On the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks and Nail Yakupov …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Jounal: The Oilers and Blackhawks are talking about Nail Yakupov, but money is an issue given the Blackhawks cap situations. The Blackhawks are around $71 million and you can bet they are asking the Oilers to retain a large portion of Yakupov’s $2.5 million salary.
The Oilers almost dealt Yakupov to the Devils for defenseman Eric Gelinas last year, but the Devils moved Gelinas to the Avalanche for a third round pick instead.
The Oilers could use a right-handed defenseman. Would the Blackhawks trade Ville Pokka? The Oilers might not be interested in forward Mark McNeill. The Blackhawks might try to move Kyle Baun.
Chris Nichols: Pierre LeBrun yesterday on a potential Yakupov trade: “I was told today that nothing was imminent.” We all know that can change, but nothing imminent at this point.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie yesterday afternoon on TSN 1040 on the rumors of a Nail Yakupov possible trade to the Chicago Blackhawks. From the intel gathered, nothing is imminent from the Blackhawks
“But what I did find out was that there has been interest on the part of the Hawks in Nail Yakupov, and there were trade conversations between general manager Stan Bowman and general manager Peter Chiarelli awhile ago. That there hasn’t been anything recently as in the last number of days. That’s not to say something couldn’t get revived, but in specific response to a very specific report that this trade was happening, I don’t believe that to be the case.”
McKenzie adds that he thinks the Blackhawks want to see how their young players make out first. They do have interest in Yakupov, but the Blackhawks would need the Oilers to retain a big portion of his salary.
“So there might be a spot for Yakupov there under the right set of circumstances, but I think the Hawks first want to see how Hinostroza, Hartman, Schmaltz and Motte work out first.”
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 this morning on the Oilers and Yakupov situation.
“Edmonton has also been talking to a bunch of other teams about Yakupov,” he noted. “And I don’t know that any of them are that far down the road. But I do know this – If they can get Yakupov moved before the regular season, they’re going to do it.
“… I think the milk’s sour there. What I simply mean by that is I think Yakupov and Todd McLellan, and the Oilers and Yakupov have been through enough back and forth on both sides of the fence where neither one feels that great about the other party. And that they might be able to co-exist for some time, but I think the Oilers are in ‘move on mode,’ and I think Yakupov is in ‘I want to be moved on mode.’ And when that happens, it’s awfully difficult not to conclude a deal – even though Peter Chiarelli is on record as saying, ‘Hey listen. I’m not giving away a guy for nothing. This is not a charity case where we’re just going to ship him out the door for a bag of pucks.’