Edmonton Oilers F Nail Yakupov Requested Trade at Deadline

Edmonton Oilers F Nail Yakupov reportedly asked GM Peter Chiarelli for a trade sometime around the February 29th deadline. These reports are from a translated story released by Sport-Express – a Russian media outlet.

Reports suggest his agent was granted permission to speak with other NHL clubs, but any apparent deal (if at all close) fell apart.

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via TSN,

“Edmonton Oilers forward Nail Yakupov asked the team for a trade prior to the NHL’s Feb. 29 trade deadline according to a translated story from Russian outlet Sport-Express.

In an interview conducted with Sport-Express while the Oilers were in San Jose last week, Yakupov says the Oilers granted permission to speak with other teams and multiple clubs were interested, but no trade was completed.

The 22-year-old is in his fourth season with the Oilers since the team made him the first overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
He has six goals and 13 assists this season in 56 games and has never produced more than 17 goals or 33 points in a season since making his debut during the 2012-13 season.”

Circulating trade rumors surrounding Edmonton Oilers F Nail Yakupov are nothing new. Speculation continues to surround players such as Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl.

One way or another, Edmonton will be faced with a tough decision possessing an overabundance of top six centers. What exactly will happen is another story all together. Different sets of circumstances bring forth a number of solutions. Much of what the Oilers will do may largely be dictated by where they pick in June’s draft. If Edmonton falls out of the top three, getting their hands on Jakob Chychrun or Olli Juolevi, the desperation for an impact d-man somewhat dissipates.

On the flip, if Edmonton wins the draft lottery (and becomes enemy number one of the hockey world), an impending Ryan Nugent-Hopkins trade goes from a probable chance of happening to a solid 100 percent guarantee. If they get their hands on Auston Matthews, they need to give serious consideration to making Leon Draisaitl a permanent winger (with an ability to slide into the middle when necessary).

Where does this all leave Edmonton Oilers F Nail Yakupov? Well it’s not as though the team is exactly deep at right-wing. Yakupov is a left-handed shooting right-winger, a little unconventional playing the off wing ( although several players do it). Forwards (especially wingers) are versatile. So, while conventional wisdom suggests the ideal trade target would be a young blueliner to fill a need, that’s better left to be addressed with RNH or through the draft.

Lets “call a spade-a spade”. The Edmonton Oilers will fail to find a team willing to pay the hefty price tag of a former 1st overall pick. But much like RNH’s draft year, it was an extremely weak class. Throw Nail Yakupov in the 2015 draft class and see where he’s taken.

What does this mean? Oilers management/fans won’t like the return if the asking price is a young defender. Let’s not forget that Predators GM David Poile reportedly turned down an RNH for Seth Jones deal, instead opting for Ryan Johansen.

Instead, GM Peter Chiarelli needs to target another right-winger, preferably a natural right-handed player. Edmonton Oilers F Nail Yakupov wasn’t a draft pick of the new regime, therefore having zero attachment to many of these guys. If the Oilers brass wants to put a stamp on making this franchise their own, it means moving out players such as Yakupov.

Next: WHL Round 1 Preview, Predictions

Below is a list of players that Edmonton can target to initiate trade talks (keyword “can target”, it doesn’t necessarily mean other teams will be interested). Additional players/drafts picks are likely to be involved:

Jakob Silfverberg (ANA), Brett Connolly* (BOS), Cam Atkinson (CLB), Craig Smith (NSH), Bobby Ryan (OTT)

* Chiarelli only had minimum exposure to Connolly in Boston, but this could be a possibility if Boston is willing to add another quality piece.

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