Drivesaitl
Finding Hyman
Yakupov is doing well offensively because he is getting PP time and is on a line with a 1C (Duchene). Yakupov also produced fairly well when paired with McDavid briefly in the 2015-2016 season. I think it simply comes down to opportunity with this guy. If paired with a talented player he can put up decent points (although i need to see more than just a sample size to confirm) but don't entrust him to tow a line.
Precisely this. But in most instances, in most sports, a #1 pick offensive player would be granted a regular diet of offensive opportunity. Particularly the way drafts are staggered so that the poorer clubs get the #1 pick, and thus, supposedly, the opportunity for the player to have primo minutes on a struggling club. That's the way its supposed to pan out for young stars. At no point here was Yak given a go to assignment on topline. He was barely getting 2nd line.
The Blues did worse. Healthy scratched the player more than half the season, gave him limited bottomsix minutes when they even did let him put on the Sweater.
Yak will succeed provided a club KEEPS him in topsix rotation and lives with the mistakes. When Yak is going there are more positives in his input. Its all confidence, and feeling it with this player. Keep that warmed up and you got a player.