Corn Flake
New member
Prediction: Yakupov + Carlyle =
Random rumours
- Thread starter maplesyrup
- Start date
bustaheims
Active member
Bender said:
Yakupov basically came out and said he doesn't want to play defence or forecheck (not in those exact words, but that's what it felt like he was implying to me), so, he'd a bad fit for the current Leafs. I also think it also raises the question of whether or not he's going to head back to Russia as soon as possible. The guy has great talent, but, his motivation seems to be in question and he's a flight risk. I understand Dreger's portrayal of the Leafs' position here.
J
Jalili
Guest
bustaheims said:
On the other hand, it would be the classic case of buying low. The Leafs would hypothetically be assuming some risk for the chance to get an extremely high payoff.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
There's no way I would turn that down.
bustaheims
Active member
Snoop Lion said:
Sure. There are valid arguments for either side. You also have to consider that the Leafs are pretty deep on the wing and have their current top 6 wingers all tied up in long-term deals. Bringing in Yakupov without moving one of them means either he or Clarkson ends up on the 3rd line. I probably still make the move, but, with Bernier not having proven he can handle a starting role and everything else that's already been brought up, I get the position Dreger thinks the Leafs are taking.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
bustaheims said:
That might be true but this is a guy who scored at a 30-goal pace last season as a 19 year old. Short season and all that, but still - you make room for that.
bustaheims
Active member
Potvin29 said:
If it wasn't for the flight risk aspect, I'd agree, but, for a guy that might bolt back to Russia because he's unhappy about what his coach expects from him - and Carlyle would expect Yakupov to do a number of things he's already come out and said he doesn't want to do - I'm not so sure I jump on it. When the Leafs are ready to move Reimer, if Yakupov is on the table and it's the best deal for the team, then, yeah, I do it, but today . . . I understand the hesitance.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
bustaheims said:
I don't think he's that big a risk, and I think the risk/reward is in the Leafs favour. He came over for junior when he didn't have to, KHL was already an option then. Just this summer Nonis traded 3 assets to get another goalie but he wouldn't trade the other goalie for Yakupov? I doubt that, even if I don't think the acquisition of Bernier meant they didn't have faith in Reimer, it meant they were unsure to some degree. Then to not trade that for someone like Yakupov wouldn't make much sense.
I don't believe it regardless.
bustaheims
Active member
Well, it might not be an issue at all for a while now. :-\
J
Jalili
Guest
bustaheims said:
I wouldn't disagree with anything you've said, except perhaps the flight-risk.
I'm a little late to this thread but I'd take Yakupov for Gardiner and Reimer in a second. Yakupov's on a trajectory to be a top-5 goal scorer in the league a couple of years from now. It's very hard to obtain that kind of high-end talent. We do have a lot of wingers, but that shouldn't be hard to deal with: I'd turn around and trade Clarkson for peanuts if I could (does Yakupov play left or right?). If not him then I'd consider what kind of defenseman I could get for Lupul.
moon111
New member
I'm not sure I'd deal a Jake Gardiner, who was taken in the 1st round (17th overall) with .37pts/game for a forward with .58pts/game. A forward that might not pan out. One that hasn't even come close to Alexei Yashin-type performance.
Yakupov told Edmonton reporters, "I don't really like playing without the puck, skate all the time and do forecheck and hit somebody every shift... I don't think it's my game."
Yakupov told Edmonton reporters, "I don't really like playing without the puck, skate all the time and do forecheck and hit somebody every shift... I don't think it's my game."
Corn Flake
New member
moon111 said:
I wouldn't trade him for the Yak either, but I think I would accept the right trade for him if it came up. The red flags are flying high on Yakupov, esp. after comments like that.
I think the Leafs have to find the right balance on defense and right now it's imbalanced. Rielly is going to very likely be the better of the two players in time, so it's not going to be him that gets moved.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
What is wrong with that quote? He's saying he always wants to have the puck on his stick and playing without the puck and hitting guys like a role player isn't his game. Wouldn't you want a skilled player to want to have the puck as often as possible and to relish having it?
And I don't even know where the Yashin comparison is coming from.
And I don't even know where the Yashin comparison is coming from.
Corn Flake
New member
Potvin29 said:
Seriously?
"Skate all the time and do forecheck and hit somebody every shift.. I don't think it's my game"
He's basically saying he's not interested in doing the things that players need to do when they don't have the puck. He can't have the puck the entire shift, but it sounds like he would rather just hang out until his teammates get it to him, then he will go to town.
I didn't make the Yashin comparison so that's moon's to comment on. I'm just suggesting there are some red flags popping up on this guy. His performance on the ice - which is what really counts - would be red flag #1.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
But you're ignoring the first part of the sentence, "I don't really like playing without the puck" which puts it all into context - he doesn't like being a player who doesn't have the puck all the time.
This is without even taking into account the language barrier where things are lost in translation. I don't think it's a big deal at all.
This is without even taking into account the language barrier where things are lost in translation. I don't think it's a big deal at all.
Corn Flake
New member
Potvin29 said:
not ignoring it.. .I'm fine with the idea he wants the puck, but he's suggesting he's not interested in doing all the other things required to be a successful player.
This is like early years Kessel. It took him a while to learn how to do everything else he needed to do in order to be as good as he is now. Similar players who do need to get it through their heads they can't have the puck ALL the time.