It's safe to say on this contract, Steve Tambellini nailed it.

The Yak is back in Edmonton.

This contract will enable the Oilers' newest superstar to live quite comfortably above the Yakupoverty line.

Re: "In other news, the new phone books are here, the new phone books are here . . ."

Things are going to start happening to me now. . .

In Tatarstan Russia, contracts sign YOU.

If you average out the last two seasons for both players there is only a 4.5% difference in points. He also already has some playoff experience. Given the wingers this team now has it likely that he will put up points similar if not more than Gags did last season and may be more consistant doing so which hasn't been Gagner's MO. I believe its also imporant to have penalty killers in your top six so that your top lines don't sit on the bench too long during those bad penalty games. His physical attributes also give him an advantage in the corners, fighting off checks and winning faceoffs. And to top it off, having another Russian playing with Yakupov should help him adapt.

I see it as an upgrade to the team but not from an offensive stand point.

Until they trade Hemsky.

Now that Yakupov has been signed the team should probably trade him as soon as possible for the first prairie boy over 6'3 available.

Yak's on track!

I'm so FISTing happy they got his entry deal done. No more people thinking he is going to book it for Mother Russia

Edit: im slow today

I never understood why some people were certain they Oilers wanted the new CBA before they signed him. Some people just don't like Russians I guess, which makes no sense to me. He talked about playing in the NHL in almost every interview there is no way he wasn't going to play/sign here.

Thank goodness. I was wondering when I was going to get my phonebook. really was starting to worry that they wouldn't come this year. My old phone book barely lasted the season last year. Everytime the Oilers did something stupid I took my frustration out on the Yellow Pages by ripping out pages and shredding them by hand. Hopefully this years has more pages.

Yak signs. well that took long enough. Well/ Done is done.

Nash and Ryan?

CBA? Is realignment on the table also do you know? It would make sense to negotiate that now too. Dosen't it?

Robin,

The Streit and Kjarlmarsson (sp?) rumours have come and gone with no tangible results. Any thoughts on who is in play and the Oilers should make a move for?

If they do not add another quality defenceman, Brownlee, I think you need to do those of us fans frustrated that the rebuild was entrusted to those that caused the collapse in the first place and positively tear the management a new one. I would be willing to be patient if this was not a group that thought that players like Narker and Khabibulin were going to be helpful.

@ Robin Brownlee

I will asssume by that cryptic response, that an article is forthcoming. I won't be losing sleep at night worrying that you will be unable to put that together prior to Dithers actually getting a deal done.

Article on the way on that subject, then?

Kind of sounds like Tambo is waiting to see what pieces start to move and/or fall. Maybe he is looking for some other options to open up that would be a better fit for the team. I don't really think its a rush right now because nothing is happening on any front so he can just sit back and wait for the right situation to jump.

there's been some speculation that the Oil was waiting to maximize PR with some kind of event...

any idea on whether we will see Yak in Edmonton soon for some kind of press conference about the "future" or something?

I'm unsure why any team would make any significant move without the new CBA in place.

Signing Yak doesn't count as a serious move. Just boilerplate.

Trading is something else though, and it seems like the league's GMs are in agreement.

i think the CBA is responsible for the holdup moreso than Doan, Weber et al. potential missed season and all that. like if you're missing a season, why trade for D before you see how Klefbom develops in the SEL or AHL? PRV likewise.

That was my fault. Keyboard had some premature deployment issues, as it were. (Insert pre-emptive "that's what she said" comment). I tried to fix via editing and attaching my question but was not quick enough.

At any rate, thanks for answering my question. I guess I just don't know who is out there that can be had for a reasonable trade that is a legitimate top four. Unless Tambo wants to take a bad contract.

I never understood the rhetoric that the team was waiting on the CBA either. After all, Yakupov was drafted within the confines of this CBA and therefore would be subject to the conditions laid out in it

How does that follow?

And Hjarmalsson? Lots of stuff flying around however all is quiet.

Yak signed 6 das before Stamkos in his draft year...a little added drama perhaps.

Seems Vishnovsky doesn't want to go to the Islanders...would the Oilers take another shot at him? If healthy?

He asked for a trade the last time he was here (albeit quietly and respectfully.) Can't see a guy at his stage in his career that might be able to call his shot wanting to come back to a team he didn't want to play for in the first place. Nice player, good guy, but I can't see it.

What would the Oilers have to surrender to grab Thomas and Hamilton from the Bruins?

Oilers first next summer?

Vishnovsky asked for a trade out of here? I was unaware of this

RB

"the new phone book is here"

you didn't happen to watch some banjo playin intellectual last night did you? how was it?

Thanks Tambo for putting the final top six signing in place, albeit it was an easy entry level contract.

Wow, I see Hall RNH and Hemsky being the starting #1 line in October with Gags and Eberle playing with Yakupov at #1A.

I thought about that Yakupov (aka....the Bullet - IMO) would be with RNH and Hemsky at first but with those two passing alot more than shooting (especially Hemsky) I see it being better with putting Yakupov with Gagner and Eberle.

Now we do need to replace Khabby but he will be here as a russian mentoring a new young russian star come opening season. I would love to have Bernier brought in with a trade but can live with Danis being called up this year.

Dont think Lombardi wants to trade with the Oil for awhile...lol..

As for a top D, if the deal is right and makes total sense before the season starts then do it, but there is no rush now to force any trade deal. Why not give the new kid Schultz a good shot first, and/or try to get Klefbom, or how about Fedun too (outstanding til injured last year BTW)?

However, I see that Hordy, Eager, Sutton, and for sure, Peckham, Teubert, or even Byers (call up), etc, better bring up their boxing and fighting skills cause this young, hot skill top 6 foward team is going to need enforcement help.

We dont ever need to watch and see a Torres type hit like on Eberle before (and like with Hossa)without giving back a beating.

IIRC, he mentioned something about wanting to be closer to his family in california and not seeing eye to eye with the coaching staff.

@striatic

Seems like you have your finger on the pulse. It makes perfect sense to wait on a new CBA before making a major move. The season could be shortened or lost giving the D prospects more time to mature. Also, the season could be lost resulting in some teams folding and a big dispersal draft. OK, I know this is not 1975 but NHL players for free is an attractive scenario.

Nash in the process of being traded to the Rangers....

PRIORITIES AND BEING PRO-ACTIVE . Was Yakupov not a priority signing before he went on a holiday ? Why be so patient when it rubs off on players , team , etc.. Is it any wonder team,etc. follows this patient lackadaisical fuzzy process onto ice ? I'm not impressed by taking it as just a formallity signing ,and therefore expediancy was not done .

Dubinsky, Erixson, Anisimov and a 1st rounder seems high for Nash...if he falls asleep in the big Apple.

Hmm, Erixon. Might the Jackets part with Murray now if Erixon's more NHL ready?

What a whole lotta nothin special for the Bluejackets.

Now that Ho0wson has traded Nash to the Rangers for Dubinsky, Erixon, Anisimov, do the Oil now look at trading for Anisimov as a big second line centre?

I like Gagner but this kid is bigger, maybe faster and more versatile and he does make points comaprable to Gagner.

Wonder how in love the Jackets are with Anisimov. 6'4" 200lb center, might be a good fit with Yakupov.

Wow, how does Howson make such a weak trade. If he was asking for the likes of Skinner from Carolina or Coture from SJS, how does he make this trade?

Does this spell the end of Howson in CB?

Belanger, Omark, Potter and a 2014 1st rounder to CLB for Anisimov and Tyutin

Not that Nash isn't over-rated but what was Howson thinking? No wonder he was fired here. A bunch of flotsam with a little jetsam thrown in. Luckily nobody in Ohio cares about 'ice hockey'.

@QSB: I think Erixson is the player out of this trade....following Corey Pronman's tweets

(@coreypronman)

"Erixon is the kind of player the advanced stats guy will like. Will take a ton of defensive zone starts and play versus top forwards"

@ Quicksilver

Not sure Anisimov is the guy we want mentoring the pup. Yakupov seems to have the "over-the-top gratuitous goal celebration" component of his game handled. Otherwise not sure what Anisimov is particularly good at.

I honestly think that is fair value for Nash. People keep overrating him even though he has never done anything all that special in the NHL. And people can say all they want that he was on a crap team but the reality of being a superstar is you are supposed to bring that team to the next level not the other way around.

You serious? No one wants our junk for quality players. It would be nice to ban these tools from posting such silly trade requests.

Well he manages to win the same if not more faceoffs than gagner and he plays both PP and PK. I'd say he is a big two way center(avg 1:00 PK/G) and can put up similar numbers to gagner.

CLB doesn't get any star power in return, but they get 3 players they can insert immediately into the lineup, all on decent contracts that they'll control for 3-6 years. Oh, and a draft pick!

It's not a bad deal for a team who are re-building. Essentially they can line Brassard, Anisimov, and Johansson down the middle. My guess is that they trade one of their excess Dmen, probably Tyutin or Nikitin, for a winger, meaning their top-9 wings will include:

Umberger, Dubinski, Foligno, Prospal, Dorsett, and X. No all-stars, but a good amount of depth to build a new core on.

X could be Paajarvi.

Or Hemsky.

Last year CLB went into the season essentially as a 1-line team. This year they have far greater depth despite lacking in star power. I think this trade makes them better both short and long-term ...

... however still miles from a playoff team.