plays physical, throws the body, etc. Where he seems to get lost is his board play. When there is a battle for the puck along the boards he is either waiting for the D-man to win it to him in the defensive zone, or waiting for the other forward in the offensive zone. I'd like to see him engage a little more when he isn't the first man to the puck. Seems to lack common sense when it comes to puck support. He's a little static on the powerplay too (but getting better).
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

The PP should really make more of an effort to get him some one-timer opps. His release is sickening.

Yes but only 4 points out of a playoff spot with 23 games to go. The 8th place team in the west currently does have 1 game in hand though. 4 points isn't insurmountable.
- striker777

True, but they've been on the outside looking in the entire season. I guess if you're poile and you think a player like Vanek can put you in a position to make a run.... I just don't see it myself. Why mortgage your future to get a guy that most likely won't re-sign, especially in a season where your team really hasn't been overly impressive from day one.

I hate that about oilers fans too. I don't want Yakupov traded. But I do if it nets us the help we need on defense.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

It won't. So he stays. Not sure why it keeps getting brought up.

Another thing to consider is that, while his defensive play is often lacking, he's a solid forechecker and it's not like he doesn't try. Just the past two games, he's out-competed Nash and Jagr for pucks they had possession of.
- MaximumBone

People like to ignore his good qualities and dwell on the negative. He can be quite tenacious in the ozone. If we had a different mix of players that didn't expose him people wouldn't be writing him off.

People have an infatuation with two way plat but forget goal scorers aren't easy to come by either.

Defence and positioning can be taught.

While we're talking about young Dmen who are succeeding, let's bring up Marincin's play for those ignorant of Edmonton's young Dmen! He's up to averaging 20ish minutes/night and is a +4 (which is ASTOUNDING for Edmonton Dmen) through 22 games. His possession stats are also GREAT!



Just wanted to join the circle-jerk over young Dmen
- MaximumBone

He's clearly the next Erik Karlsson.

People like to ignore his good qualities and dwell on the negative. He can be quite tenacious in the ozone. If we had a different mix of players that didn't expose him people wouldn't be writing him off.

People have an infatuation with two way plat but forget goal scorers aren't easy to come by either.

Defence and positioning can be taught.
- ystoil

If he can just learn not to be a liability defensively that would be good enough.

He's clearly the next Erik Karlsson.
- NEEDSMORHORCOFF

No no no! That's Justin Schultz

Of course. Tyler Myers, Michael Del Zotto, Drew Doughty etc. It seems like it's only natural for young defensmen to struggle at some point in their career. They only guy in recent memory that really hasn't is Ryan Mcdonagh. He plays a solid game almost every night.
- blacksheep1

Doughty's regression came later, he had his career year 59 points as a sophmore. Doughty's regression had more to do with Mitchell going down with injury altering his roll temporarily followed by his hold out. The year of his hold out he didn't really start coming around until the playoffs.

Your dead on with Myers & Del Zotto. To early to write them off & Del Zotto is really 1 dimensional. Myers just some how lost it but both are still young enough to get it back.

If he can just learn not to be a liability defensively that would be good enough.
- sanfordnson

And to learn how to use his shot more.

Yup! He's definitely right up there with Coffey, Lidstrom, Orr, and Marc-Andre Bergeron.
- MaximumBone