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OPPORTUNITY MISSED
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Lowetide
Aug 31, 2016, 20:47 EDTUpdated:
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Bogdan Yakimov has poor timing. The Edmonton Oilers will enter training camp with Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl away at the World Cup of Hockey. If Yakimov hadn’t made the decision to play in the KHL this season, there would have been an enormous opportunity to show well early (and mid) at this year’s training camp.
Yakimov would probably rank as No. 7 center on the roster entering camp:
  1. Connor McDavid
  2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
  3. Leon Draisaitl
  4. Mark Letestu
  5. Anton Lander
  6. Jujhar Khaira
  7. Bogdan Yakimov
Matt Hendricks can also play center and would have to be considered part of the mix. If Yakimov were coming to camp, the Oilers might not be in the market for a PTO center, as Jim Matheson describes in his article this afternoon.

BOGDAN IN THE AHL

As an AHL rookie in 2014-15, Yakimov played pretty well. He didn’t post big boxcars, but did deliver some reasonable even-strength numbers:
  • Evens: 57GP, 9-14-23
  • Power Play: 57GP, 3-2-5
  • Overall: 57GP, 12-16-28
His overall performance in year one in the the AHL (.491 points-per-game) was basically duplicated in year two (.417 points-per-game)—plus he skipped over
to the KHL. That, added to his decision to stay in the KHL this season, may mean his Oiler career is over before it starts. It is very difficult to see him returning to the Oilers, and we do have a couple of examples of recent history involving the team.
In June of 2013, Teemu Hartikainen signed a two-year deal in the KHL (no doubt for more money). During the period leading up to the signing, Edmonton management did not sound encouraging about him:
  • Ralph Krueger: “He’s trying to figure out what a
    gritty, strong power forward does and what’s connected to that. What’s
    important for him is to continue to manage the puck in all three zones.”
  • Craig MacTavish: “In today’s NHL, even marginally, you have to be a threat to score”
Hartikainen was eventually traded to Toronto, but for all intents and purposes the young Finn was gone by June of 2013.
It was a little different with Toni Rajala—another Finn.
The story (as I recall) involved the young man wanting to cast about looking for playing opportunities in Europe. Rajala had posted a fantastic AHL season (almost a point-per-game in the lockout year) and would find work in the Swedish League, where he remains a productive winger.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

The Oilers may bring Yakimov back next season, but I can’t help but think this is an opportunity missed for the young man. A strong showing with all of the big boys at the World Cup of Hockey might have allowed the Russian to showcase his talent. As it is, that opportunity is probably going to fall to an NHL PTO, Jujhar Khaira and or Drake Caggiula.
(Photo by Mark Williams)
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