Think what you want but the first part of your post is speculation and fairy tails. It's no coincidence Hall and Ebs were signed for the same dollar figure. They are setting an internal cap for these young stars. If they do what they did with Hall they will lock him up at the end of next season. Baring a Stamkos type season he won't be getting more then they got.
The cap rises virtually every year, unless some artificial factor kicks in. And even if for some reason it doesn't go up in 2014, then it will rise in 2015. It is not speculation, it is reality as informed by history and awareness of the NHL's economics. And even if you don't know it, Yakupov and his representatives do.
If Yakupov signs for the same money as Hall (presuming he doesn't sink next season), it will be because he made a selfless team-oriented decision with little regard to his economic bargaining power. Don't talk to me about fairy tales when you're the one wishin' and a hopin' and a prayin' that a 1st overall pick is going to roll back his salary demands to fit a 2012 (Hall, Eberle) or 2011 (Stamkos, Tavares) paradigm.
The Salary Cap for the 2015-2016 will almost certainly be higher than that of the 2013-2014 (or 2011-12) season. PLUS Yakupov will have higher-salaried comparables, thanks to the new CBA rules. PLUS he will have greater negotiating power, as a result of the very real KHL threat. (Yakupov may not want to play in the KHL, but he is a greater threat to go there than Hall, Eberle, etc. and his agent would be a fool not to exploit that in negotiation.) PLUS there is no way for the team to reduce the cap hit by front-loading it or signing a massive extension. PLUS, assuming he stays healthy next season, he has less incentive to sign an early extension than Hall did following two injury-shortened seasons.
Many people here in their assumptions seem to view the Hall/Eberle contracts as maximums for the rest of the core. In Yakupov's case - assuming he more or less approximates Hall's sophomore numbers - the Hall contract is more likely a
minimum.
There is virtually no reason for Yakupov to demand or expect anything less than that. And that's a statement without judgment on his character. That is a simple fact. Take it from someone with professional negotiation and advocacy training and experience - there is very little compelling reason to use those numbers as anything other than a starting point. Taylor Hall does not set a salary cap for Nail Yakupov. It's a loose guideline at best, and more likely a salary floor. If he signs for Hall's numbers, it's likely going to be a shorter term deal. And why not?
You - and a large portion of the Edmonton fanbase & media in general - better prepare for the likelihood of a larger contract than expected. And watch out if Yakupov manages to exceed Hall's numbers and put up something near Stamkos's, because his salary demands are going to blow some small market minds. Especially when he gets them.
And again, that's not judgment on Yakupov. That's not me saying the Oilers can't afford him or have to trade him. That's just me saying the economic reality is likely harsher than most people expect, and people need to put themselves in Yakupov's (or his agent's) shoes and think about things from that business perspective. Because it could be a PR disaster if he gets treated like a villain for serving his own business interests, and I sure as hell don't trust this current Oilers management to be able to finesse that issue.