Wow never thought we would get him so I didn't pay much attention to him....but wow.
Fast, uses his team mates alot on give and goes, wicked wrist shot, awesome one timer, scores alot on breakaways, his passion for the game is ridiculous....umm yes please.
Tambo please don't be stupid and trade this guy away.
We're in a situation where Hall could end up being our 3rd or 4th best player. That's pretty wild. I'll always have time for Hall even if he is passed on the depth chart though. There probably isn't a player under 22 that I'd rather have in the playoffs. That includes Stamkos(he's been a bit of a choke artist so far).
With that said...I've been tempering my expectations all year when it comes to Yakupov. Being 18 years old for your entire draft year is a pretty nice advantage. If I remember correctly, he's only a couple months younger than Huberdeau and missed the cut off for the 2011 draft by a couple weeks. Had he been slightly older, he likely would have been playing for Colorado this season. So of course he was going to put up very good numbers this year in junior. Can you imagine what RNH would have done in the OHL this year? I'd imagine his stats would have been a lot better than what Yakupov put up this year.
But didn't he pot nearly 50 goals and a 106 points as a 17 year old last season?
We better not trade this pick......See all trades involving 1st round picks besides the Lindros deal.....never works out for the team giving up the pick. Islanders anyone?
We better not trade this pick......See all trades involving 1st round picks besides the Lindros deal.....never works out for the team giving up the pick. Islanders anyone?
Florida as well. Ended up trading down to take Bouweemester and Horton instead of just taking Rick Nash and Eric Staal
In the end they ended up getting basically very little for Jay Bo (well basically nothing there) and Horton.
Trading down to me always sorta feels like trying to get too fancy on a 3-on-1 ... if a shot is there, just take the damn shot.
Florida as well. Ended up trading down to take Bouweemester and Horton instead of just taking Rick Nash and Eric Staal
In the end they ended up getting basically very little for Jay Bo (well basically nothing there) and Horton.
Trading down to me always sorta feels like trying to get too fancy on a 3-on-1 ... if a shot is there, just take the damn shot.
He had a back injury I believe, but most of those games were due to the WJC if I'm not mistaken.
Back was hurt for a couple of weeks. Then he hurt his knee and was out for a month. And then he got a concussion right before the season ended for them. He came back for the playoffs, but probably wasn't 100% from the concussion, and played decidedly average.
So, 3 injuries, the most concerning is the concussion. Probably a lesson learned, because if he makes those cuts to the middle with his head down in the NHL...
Those injuries tempered my enthusiasm about him a little, but then I remembered that he scored 49 goals and 101 points in his ROOKIE season in the OHL, breaking Stamkos' record. He's got the goods, he's just got to keep his head up. Same with Hall.
I want them to draft this kid, looks like a serious offensive talent. Any one know how he is in his own end? I know you can teach this but some kids already have it (Nuge).
If they do not use the draft pick I really hope they trade it straight up for a franchise defensemen. The worst thing they can do it trade down for one of the top 5 picks and a mediocre player with upside...
Florida as well. Ended up trading down to take Bouweemester and Horton instead of just taking Rick Nash and Eric Staal
In the end they ended up getting basically very little for Jay Bo (well basically nothing there) and Horton.
Trading down to me always sorta feels like trying to get too fancy on a 3-on-1 ... if a shot is there, just take the damn shot.
There is certainly a risk involved but I would argue that Florida's problem wasn't those moves specifically but the general mismanagement that was subsequent to them.
In all honesty is Rick Nash really that big of a prize? Good player sure but in the history of Number 1 picks I don't think he would rank all that high - a good example of being the best of a bad lot ? - and if (I am not making a statement here) Yakupov is in a Nash range of impact then I think you have to atleast consider your options.
There is certainly a risk involved but I would argue that Florida's problem wasn't those moves specifically but the general mismanagement that was subsequent to them.
In all honesty is Rick Nash really that big of a prize? Good player sure but in the history of Number 1 picks I don't think he would rank all that high - a good example of being the best of a bad lot ? - and if (I am not making a statement here) Yakupov is in a Nash range of impact then I think you have to atleast consider your options.
Unless you're trading 1 for 1 and acquiring an established, better player, it's a bad move.
As I've said before, the teams who end sup with the best player of the deal, wins the deal.
I personally thought when I saw this guy at last year's draft, as a 16 year old putting up 100+ points in the OHL, he was going to be even better than Taylor Hall and I stand by that. I think Hall is a great player with loads of potential, but I seriously see a 50 goal guy in Yakupov, where I don't in Hall.
I agree. Shot is a laser, completely accurate, a canon and he gets it away fast.
Lots of talk about Yakupov being a prolific goal scorer, better than Hall or Eberle. My question is why? At the same age, Taylor Hall put up the same sort of goal numbers as Yakupov did. Eberle put up better goal numbers in his 19 year old season. I've only really seen highlights of Yakupov, and he's obviously got a great shot and one-timer. But how about the hockey smarts, garbage goals, cycling, and other things that help get you goals in the NHL? Those things aren't really shown in the highlights so that's a question for those who've seen him more. The fact that Hall and Yakupov put up the same sort of goal numbers makes me think that although Yakupov might be a better 'one shot' scorer, that Hall might be better at getting those greasy garbage goals or might identify and get to those goal scoring areas better. So is there a part of Yakupov's game not seen in the highlights that makes you think he'll put up more goals in the NHL than Hall or Eberle?
<-- Credit goes to The Nemesis.
