Possible Yakupov - Hemsky pairing could be just what #83 needs
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Wheatking
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- Sep 25, 2006
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It's not like Hemsky has had an endless supply of snipers that have failed. It's really been Sykora and no one else....and that was a great pairing for half a season. Sykora was getting older and his play dropped off.
Hemsky has never played with a guy like Yakupov.
McDreamy
Losing credibility
- Feb 25, 2009
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Yeah, he's sure had his chance with offensive studs. A washed up Sykora, Horcoff, Penner, Smyth...
I can see it now. Hemsky enters the zone, Yakupov gets open in the slot for his one-timer, Hemsky circles around the net back to the point, meanwhile Yak has been covered by two players, Hemsky tries to force a pass cross ice through 3 players, it gets picked off for a 3 on 2 rush against.
I hope I'm wrong but I just dont see Hemsky as an Oates, Backstrom, RNH type of playmaker. I could see them having some chemistry on the PP where there is more space to work.
I hope I'm wrong but I just dont see Hemsky as an Oates, Backstrom, RNH type of playmaker. I could see them having some chemistry on the PP where there is more space to work.
Wheatking
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- Sep 25, 2006
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Good thing he doesn't have to be...
Last season was the first time since before the last lock our that Hemsky hasn't produced at a 50 assists pace. When healthy he's a top 20 playmaker in the league. Maybe even better than that.
sepHF
Patreeky
- Feb 12, 2010
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I'd say 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 was the best hockey he's ever played in his whole career. It's a shame he had to get injured because he was playing great.
Gret99zky
Worst Thread Ever
Njoy Oilers
Registered User
He tends to hang on to the puck too long, and the play dies. More & quicker passing heading into the offensive zone would be a nice change.
DisgruntledGoat*
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- Dec 26, 2010
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Yeah, he held on to the puck too long when his best passing options were shoot-it-wide Shawn and an uninterested Dustin Penner.
I'm excited to see what he can do paired with a guy like Yakupov. He's never had a weapon like that with him. Never. I don't think we'll see as many circle-the-zone-10-times-and-lose-the-puck plays now that there's another guy on the ice with him who actually knows where the net is.
I'm excited to see what he can do paired with a guy like Yakupov. He's never had a weapon like that with him. Never. I don't think we'll see as many circle-the-zone-10-times-and-lose-the-puck plays now that there's another guy on the ice with him who actually knows where the net is.
I agree with this assesment.Hemsky is a zone entry machine,but the problem is that he takes it in to far which he must to be consistantly effective,there are a few plays which are gamebreakers Hemmer could work on with a guy like Yakupov but we want Yakupov to be bringing the puck into the sweet spots in the offensive zone and making his moves early,we dont want him to become a static target for Hemmers passes.Hemsky belongs with Smyth who works the front of the net and thats why Hemmer uses that around the house move so much actually,so thats where they need to keep him,on the 3rd line with Smyth.No two ways about it Hemsky has to convert at least 1/3 of his o-zone entrys into immediate shots or drives to the net on his own,he CANNOT play god with the puck anymore on any line we put him on,the further he got from the 1st line the more important it became for him to shoot the puck.
Yakupov is very smart ,he will work well with MPS and Gagner on the 2nd line,I think they will find immediate chemistry.Gagner understands he needs to play off of Yakupovs shooting with terminal shooting of his own,one of those two will be going terminal on every zone entry--MPS has enough speed to keep up and enough size to threaten the far wing enough to open up the middle for the snipers,I watched Magnus anchor the 2nd line in OKC by becoming a bigger threat entering the zone and by working sucessfully on controlling the d-man and retaining possesion below the halfwall and making excellent reads and setups.Add his natural defensive awareness with speed to get back and its a nice fit.I think this line would give the Oilers enough secondary scoring to solidly make the playoffs and go deep.Not many teams will be able to shut down this type of high octane offense on the 2nd line.With two creative offensive minded players who can snipe working off of a big fast defensive minded body who has learned to work the side-wall like Magnus has we have a recipie for sucess.It will be important to limit penaltys this year and if our 2nd line can keep the offensive pressure up and not be forced to play defensively we will see less penaltys especially with a winger like MPS.
Hemmer will never maximise his style of play here again because he wont crack the top six with his patented move as it is an ultra sucessful specialised move with limited options unless you are a sniper first and use the zone entry as such as a priority,Hemmer is NOT shoot first--cant be-- so he needs a net presence to capitalise on his possesions,and at this point I really dont see him becoming a shooter no matter what happens to be honest,so he forces us to play him with Smyth or Hartikainen.Omarks spin moves just inside the blueline were as consistantly effective as hemmers zone entrys and at least Omark was always thinking and projecting shot first.NHL wide Omark can beat guys with that specific move--no one ever solved him they just took penaltys,we could definately still use him the little powerplay generator--imagine how many times he would be setting up our PP guys per game.
The Oil need to be a shoot and re-shoot type of team,taking every single good shot opportunity,not waiting for high percentage ones,just taking everything they get near and working on the up-speed man corraling the rebounds for the 2nd shot.We have so many sets of sticky hands now that our offensive transitions should always be crisp,snappy and at high speed and we should be converting zone entrys into first and second shots at a very high rate.Not exactly Hemskys forte.
Lets not forget that Hemmers keeps possesion for a long time and his passes also usually come back out to the front AFTER d-men are recovered and can often be suicide passes that get players laid out--he doesnt create his offense off of the rush he trys to create it after the rush.
AK Dandyman
Registered User
- Sep 12, 2008
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Tough to predict offensive chemistry. Hemsky the playmaker and Yak the sniper sounds like a potential match on paper.
As a few of us have already metioned above, Hemsky is difficult to play with because he hangs on to the puck lots and too long sometimes. May be Yak will benefit from not having to do the heavy lifting on carrying the puck and just look for shooting chance if he can time Hemsky's moves/passes.
One thing I would guess tho, is whoever going to be their center, he better be incredibly hard working, great defensively, strong physically and gritty. That line is going to have a lot of defensive problems.
As a few of us have already metioned above, Hemsky is difficult to play with because he hangs on to the puck lots and too long sometimes. May be Yak will benefit from not having to do the heavy lifting on carrying the puck and just look for shooting chance if he can time Hemsky's moves/passes.
One thing I would guess tho, is whoever going to be their center, he better be incredibly hard working, great defensively, strong physically and gritty. That line is going to have a lot of defensive problems.
sepHF
Patreeky
- Feb 12, 2010
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The Nuge
Some say…
I don't know why you think that. Neither are soft, and Hemsky is a good 2 way guy. Put Gags out with them, and let Smyth-Horcoff-Jones do the heavy lifting
Both Hemsky and Gagner commit far too many offensive zone turnovers to be paired together with a rookie.
Honestly I'd rather see Smyth - Gagner - Yakupov as our 2nd line to start the season.
The Nuge
Some say…
The Nuge
Some say…
Wrote Yak/Hemmer backwards, but why not Smyth at C? If you're worried about defense, Smyth is one of our top faceoff guys, and has played center for the special teams before
Both are RW
big difference between taking the odd draw on the PP and palying center 5 on 5
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The Nuge
Some say…
He also does on the PK. I know its different, but with how much people whine about Gags, do you really not think Smyth could step in?
Aerchon
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- Jul 20, 2011
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Ive always thought Hemsky needed a true shooter to reach the next level.
I thought he was getting some good chemistry with Hall last year but nothing as good as I had hoped.
Yak is a bit more of a shooter than Hall I think so Hemsky should will be even better with him.
Looking forward to it.
I thought he was getting some good chemistry with Hall last year but nothing as good as I had hoped.
Yak is a bit more of a shooter than Hall I think so Hemsky should will be even better with him.
Looking forward to it.
AK Dandyman
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- Sep 12, 2008
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I don't think Hemsky or Yak are soft in offensive zone. They are just not big enough to move opponents out of way or winning board battles.
Yak is naturally going to have lots of defensive trouble being a rookie in the NHL. Hemsky gets by as he got okay defensive awareness of where to go in the d zone, but he's not going to win the puck in most duels in the d zone. That becomes a weak defensive combination for a 2nd line. And 2nd line is out there a lot in a game. Every opposing team will target to put their top line against it.
They're most likely going to have either Horcoff & Gagner as their center. And I can see those lines like Sedins, Datsyuk/Zetterberg, Getzlaf/perry, Thornton/Marleau, Koivu/Parise all gonna be licking their chops to play against Hemsky/Yakupov line.
