LeBrun addresses Yakupov's future in Edmonton
/Pierre LeBrun was on TSN 690 Thursday evening.
On Nail Yakupov:
“I mean listen - at the end of the day, you certainly think that at some point he’ll be a trade chip – whether it’s this year or next year or whatever.
“The one thing I’ll say that I feel for him is that at the end of the day, he’s always stuck behind those big three young guys. He doesn’t get the chance to be a first liner really and I think that’s really the position in which he would shine at some point, whether that’s in Edmonton or elsewhere. I think the problem though, if you ever do consider trading him, is that his value is not as high as it should be right now. So you’re dealing from a position of weakness, which is never a good thing. That’s the catch-22 if you’re Edmonton.
“I haven’t heard his name out there at all, so it’s too early for that, but at some point that wouldn’t surprise me if his name came up.”
Related: Friedman on Yakupov, Myers, and more
On drafting Yakupov instead of Ryan Murray:
"They still should have drafted Ryan Murray, probably. (Laughs) I think they took the wrong guy."
Also: "Not that he's taken the NHL by storm in Columbus, but I think he's going to be a very steady top 4 defender and I think clearly that's a player that would have benefited their needs in Edmonton.
"I mean, that's the double-whammy. You drafted a guy that you really don't need. You're just adding on a pile of top-six talent that you already had enough of and you have nothing on defence and somehow that's the decision that's made that day. I remember being at that draft and my jaw dropped to the floor. I just cannot believe they made that decision."
Also: "A) Where he would really showcase himself is on a top line there and that's just not going to happen with the guys ahead of him. B) He walks into a situation where it's all about losing and frustration and eight years about nothing, and that's hard for a kid to walk into. So you combine those elements and... I would say C) Most of the fan base probably wish they had drafted Murray. So they're not even giving this kid the benefit of the doubt. So three major factors there that make it difficult in terms of the optics for that player in Edmonton."
Source: TSN 690/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey