RUMOUR: NAIL YAKUPOV TO THE BLACKHAWKS?
Rumours of chatter between the Oilers and Blackhawks over the Russian winger have surfaced today and been confirmed by multiple sources including TSN's Bob McKenzie. While there has been plenty of discussions between the two sides, it appears to be just talk for now. Both teams would likely wait until the end of the preseason until they've fully evaluated their own players, before any deal would take place.
Since his 31 point in 48 game rookie year under Ralph Kruger, Yakupov has continued to struggle. He has failed to earn the trust of management and his name has been in rumour mill for some time. A trade out of Edmonton seems inevitable.
My Take:
This is a deal that would be great for both sides. After losing Brandon Saad, Patrick Sharp, and Teuvo Taravainen over the last two offseasons, Chicago could use some more offense in their top 6. If they can get Yakupov back to the way he played in his rookie season then he should be able to score at least 20 goals. He is also likely to feel a lot more comfortable in the Blackhawks locker room with fellow Russians like Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov.
For Edmonton they probably won't get fair value for Yakupov. The most they'll probably get is a late first rounder, a second rounder, or a prospect in return. However Yakupov just isn't a fit with the Oilers, and at this point I think it would be best for both parties if they just moved on.
