Let's see how long it takes Yakupov to walk in a straight line again before we consider him the next Yzerman. That said, from what I've heard from people I respect a ton (Dean Youngblood), Yakupov can deliver the goods. But the NHL is a different beast so we just never know. I think some of Yakupov's potential success will be based on where he ends up. If it's Columbus, I seriously have my doubts.

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6-GM, Wk-H2H, Keep 40
START = 13F, 6D, 2G
F Pts = G (2), A (1), PP/SH (+1), GW (+2)
D Pts = G (3), A (2), PP/SH (+1), GW (+2)
G Pts = W (3), OTL (1), SO (+2), SV (.10)

F: Backstrom, Kopitar, Perry, P.Kane, Spezza, E.Staal, Nash, Vanek, Couture, B.Ryan, Eberle, J.Staal, D.Brown, Lucic, N.Horton, Backes, Tarasenko, van Riemsdyk, T.Ennis, B.Gallagher, Armia, Teravainen
D: Karlsson, P.Subban, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Doughty, Yandle, Chara, Kronwall, J.Johnson, Myers, J.Faulk, E.Johnson, A.Larsson, J.Morrow, S.Elliott, M.Rielly, Ceci
G: Price, Rask, M.Smith, Hiller

Some Ruffles and a blow-up doll would be nice. Thanks in advance!

If he goes to Columbus he will play on the top line with Nash. From what I've heard people say about Yakupov it sounds like he isn't just a scorer but he can also playmake. Maybe he will be the playmaker that Nash always needed to be great. There is, of course, no way of knowing this until he gets to that point though. My gut says that Nash and Yakupov would have good chemistry.

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H2H Each Cat - Yahoo - 14 teams - Cap Hit
Start: 2C 2LW 2RW 4D 2U 2G 7B
Cats: G A +- PIM SOG PPG PPA SHP GWG FW HIT W GAA SV SV% SO
Svalbard Armored Bears:
C: Getz, M Richards(LW), Turdis, Little
LW: Kovy(RW), Moulson, Kunitz, _
RW: Eriksson(LW), Clarkson, _, _
D: Pietrangelo, JJ, Streit, Spurgeon, Brodie, Nikitin
G: Lundqvist, Holtby, Harding
JV: Tarasenko, Bishop, Eakin, Killorn, Grigorgenko, Grimaldi, Collberg, Faksa, Lindholm, Irving

Insanity! Lidstrom is almost the definition of generational talent

So anyways... back to Yakupov

I think he'll be really good, just hope the CLS rumors of trading their pick are true (should they happen to get 1st overall).

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The Ultimate Fantasy Hockey League. (Keep 17)
3C 3LW 3RW 6D 2G 6BE.
G,A,+-,PIM,PPP,SHP,GWG,SOG,FW,HIT; GS,W,L,GAA,SA,SV, SV%,SO
(C) Bergeron, Spezza, Ribeiro, R. O'Reilly
(LW) Ovechkin(RW), Clowe(RW), Hagelin
(RW) Eberle, Stewart
(D) Subban, Pietrangelo, Green, Byfuglien(RW), Bogosian
(G) Crawford, Varlamov, Neuvirth

8 Person Farm:
(C), Couturier, Teravainen
(LW) Kreider
(RW) Etem
(D) Dumba
(G) Holtby, Ramo, Subban

Yak and Yzerman should never be used in the same breathe. Maybe Alexei Kovalev and Yak....I've only watched him play twice, but nothing about him reminds me of Yzerman....

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If you don't have enemies, you don't have character!
-Paul Newman

16-Man Yahoo

C - E. Staal, P. Stastny, T. Plekanec
LW - D. Sedin, B. Morrow, MPS
RW - J. Pavelski, M. Hossa, Selanne, C. Stewart, D. Clarkston
D - D. Phaneuf, N. Kronwell, D. Keith, T. Myers, E. Johnson, Kulikov
G - Loungo, Anderson, Howard

I don't know if him going to Columbus would really be that bad. If he is as good as everyone is saying he is then he should be good wherever he goes. If he's as good as everyone says he is he'll get prime minutes on Line 1 from day 1 and he'll get a good linemate in Nash. I guess if Nash leaves though he wouldn't get a good linemate.

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H2H Each Cat - Yahoo - 14 teams - Cap Hit
Start: 2C 2LW 2RW 4D 2U 2G 7B
Cats: G A +- PIM SOG PPG PPA SHP GWG FW HIT W GAA SV SV% SO
Svalbard Armored Bears:
C: Getz, M Richards(LW), Turdis, Little
LW: Kovy(RW), Moulson, Kunitz, _
RW: Eriksson(LW), Clarkson, _, _
D: Pietrangelo, JJ, Streit, Spurgeon, Brodie, Nikitin
G: Lundqvist, Holtby, Harding
JV: Tarasenko, Bishop, Eakin, Killorn, Grigorgenko, Grimaldi, Collberg, Faksa, Lindholm, Irving

OR, he'll get 5 minutes of ice time per game like Ryan Johansen and if he's lucky he'll wind up a 60pt player like Nash.

On my rebuilding team I have the #1 and 2 overall picks and after Columbus' track record I'll be strongly considering trading away the top pick if Yakupov is drafted by the BJs.

If the management gets an overhaul that might be the only thing that makes me consider that... But I can't say I have much interest in Yakupov in Columbus. I'd probably rather have Grigorenko if he lands in Montreal.

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14 Team Full Keeper - G, A, SO G (1), +- (.2), PIMs (.1), Shots (.05), Wins (2), SO (5)

Forwards: Crosby Neal Giroux JVR Voracek Getzlaf Ryan Hall Pacioretty E Kane Little Hodgson
Defense: Yandle Edler Carlson Bieksa Enstrom Schultz
Goalies: Luongo Rask
Bench: Stafford Hanzal Clutterbuck EJ Petry Kesler (IR) Weiss (IR) Versteeg (IR) M Staal (IR) S. Mason

Top prospects: Couturier Nyquist Coyle Kassian Faksa Saad Dumba Brodin Lack