Other NHL games 2013-2014 season

[profpolisci]

Ryan makes it 2-1

[Gaucho]

The Sens are probably the happier team right now.

[Gaucho]

Shots 41-18, yoikes.

[sniper]

The West is destroying the East so far. The Metro division is just awful.

[SolidSnake]

The West is destroying the East so far. The Metro division is just awful.

That's a good thing

[Beveridge]

The West is destroying the East so far. The Metro division is just awful.

Metro finishes up the weekend (Friday-Sunday) 1-11-1 combined. Impressive.

[GSdrums87]

Yakupov going to be a healthy scratch again tonight vs Washington.

[MRandall25]

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/10/14/ ... hy-scratch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"He's young and he has so much to learn about the proper way to play the game and once he grasps that, he is going to be dangerous when he steps on the ice... The kid's passion is to score and he was just going to take it all on himself to do that. I don't care how good you are, you can't produce by yourself in this league. You have to use your linemates, so it was more of a reset button for him. He can come in fresh with a new perspective."

"I'm going to play my game. I'm not going to change but maybe play better without the puck, or forecheck more, but I love playing with the puck. I really don't like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift. I don't think it's my game."

[GSdrums87]

"I'm not going to change"
"I really don't like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift"

Seriously, just go back to Russia.

[Gaucho]

"I'm going to play my game. I'm not going to change but maybe play better without the puck, or forecheck more, but I love playing with the puck. I really don't like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift. I don't think it's my game."

Wow. How did he ever manage to become the 1st overall pick with that attitude?

[SolidSnake]

Yakupov would be a good fit in Washington

[MRandall25]

"I'm going to play my game. I'm not going to change but maybe play better without the puck, or forecheck more, but I love playing with the puck. I really don't like skating all the time, and forechecking, and hitting somebody every shift. I don't think it's my game."

Wow. How did he ever manage to become the 1st overall pick with that attitude?

You don't really notice it when a guy like that is in juniors because talent alone will make you successful there. You can't really win just on talent in the NHL.

[mikey287]

He's an outspoken kid, very confident, but still a language barrier - nuance is difficult to learn in English, especially as blunt as Russians/Eastern European people tend to be. It's not his game, he's right. Russians tend to play a more calculated game and pick their spots, as oppose to playing traditional "lane hockey" up-and-down the wings hockey. That's why a lot of people think Alexander Semin can't play defense, when in fact, he can and does. Utilization of stick lifts and the modern hook check.

Yakupov is not nearly on Semin's level, of course, and he has a lot to learn. Right now, scrub bucket Ryan Smyth (years passed his expiry) is playing in the top-six on this team, while Yakupov is not (in the lineup at all, to take it a step further). For those that watch the KHL even semi-regularly, you see exactly what type of game he's playing and it will take a little bit to adjust. He's a lot of flash right now, but he can play. He just has to wise up a little. He doesn't have as much sense as, say, Valeri Nichushkin has and not knowing the essential geometry of the game will prove to be heavily detrimental to his game...

[Gaucho]

Ok, I thought he had been longer in NA and his command of English was better.

[Gaucho]

Datsyuk just had Chara for breakfast.

[pcm]

Gotta think Yakupov, like Statsny in Col, will be the odd man out when it comes to acquiring blueline help.

[mikey287]

Dougie Hamilton is a healthy scratch today, so is Brendan Smith for Detroit (for great reason). Adam Larsson is a fairly often scratch in New Jersey as well. Scratching a young player isn't at all strange.

[MRandall25]

But none of those guys have said they don't want to buy into their team's game...


... unless you're pointing out that it's OK if the Pens scratch young guys

[pcm]

So that means they're all busts right, or at least a full pallet of headcases ...just like Despres?

[mikey287]

But none of those guys have said they don't want to buy into their team's game...


... unless you're pointing out that it's OK if the Pens scratch young guys

No, they haven't said it. But I don't put too too much stock in Yakupov's statement...Brendan Smith's actions are way louder than Yak's words, he's the worst player in the League.

Yakupov also said, "This is the first time in my life I am benched. But if the coach has decided so, it must be necessary."
"I never like to talk about who I'd want to play with. Besides, I haven't done all that much for the team yet."

Dumping and chasing isn't his game, he knows that. There's nothing wrong with that either. If that's the style the team plays, Yak will either have to get used to it or have his coach find a way for him to be more useful to them. It depends on how you want to run a team. For me, it's a case by case basis. Am I not utilizing the player well enough and that's why he's suffering? Or is the player not embracing the team concept and is willfully undermining the team's tactics?

[Rylan]

Dougie Hamilton is a healthy scratch today, so is Brendan Smith for Detroit (for great reason). Adam Larsson is a fairly often scratch in New Jersey as well. Scratching a young player isn't at all strange.

Cept in Pittsburgh, cause HCDB hates rookies.

[mikey287]

Dougie Hamilton is a healthy scratch today, so is Brendan Smith for Detroit (for great reason). Adam Larsson is a fairly often scratch in New Jersey as well. Scratching a young player isn't at all strange.

Cept in Pittsburgh, cause HCDB hates rookies.

Don't you read the board? We've decided he's incompetent. Rick Berry is a free agent...

[SolidSnake]

On the contrary Bylsma is the best and we're lucky to have him

[Gaucho]

[youtube][/youtube]

[offsides]

Didn't realize, but they just said Matt Cooke is leading the Wild in points (5) with 3 goals. Good for him, I miss him.