Welcome to Friday’s Burning Questions, a weekly feature answering queries submitted by actual readers. The world is packed with stupid people. Walk out your front door, throw a stone in any direction and you’re bound to hit one. However, there are no stupid questions, so get them in by Twitter to @rygarner or e-mail at ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com.
The question I have for you is do u think Yakupov will be paired with Nuge and Hall this year? He had better results with Hall his first year. HE IS A GOAL SCORER! It stands to reason to put him on a scoring line then. Kevin H.
This is the question of the day in Edmonton, brought on by Nail Yakupov’s disappointing preseason—four games, zero points, four shots. Yakupov is no defensive dynamo, and needs to produce to justify his ice-time. I think playing him on the first line with Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the best option. It spreads the offense around, bumping Jordan Eberle down to the second wing where he can benefit from Leon Draisaitl’s playmaking wizardry, and lets Yakupov play his game without having to be the focal point of his line. It might take some time for chemistry to develop, but it’ll be worth the wait... hopefully.
I know you will not like this, but I suggest trading Petry and Eberle for a power forward. Any thoughts? Kevin H.
I hate this idea. Not because I’m a huge fan of either Jeff Petry or Eberle, since they both take shifts off and lack competitive fire, but I just don’t think Craig MacTavish can swing a deal involving them that would benefit the Oilers. If Eberle was dealt Edmonton would need a stud defenceman coming back the other way. In power forwards, nothing shy of Corey Perry makes sense, and even then the Oilers would probably need to throw in a couple first-round picks to land the most complete right wing in the league. No chance. Best for the Oilers to stick with the youth movement and keep the faith in their current core.
Do you lean to one side or stand up and squat to wipe? Tronner
Neither. I spread my knees and go right up the middle, staying comfortably seated the entire time. I approach the crapper like the dentist’s chair, where I can grab a book, get cozy, and remain seated for at least 35-40 minutes.
Do you think that the Oilers will appeal the NHL's ruling on Tkachev’s contract? If not, why not? oilers2k10
The Oilers can’t appeal the Vladimir Tkachev contract voiding because it’s part of the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement. Basically, the Oilers hooped themselves through their own ignorance.
If Tkachev has a great season in Moncton this year, how long do you think he lasts in the draft? Do you think that the Oilers would draft him with a 2nd/3rd round pick? Signing him to a contract on the draft floor with a heavy signing bonus? oilers2k10
Based on what we saw from Tkachev, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in the first round. However, NHL teams resist welterweights like I resist soy-based meals, so we’ll probably see him slip to at least the third round no matter how many points he puts up in Moncton. As someone who’s already considering naming my first-born son (or daughter) Vladimir, I could see the Oilers taking him in the second round, and I would fully support that decision.
Hi, do you need LED lights? Carl
Is this spam? No Carl, I don’t need LED lights. Jerk.
What do you think of Khaira so far? Has he played well enough to be our 4th line C next Thursday? Lyall C.
I don’t dislike Jujhar Khaira. Listed at 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, he has intriguing size for a guy who just turned 20, but didn’t show enough in preseason to convince me that he’s ready for the NHL. Khaira has to use that size more effectively and make better decisions with the puck, but I’m curious to see how he performs in the American Hockey League. He’ll be one of the main guys I track in Oklahoma City this season.
If (BIG if) Pitlick is waived, will he make it to OKC? If claimed, which team takes a shot on him? Aaron B.
I think Pitlick clears waivers if he’s sent down before Tuesday, just because teams aiming to pluck guys from the waiver wire are usually looking for established centres with NHL experience, rather than unestablished wingers. That’s not a knock on Pitlick at all, just the reality of the situation. I think he’s shown enough to warrant a roster spot with the Oilers, outplaying waiver candidates Mark Arcobello and Anton Lander during the preseason, and we’ll see if the team opts to keep Bogdan Yakimov around. I could see the Flames taking a shot at Pitlick, since their roster is terribly thin and they seem to like gathering up former Oilers.
Did the Oilers play of epically abysmal proportions over the last 8 years make you want to move to Jamaica? Aaron B.
Haha. My amazing fiancé is the reason I’m currently living in Jamaica, but I’ve gradually been drifting further away from Edmonton since I last lived there for a summer in 2005. I don’t consider that a bad thing at all. The risk of frostbite down here is fairly low, there’s no such thing as photo radar in Jamaica, and I never have to worry about running into Canuck fans. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but based on the last eight years of Oilers hockey I’d have to disagree.
What do you think happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370? Daisy M.
It fell in the ocean. Move along nutjob.
Hi Ryan, just was curious if there might be a 2nd line centre out there that might be available before the season actually starts! Teams have to be under the cap prior to the start yes/no ?? That way Draisaitl could do 3rd line and some 2nd line power play. What do you think? theweiner
You have to ask yourself which position Edmonton could deal from to acquire a second-line centre. Goaltending? No chance, since Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth are 1A and 1B. Or, if you’re cynical, 2A and 2B. Defence? Nope. Not with injuries testing the team’s depth early on. Forward? I don’t see it happening. We’d all love to have someone more proven than Draisaitl increase our certainty going into the season, but with Carolina and the New York Rangers dealing with injuries up the middle I don’t see anyone available at a decent price.
When JB finally loses it, will it burn the next day? Lahey
Of course, it always burns the next day.
MacTavish is getting high on his own supply if he thinks we can start the season without adding another centre. I think this trade with Florida would work out for both teams. To EDM: Nick Bjugstad + Erik Gudbranson To FLA: Jeff Petry + 2nd round pick Thoughts? Teddy J.
Sir, I believe you’ve just proposed first-degree grand larceny, which is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The Oilers don’t need that kind of headache, especially since the most notable lawyer on staff deals primarily with zone starts and statistics loosely based on reality. Oy, this might be the worst trade proposal we’ll see all season, and we’re only three days into October. Just like the Oilers themselves, we’ve got nowhere to go but up.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
You asked, I answered... even when I shouldn't have. Friday's Burning Questions: Yakupov's Line and Malaysia Airlines http://t.co/ddYIg6sK36
— Ryan Garner (@RyGarner) October 4, 2014