How many NHL players have been stolen to the KHL? I can think of one and anyone else that goes there is a hack, a never was or never will be. Idle threats and mystery contract offers aren't going to heavily impact his contract negotiations. The KHL isn't very enticing even for Russians.
In addition to Radulov and Jagr, Kovalchuk used the promise of the KHL in order to increase his negotiating leverage as well. Based on how the KHL has operated in the past, I highly doubt there will be any mystery to any contract offer. I also doubt Yakupov has much interest in the KHL at this stage in his career, but if there's a difference of, say $3-4 million a year, that makes a big difference in Nail's Worst Case Scenario when it comes to throwing dollar figures around. It also makes a difference if the contract negotiations reach a hold-out point. In that situation, do you see Nail sitting in Edmonton in October making $0 in a game of chicken when he could go home for a year (or a few months) and make millions? I don't.
Edit: And of course, Ryan O'Reilly did it too. Look at how that worked out for him!
I still don't see how you figure he matches halls numbers then expects to use his contract as a minimum starting point. Doesn't really pass the smell test.
Salaries typically rise over time. At the very least, one has to adjust Hall's salary for inflation. Plus, under this new CBA, cap figures for significant players are coming in higher than we would have expected even a year ago. Zajac is a $5.75 million dollar player. Getzlaf and Perry are $8+ million dollar players, when their cap figures in 2012 would likely have been in the $7-7.5 million range that Parise got.
I like the back pedaling at the end there. You must be doubting yourself or at the very least leaving yourself an out it the event you are wrong. If Yak signs short term it is because he has crapped the bed and not lived up to expectations.
I don't know what sort of conversation you think we're having here, but it is speculative. I don't think I'm wrong here. If Yakupov makes a massive salary demand that the Oilers are uncomfortable meeting, a shorter-term deal is a possible bridge that could benefit both parties. I expect that if Yakupov plays up to potential, the Oilers will want a long term deal in order to secure his services for as long as possible. However, it could very well be that an RFA-only deal, 2-3 seasons, is the best thing for the team and the player.
If he puts up Stamkos numbers he will get Stamkos type money...my mind isn't blown. I'd be happy we have a fifty goal scorer on the team.
If he puts up Stamkos numbers he will get greater than Stamkos-type money. It's not 2011 anymore.
So let me get this straight..... you created this huge hypothetical based on a number misguided assumptions in order to be the guy who said I told you so and Oilers management is incompetent. Ok......to you it is man... to you it is
Let me guess...former oilers employee??
You are a strange person. Your guess is quite incorrect.
I didn't create a hypothetical - this is a thread about the 2nd contracts for the Oilers' core. They will get 2nd contracts - fact. I see an assumption floated around this board quite regularly that the Hall contract represents a sort of "salary-cap" for the team, in the way no Pen can make more than Crosby and no King could make more than Kopitar (whoops).
I think this is an incorrect assumption, especially vis a vis Yakupov. I think that his cap hit will be higher than Hall's, even without doing substantially more than Hall (in the same way Hall's cap hit was higher than Tavares, even without doing substantially more than JT). If I put myself in the shoes of Yakupov's representative, I see no compelling reason that Taylor Hall's 2012 contract should dictate the terms of my client's signed 2-3 years later.
The Oilers - be it their management or their fanbase - does not have the best record when it comes to being dispassionate about player contract negotiations. From Coffey to Poti to Comrie to Smyth (and with many other examples in between), there has been a lot of vitriol when it comes to this issue. Whether or not it is the fault of Oilers management, they historically haven't done a very good job managing the PR aspect of these issues (and others).
I think it's best if the fanbase does not fall into the paradigm of thinking Hall's contract represents a 'team salary cap' and prepares themselves for Yakupov signing for noticeably more. Because unless he, in your words, craps the bed, I can't see him signing for less.
Interesting. I still don't see how you figure he matches halls numbers then expects to use his contract as a minimum starting point. Doesn't really pass the smell test. 
.....I think I pointed out how you are dead wrong in the first part of my previous post but you seemed to have glossed right over it in an effort to continue with your narrative. In any event I neither have the time nor the interest to continue this discourse. 
