RedLeaf said:
Chev-boyar-sky said:
I must be one of the few who doesn't think Schenn plus our 5th is anywhere near a good deal for Yakupov from the Leafs perspective.
From Edmonton's side it makes a lot of sense. They could pick Murray/Dumba to go along with Schenn and have an great core of Hall/Hopkins/Eberle/Pajaarvi/Schenn/Murray.
That is a wealth of talent up front and on the back end. Something sorely lacking in their lineup IMO. If they can get a better offer elsewhere, hats off to them (they probably can), but with the Leafs suspect D and a lack of top end picks in the last few years due to the Kessel deal, I'd be hesitant to move to #5's for a #1. If it were a Crosby type player then definitely but I haven't read anything that suggests Yakupov is near that calibre of player.
Does Yakupov really need to be a Crosby calibre player though? What if he's closer to an Ovechkin type? Does giving up Schenn and a 5th do it for you then? Sometimes GMs have to take chances to get a true superstar in their line-up. This could be the only chance Burke has to get such an impact player for the Leafs. I'd do it myself.
Woaaaahhh there... I think we need some context as to what Yakupov is. It's most likely the difference between an all star and a franchise player. Yakupov is most likely the former, not the latter. Impact player? Yes. Guy you build your franchise around? Almost no way. He's not an Ovechkin level player. I mean, maybe he can reach that level in a few years but it's not like he will hit the ground and dominate from the get go like Ovie/Malkin/
Stamkos/Crosby. This guy isn't likely even up to the level of Hall or Nugent-Hopkins.
So with that, the Oilers giving him up to walk away with the d-man they really want and some extra picks to boot isn't the worst thing that could happen to them.