1. Did the Edmonton Oilers make a large investment into the potential of Nail Yakupov?
-He was the first overall pick, so yes, I would say that is a large investment.
2. Does Nail Yakupov possess good skill?
-I don't think that's really a question. His speed and skill is obvious, maybe its his confidence, maybe its his brain, maybe its something else completely, but he has speed and skill.
3. Has Nail Yakupov shown good production?
-At times yes. When playing under a nurturing head coach like Krueger he had confidence and produced well as a rookie. He has shown other stretches, but mostly, his production hasn't been there.
4. If Nail Yakupov has skill and speed, and has shown he can produce, why doesn't he always produce?
-Like many scorer's, Yakupov is streaky. Maybe incredibly streaky. Goes to confidence. He obviously needs confidence, and he currently doesn't have it.
5. Does Yakupov need to play with other skilled players in order to produce?
-Absolutely. Can't produce on his own, but he has shown the ability to produce when put with like-minded offensive players.
6. Does Yakupov show effort on the ice?
-Certainly appears to. He tries hard, or at least appears to, but maybe lacks the knowledge of the defensive game to show results.
7. Has Yakupov been disciplined/ridiculed for his defensive play in public?
-Yes.
8. Is Yakupov the only forward on the team who is a defensive liability?
-No.
9. Are the other forwards who are defensive liabilities given less opportunity, lesser linemates, or disciplined/ridiculed for their defensive play?
-Doesn't appear so.
10. If the Oilers made a huge investment into Yakupov by drafting him first overall, and he has shown that he can produce when he has confidence, and in order for him to have confidence he needs to produce, and in order for him to produce he needs to play with like-minded offensive players, why is he being treated differently than the other players on the team?
This really isn't an Eberle vs. Yakupov debate. It's an Edmonton Oilers coaching/management group vs. Yakupov debate. I get that he probably isn't long for this team, but this team was a gong show last year, why wasn't he given every opportunity to prove his worth, if for nothing else his trade value. 10 points in 11 games with McDavid and Pouliot early in the year. Why not do the same thing down the stretch and build him up? That would have been better asset management.
I badly want the Oilers to trade Yakupov, but because of how poorly they have handled this entire situation, as a person and a player, he has zero value. They need to keep him, and hope that he/they can build up his value now, in a season that isn't yet lost...