Just ask Dreger! They would also refuse Reimer for Yak!
- Iggysbff

Nobody wants to invest in the next Radulov or Yashin. Why give up something for a player that wants the money, but misses playing at home or lacks the interest in playing at all?
That has always been the knock on European players. You roll the dice with them. In addition, with the KHL, they now have another option. After Ovie started having issues, it made me wonder if he would ever stick around. Now that he has figured things out, I think, he is playing much better.
But, like any sport today. Throwing money at a problem doesn't work. If the players heart isn't in it, then he will eventually walk. Which brings us to another point, the NHL expansion. You have more teams, and more players that shouldn't be in the NHL. It becomes a watered down sport. If the NHL expands to Europe, like the NFL wants to, then you have scheduling problems, and players being burned out on travel. You see this issue being brought up with the new team alignments.
Just sayin'.

Edmonton has a history of ruining young players.

They should have traded the pick or taken a defenseman.
- dshiddy

Yep, look what they did to Gretzky, messier, kurri, Lowe, Coffey, they really (frank)ed those guys up

Yak has started to turn the corner, there's no public lingering resentment, and with Hall on the sidelines he's likely to be getting top 6 minutes for the foreseeable future.

Can we put this to bed?

As I stated when they drafted him, it was a mistake for Edmonton to draft Yak.

As I stated when they drafted him, it was a mistake for Edmonton to draft Yak.
- Oneonta Penguin

Why was it a mistake?

As I stated when they drafted him, it was a mistake for Edmonton to draft Yak.
- Oneonta Penguin

Mr Kats wanted him on the team. they were going the other guy..

Only way either team gets Yakupov if with an overpayment.

Faulk, Murphy, & 1st

Gardiner, Reimer. & 1st

Give or take.

I cannot see the Leafs paying that much at this point in the season for another top 6 winger. The Canes deal if definitely possible from their end since the only current NHLer they give up is Faulk and they end up getting a complete top 6 forward group. Maybe be more than they are willing to pay though.

If I were Edmonton I wouldn't do Reimer, gardiner + 1st for yakupov.
- dshiddy

of course YOU wouldn't

Only way either team gets Yakupov if with an overpayment.

Faulk, Murphy, & 1st

Gardiner, Reimer. & 1st

Give or take.

I cannot see the Leafs paying that much at this point in the season for another top 6 winger. The Canes deal if definitely possible from their end since the only current NHLer they give up is Faulk and they end up getting a complete top 6 forward group. Maybe be more than they are willing to pay though.
- Steven_Dean

At least that what MacT is hoping for. In reality Yakupov isn't a true first overall, yes he was drafted first, but if he were being drafted last year for instance, I don't think he would crack the top five IMO. He is a quality scorer, however, just needs time to develop into one. I do find it absolutely ridiculous that anyone is giving up on this kid. Sure MacT didn't draft him, heck he may not like Yaks at all, and therein lies the real issue. It's not that he is struggling(as most young players do at some point) It's not that he is a bust, it's that he doesn't fit the game plan of the new Oiler's brass IMO. I am sure the Oilers are continuing to evaluate what they have, and facing the reality of Tambellini's mindless drafting. They have too much of one thing, and not enough of all the rest. Yakupov isn't as rounded and multi-dimensional as Taylor Hall, so he may find himself playing elsewhere before all is said and done.

Only way either team gets Yakupov if with an overpayment.

Faulk, Murphy, & 1st

Gardiner, Reimer. & 1st

Give or take.

I cannot see the Leafs paying that much at this point in the season for another top 6 winger. The Canes deal if definitely possible from their end since the only current NHLer they give up is Faulk and they end up getting a complete top 6 forward group. Maybe be more than they are willing to pay though.
- Steven_Dean

Nobody going to overpay for an unknown, yes with great potential but still an unknown at this point.

At least that what MacT is hoping for. In reality Yakupov isn't a true first overall, yes he was drafted first, but if he were being drafted last year for instance, I don't think he would crack the top five IMO. He is a quality scorer, however, just needs time to develop into one. I do find it absolutely ridiculous that anyone is giving up on this kid. Sure MacT didn't draft him, heck he may not like Yaks at all, and therein lies the real issue. It's not that he is struggling(as most young players do at some point) It's not that he is a bust, it's that he doesn't fit the game plan of the new Oiler's brass IMO. I am sure the Oilers are continuing to evaluate what they have, and facing the reality of Tambellini's mindless drafting. They have too much of one thing, and not enough of all the rest. Yakupov isn't as rounded and multi-dimensional as Taylor Hall, so he may find himself playing elsewhere before all is said and done.
- jazzca1974

You know this is made up right? Yakupov still very much fits into the team's future.

You know this is made up right?.
- Morris

Are we living in it?

Are we living in it?
- Gambi99

WHOA! I know Kung-Fu

Only way either team gets Yakupov if with an overpayment.

Faulk, Murphy, & 1st

Gardiner, Reimer. & 1st

Give or take.

I cannot see the Leafs paying that much at this point in the season for another top 6 winger. The Canes deal if definitely possible from their end since the only current NHLer they give up is Faulk and they end up getting a complete top 6 forward group. Maybe be more than they are willing to pay though.
- Steven_Dean

You obviously have no idea about the Hurricanes....no way they give up their TOP D-man and top D-prospect (who will probably be on the team the whole season) for a forward. The Canes were blue-line buyers in the FA market, would have drafted Seth Jones if he fell one more spot, and openly suggested that Jeff Skinner was available for trade if a top pairing D-man was available coming back over the summer.

Russians aren't winners, I mean how many actually have their name on the cup... 3-5 I'm guessing.
- dshiddy

i'd say about 30
http://www.internationalh...-have-won-the-Stanley-Cup

There is also this guy called Ryan Murphy the canes have who the oilers might have interest in..... Also lol as if the leafs would tell the oilers to (frank) off if the Oilers wanted Gardiner(probably some other stuff to) in a trade for Yakupov, also why the (frank) would the leafs want Yak, the last thing the leafs need is another top 6 winger. Not believable at all.
- matt1396

Ridiculous thing to say. Every team could use more top 6 wingers. The ridiculous part of this post is how Ek expects people to believe that Edmonton would be interested in Gardiner given their current needs, and that the Leafs "wouldn't go there". Yeah, a 23 year old defenceman about to get run out of town is untouchable when it comes to the 2012 1st overall pick? Makes sense.

Yep, look what they did to Gretzky, messier, kurri, Lowe, Coffey, they really (frank)ed those guys up
- Snagglepuss

Naming guys from 30 years ago isn't a very strong argument.

If I were Edmonton I wouldn't do Reimer, gardiner + 1st for yakupov.
- dshiddy

weren't nucks fans saying the same about Luongo? ph wait my bad that was Kadri, Gardiner and a 1st LOLuongo!

Ridiculous thing to say. Every team could use more top 6 wingers. The ridiculous part of this post is how Ek expects people to believe that Edmonton would be interested in Gardiner given their current needs, and that the Leafs "wouldn't go there". Yeah, a 23 year old defenceman about to get run out of town is untouchable when it comes to the 2012 1st overall pick? Makes sense.
- scotch_tape

So when the leafs say they haven't offered Gardiner to anyone, and no one has made an offer for him, it means he is about to get run out of town? The kid is averaging 21.5 mins over the last 4 games, and is a pretty respectable +3 on the season...maybe you should stop buying all the media hype ala Kessel is going to test the market, Franson is not gonna play for the leafs this year, the leafs wont get kadri AND franson signed etc

Do you actually think Edmonton WOULDNT be interested in a guy who was partners with their best d-man back in college, is only 23, and has put up a 31 point full season career pace while getting minimal ice time? how many d-men that age are actually a plus this early in their career...maybe you should stick to the smurfs

This whole thread is bizarre. What do the oilers need? Defense and a goalie.

They aren't going to trade Yaks for a prospect only. They need players to fill in now.

I can see Anaheim having a couple of very good goalies, Ottawa has two great goalies but will not trade either of them. Not sure what other teams fit the bill.

How does this change with Hall going down? Do they try to make a little more room for a young player?

Remember how old Yaks is. He's a young guy going through growing pains. On most teams, that would be totally excusable. In Edmonton, the pressure is mounting, and the team needs results now. Unfortunate situation for him.

Ottawa trades Gryba and Da Costa for Yakupov. Ottawa erupts with laughter.

There is also this guy called Ryan Murphy the canes have who the oilers might have interest in..... Also lol as if the leafs would tell the oilers to (frank) off if the Oilers wanted Gardiner(probably some other stuff to) in a trade for Yakupov, also why the (frank) would the leafs want Yak, the last thing the leafs need is another top 6 winger. Not believable at all.
- matt1396

Well 2 things matt. Yak is FAR FROM being a top 6 forward, right now, he's a bottom forward. And the leafs are run by a bunch of blind monkeys.

Vyacheslav Kozlov, Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, and Pavel Datsyuk have all won at least 2 Cups... Just to name 6...
- TwoPieceFeed

it get both points, the more recent generation of "star" don't seem to have the same make-up...

and I obviously don't need to make the comparison for you, who saw and obviously watches the current guys like Datsyuk who have proven that they are consistent high performers.

Yakupov has not. He's a prospect at this point, a good one, but nothing more.

So when the leafs say they haven't offered Gardiner to anyone, and no one has made an offer for him, it means he is about to get run out of town? The kid is averaging 21.5 mins over the last 4 games, and is a pretty respectable +3 on the season...maybe you should stop buying all the media hype ala Kessel is going to test the market, Franson is not gonna play for the leafs this year, the leafs wont get kadri AND franson signed etc

Do you actually think Edmonton WOULDNT be interested in a guy who was partners with their best d-man back in college, is only 23, and has put up a 31 point full season career pace while getting minimal ice time? how many d-men that age are actually a plus this early in their career...maybe you should stick to the smurfs
- GardinerExpress

someone's a little touchy this morning. jesus relax. i think the point is that if Edmonton is looking to deal Yakupov, it's unlikely to be for a one-dimensional offensive player, especially on the defensive front. and even if they were, i think Edmonton would rightfully expect much more in return for the a 19-year-old who was the 1st overall pick 16 months ago. this whole idea that Edmonton is going to give up Yakupov for another team's expendable players is hilarious.

it get both points, the more recent generation of "star" don't seem to have the same make-up...

and I obviously don't need to make the comparison for you, who saw and obviously watches the current guys like Datsyuk who have proven that they are consistent high performers.

Yakupov has not. He's a prospect at this point, a good one, but nothing more.
- BorjeFan4Ever

a prospect that was on a 30-goal pace as an 18-year-old. i'd say he's a bit more than a "good prospect", no matter how much fans of other team's want to de-value him to justify their sweet trade proposals.