Comments on: New Oilers coach thinks Yakupov will be part of 2012-13 squad http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/new-oilers-coach-thinks-yakupov-will-be-part-of-2012-13-squad/ ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports.com Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:32:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: atwatercrushesokoye http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/new-oilers-coach-thinks-yakupov-will-be-part-of-2012-13-squad/comment-page-1/#comment-89296 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 20:58:15 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=821467#comment-89296 Oh yeah I forgot about the new coach…push everything in my timeline back 1 year while they realize that hiring Tom Renney’s top assistant wasn’t the way to go to get away from the Renney style.

]]> By: ray2013 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/new-oilers-coach-thinks-yakupov-will-be-part-of-2012-13-squad/comment-page-1/#comment-89159 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:48:49 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=821467#comment-89159 We can talk all we want about potential and upside, but drafting is imperfect. Look at Nikita Filatov as a prime example. Drafted first overall in the CHL Import Draft. In his draft year, he was ranked the #1 European skater. Red Line Report called him “the next best thing to Steven Stamkos.” Drafted sixth overall. And now he’s in almost everyone’s list as a giant draft bust.

At some point, Oilers management are going to have to stop talking about the potential of this team, and start talking about what they actually have. Outside of their Big Three (Nuge, Hall & Eberle), they have more questions then answers. There’s no point in getting too excited about their potential as a team. We need to see that Schultz and Klefbom are actually elite defencemen. How will Dubnyk handle being a starter? What are they going to do with their bottom six? Heck, their coach is a rookie head coach, so we’ll need to see how he does.

IMO, they have the biggest variance of any team in the NHL. Things go well on multiple fronts, and they are in the playoffs. Things go bad, or injuries pile up, and they’re getting another top pick (though probably not #1).

]]> By: atwatercrushesokoye http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/new-oilers-coach-thinks-yakupov-will-be-part-of-2012-13-squad/comment-page-1/#comment-89155 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 05:53:21 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=821467#comment-89155 You obviously haven’t seen their defensive core or goaltending. All kidding aside if Klefbom, Schultz and Dubnyk develop quickly in this upcoming season the Oilers will really have something going, but right now those three are bigger for the forward progression of this franchise than anyone. If those three come along fast this year they’ll challenge for the playoffs this year, the division next year and the Stanley Cup the year after IMO…and I hate to admit that as a Flames fan!

]]> By: creasemasta41 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/new-oilers-coach-thinks-yakupov-will-be-part-of-2012-13-squad/comment-page-1/#comment-89152 Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:08:15 +0000 http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/?p=821467#comment-89152 A top line comprised entirely of first overall picks… that alone should put edmonton on the map for a stanley cup in the next 5-7 years

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