James Tanner: Saturday Thoughts

Yakupov*

Unless it's his misspelled cousin.
Great bliggity blog Carol

How did the oilers lose? The got a player who just had a career low in shooting %, is
Living and training with Gary Roberts this summer to get back up to speed. Has a better buy out contract and they no longer have to protect lucic in the expansion draft. Lucic is not the better player and if you watched any oilers games you’d know that. Your opinions become even more invalid when you take about bring Yak back to the NHL, 2 other teams had the same thought as you and it didn’t work out, or are you forgetting that.

James, you been out wandering in the desert again?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PKYUz7kx3jA

- gergeswillems

I have to agree with Code85. James Neal was poised to regress back closer to his mean production especially playing with one or two of McD, RNH, Drais. It’s likely that both teams will benefit from this trade but the the player coming off the more productive season will likely be the real deal

The Coyotes don’t need Yakupov at all. Hayton might still make the team out of camp and if someone does get hurt we shouldn’t be blocking Garland, Merkley, etc. If you don’t give the Kase’s of the world a chance then you won’t see them succeed

James Tanner: Saturday Thoughts
- James_Tanner

I have really tried to give you the benefit of doubt over the years, but c"mon man.....

Maybe you would do better at that football thing..Arizona even has a team..

I have really tried to give you the benefit of doubt over the years, but c"mon man.....

Maybe you would do better at that football thing..Arizona even has a team..
- oilpatch

No they don't...

What a well thought out and well written article. Deep stuff here. Tanner doesn't even acknowledge the expansion draft and buyout implications between Lucic and Neal. Probably over his head.

What a well thought out and well written article. Deep stuff here. Tanner doesn't even acknowledge the expansion draft and buyout implications between Lucic and Neal. Probably over his head.
- uofcguy

Seen a lot of Oilers fans that are stoked that they don’t have to protect Lucic in the expansion draft. But when I look at their roster, I struggle to find more than 5 forwards that I would even care about losing in the expansion draft, that would be eligible.

I can see how having to protect Lucic will be a problem for Calgary now and totally question the trade from their perspective.

If they just punt this one year, sell their cap space, then draft an NHL ready player early next summer and then spend a crap load of the money they have available, they should be able to retool pretty quickly.


Very true. Why aren’t they doing this?

Seen a lot of Oilers fans that are stoked that they don’t have to protect Lucic in the expansion draft. But when I look at their roster, I struggle to find more than 5 forwards that I would even care about losing in the expansion draft, that would be eligible.

I can see how having to protect Lucic will be a problem for Calgary now and totally question the trade from their perspective.
- poopstash

i mean, i only see 2 worth protecting. going out a limb that rhn walks.

the expansion draft is a big nothing burger for the oilers.

Seen a lot of Oilers fans that are stoked that they don’t have to protect Lucic in the expansion draft. But when I look at their roster, I struggle to find more than 5 forwards that I would even care about losing in the expansion draft, that would be eligible.

I can see how having to protect Lucic will be a problem for Calgary now and totally question the trade from their perspective.
- poopstash

You fail to understand the flexibility this provides. For example, maybe the Oilers can now exploit other teams and acquire other forwards for cheap. Maybe they opt to protect more D-men rather than the traditional ratio of forward and D-men. You need to think a bit more creatively...

I come here for the music videos.....
Nah , they suck too.

You fail to understand the flexibility this provides. For example, maybe the Oilers can now exploit other teams and acquire other forwards for cheap. Maybe they opt to protect more D-men rather than the traditional ratio of forward and D-men. You need to think a bit more creatively...
- uofcguy

Except that Edmonton would be competing against Seattle of course and possibly other teams that also have cap space/spots open which likely won’t be many

Why haven't they sold their cap space yet? Until the rfa's start taking stupid huge deals that force trades, or the trade deadline, they can't take real advantage of desperate teams. Doing it now would be selling low.

Why haven't they sold their cap space yet? Until the rfa's start taking stupid huge deals that force trades, or the trade deadline, they can't take real advantage of desperate teams. Doing it now would be selling low.
- Darksyde

The Coyotes don't have cap space to sell since they're almost at the cap now.

Best thing they could do is trade Hossa's rights and a sweetener to Ottawa to free up a little over $5 mil.

Yakupov has the ability but his hockey IQ is questionable. Never saw someone with that much speed not know how to forecheck; not know how to force a lane. Great backchecker, he's got some creativity if he can use his speed but stays to the perimeter too much. If you could fix that he could be a hell of a player.

He'd be a perfect player for Edmonton to try out. But🤦‍♂️ no wingers and three great centers.