Dallas Eakins knows what’s being said about Nail Yakupov and that’s why he’s decided to say something to the second-year winger.
At practice on Wednesday in Tampa Bay, the coach spent a few minutes chatting with the player on the ice.
Afterwards, Eakins spoke with the media and cleared up the topic of conversation with the second-year Oiler.
“All these reports of him being traded are 100% untrue. He is not being shopped,” said Eakins.
Not a lot of grey area in that statement by the coach.
Eakins instead made a statement about where this team is at with Yakupov.
The rumours of Edmonton even considering trading the 2012 first-overall pick have been running rampant. The biggest reason has been his slow start.
The 20-year-old has one goal and two assists for three points. He’s been a healthy scratch on two occasions and sits at minus-13 on the season.
“I can see that ‘Yak’ is trying defensively,” said Eakins. “He’s working at it and getting himself into the right position.”
The genesis of all this can be tracked back to Oilers’ coach Craig MacTavish’s first day on the job. MacTavish stated when he was hired last April that he needed to make bold moves and he would consider trading one of the young, talented Oilers if he wanted or needed to.
Fast forward to this season and Edmonton defeated Florida last night to win their fourth game in 16.
It’s been a rocky start to the season. With it brings renewed talk that the Oilers have to do something ‘bold’ to get the season back on track. That means going back to the possibility of trading one of the Oilers top guns.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is tied for the team lead in points with 12, and he’s only one point up on Jordan Eberle’s 11. Taylor Hall has been hurt and missed seven games but still has eight points.
That leaves the slow-starting Yakupov taking the brunt of trade rumours even though he’s only 62 games into his NHL career.
“We are going to work with Nail,” said Eakins. "We’re not going to give up on him. It’s up to us to help him out.”
The chat Eakins had with Yakupov should be a big help in getting last season’s 17-goal and 31-point man out of a sophomore jinx. In this case, words speak louder than actions on the part of the Oilers coach.
The conversation pointedly hammered home the fact that Yakupov isn’t going anywhere.
