Comrade Blunderbore
Генерал Файлюра
i don't have time for proof reading, so please take it as is, i apologize in advance for bad English and spelling errors.
Nail Yakupov was last to leave the ice after the morning skate. Players who got scratched for the upcoming game usually tend to stay longer, but the coaches kept russian forward going till exhaustion. Sam Gagner who is still nursing his broken jaw left 15 minutes earlier, shaking his head upon the fierce drills Yakupov was being given. Nail was looking gassed but rather calm after the skate.
Can you comment on the coach's decision to scratch you second time in a row?
It's the first time in my life that i've been scratched, but if the coach says that's the way to go, so be it.
I dunno. He told that I have to be easier, asked me to use my linemates better. I though always liked to go for something head-turning after a long stint on the bench. I love to be creative. Dumping and chasing, not so much.
Well, you are a player of Soviet/Russian hockey pedigree, it's not quite your game.
Yep, i'm a different style. At times you try to take on three on your own, sometimes you go through, then you don't. That's when you have to try dumping it in, i gather. In a word, I try doing what I can, it's just that I fail at times. See, i'm taking extra time after the skate.
Vladimir Krikunov, the Neftekhimik coach, commented on your case...
*giggles*
...I see you already know about it. He said that after a talk with your father he had an impression that you might go back to Nizhnekamsk.
Actually I was pretty amazed to find out about it. Scratch it, i was outright shocked. Firsh thought was "May it be Dad scheming something?" But then i realized that it couldn't be the case. I know my father well, he'd never do such thing behind the scenes. I was never involved in any talks, I have no idea where it all came from.
Rail Yakupov made it clear that his son has no plans to leave the NHL for KHL.
Russian U18 NT head coach and Olympic scout Ugor Kravchuk tweeted that Nail hasn't been playing up to hopes so far, according to Oilers GM Craig MacTavish. Have you heard about it?
People may tweet whatever floats their boat. It's funny to read such things. Nail is alright. Wel, he hasn't scored so far, coashes decided to sit him vs. Toronto to get a grasp of other players. Maybe he'll play next time. It's all OK, teams do this all the time, especially where things are going south. My son is in good mood, he isn't having any tensions with anybody. I watched two Oilers' games, he was playing okay, rang the pipes couple times. I think he'll get going once he scores a goal.
What about Nail's possible return to Neftekhimik, is there any ground for that?
I have no idea what may be the source of such gossip. I know one thing for a fact: Nail has a two-way deal with the Edmonton Oilers, he may be sent down at any point, and that is perfectly ok, it's how the things are done in the NHL. We never considered a return, we were getting ready for his sophomore season, keeping in mind that it may be much tougher than the rookie one. I'm sure that we are going to have a long and fruitful time together with the Oilers. There are two more years on his deal. I keep saying: everything's gonna be alright, don't trust the nonsense coming from the Internet. Remember that Nail was getting limited icetime at the start of previous season as well, but he improved over time, up to 20 minutes per night. He'is adamant in his determination to get better.
Nail Yakupov was last to leave the ice after the morning skate. Players who got scratched for the upcoming game usually tend to stay longer, but the coaches kept russian forward going till exhaustion. Sam Gagner who is still nursing his broken jaw left 15 minutes earlier, shaking his head upon the fierce drills Yakupov was being given. Nail was looking gassed but rather calm after the skate.
Can you comment on the coach's decision to scratch you second time in a row?
It's the first time in my life that i've been scratched, but if the coach says that's the way to go, so be it.
I dunno. He told that I have to be easier, asked me to use my linemates better. I though always liked to go for something head-turning after a long stint on the bench. I love to be creative. Dumping and chasing, not so much.
Well, you are a player of Soviet/Russian hockey pedigree, it's not quite your game.
Yep, i'm a different style. At times you try to take on three on your own, sometimes you go through, then you don't. That's when you have to try dumping it in, i gather. In a word, I try doing what I can, it's just that I fail at times. See, i'm taking extra time after the skate.
Vladimir Krikunov, the Neftekhimik coach, commented on your case...
*giggles*
...I see you already know about it. He said that after a talk with your father he had an impression that you might go back to Nizhnekamsk.
Actually I was pretty amazed to find out about it. Scratch it, i was outright shocked. Firsh thought was "May it be Dad scheming something?" But then i realized that it couldn't be the case. I know my father well, he'd never do such thing behind the scenes. I was never involved in any talks, I have no idea where it all came from.
Rail Yakupov made it clear that his son has no plans to leave the NHL for KHL.
Russian U18 NT head coach and Olympic scout Ugor Kravchuk tweeted that Nail hasn't been playing up to hopes so far, according to Oilers GM Craig MacTavish. Have you heard about it?
People may tweet whatever floats their boat. It's funny to read such things. Nail is alright. Wel, he hasn't scored so far, coashes decided to sit him vs. Toronto to get a grasp of other players. Maybe he'll play next time. It's all OK, teams do this all the time, especially where things are going south. My son is in good mood, he isn't having any tensions with anybody. I watched two Oilers' games, he was playing okay, rang the pipes couple times. I think he'll get going once he scores a goal.
What about Nail's possible return to Neftekhimik, is there any ground for that?
I have no idea what may be the source of such gossip. I know one thing for a fact: Nail has a two-way deal with the Edmonton Oilers, he may be sent down at any point, and that is perfectly ok, it's how the things are done in the NHL. We never considered a return, we were getting ready for his sophomore season, keeping in mind that it may be much tougher than the rookie one. I'm sure that we are going to have a long and fruitful time together with the Oilers. There are two more years on his deal. I keep saying: everything's gonna be alright, don't trust the nonsense coming from the Internet. Remember that Nail was getting limited icetime at the start of previous season as well, but he improved over time, up to 20 minutes per night. He'is adamant in his determination to get better.
