McKenzie: ‘Nothing imminent’ with Blackhawks on any Yakupov trade

While on Vancouver’s TSN 1040 Thursday afternoon, NHL Insider Bob McKenzie followed up on his tweets from 90 minutes earlier regarding the possibility of a Nail Yakupov trade brewing between the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks.

How close does he think the Blackhawks are to consummating a deal for Yakupov?

“There was a report out of Chicago today that suggested – the website report, though not mainstream media, per say – that suggested the deal was done. That is was being worked on and should close very quickly here.

“I investigated that and my best information, which I always allow for the possibility of it being wrong, is that there’s nothing imminent from the Chicago Blackhawks with regards to a trade for Nail Yakupov.

“But what I did find out was that there has been interest on the part of the Hawks in Nail Yakupov, and there were trade conversations between general manager Stan Bowman and general manager Peter Chiarelli awhile ago. That there hasn’t been anything recently as in the last number of days. That’s not to say something couldn’t get revived, but in specific response to a very specific report that this trade was happening, I don’t believe that to be the case.

“I think what the Hawks are doing right now is they want to see how some of their kids fare by the time camp is over. And they do have interest in Yakupov, but it’s a difficult deal to do because Edmonton would need to eat a significant chunk of the money. So we’ll see. It may be something that could potentially get revisited and might one day happen, but I don’t anticipate that – per the report – that it’s going to happen as laid out in that today.”

Dreger: Trade market for Oilers’ Yakupov has been weak

McKenzie was then asked if, from people with whom he’s spoken, if Yakupov can be rehabilitated as a player or if he’s a pick –like Magnus Paajarvi – that may never reach the acclaim he once had.

“Well, I think even when St. Louis got Magnus Paajarvi, they thought there was a rehabilitation factor there,” noted McKenzie. “He’s just a fringe player for them. He’s in their Top 14 right now, but just barely. And he has become a fringe NHLer after the anticipation was so much more.

“Yakupov is that much more interesting because he’s a No. 1 overall pick, and you get the feeling that Todd McLellan…”

It was at this point that McKenzie’s cell phone reception cut out for a few seconds.

“… Peter Chiarelli has also been really clear and adamant that while (Yakupov) may not have the success we thought he was going to have when he was taken No. 1 overall by the Oilers, he may still enjoy success in the National Hockey League, relative as that may be, and that we’re not going to give him away for nothing.

“So they’re not just going to eat up all the money and take a bag of pucks and say get rid of you. But I’m sure that the price tag can’t be enormous either.”

Dreger: Rivals see Oilers as ‘a team that matters this year’

Does McKenzie see Chicago as a good fit for Yakupov with players that could get him the puck and help him to realize more of that potential?

“Yeah, you never know,” said McKenzie. “I know he plays the right side, but what if you were to throw him on the left wing with Anisimov and Kane. Two Russians and a guy that plays like a Russian sometimes, and makes almost any line he’s on instantly better. And I’m talking, of course, about Patrick Kane.

“But right now, the Blackhawks want to see – they’re still sorting things through. They’ve got four young guys. Tyler Motte, who’s probably, if I had to guess, might open the season on the left side of Marcus Kruger and Marian Hossa on a good two-way third line. They’ve got Vincent Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman – two guys that have played in the minors for the last couple of years. Hinostroza is small and fast. Hartman’s sort of an Andrew Shaw redux, if you will. A gritty guy that plays the game and is pretty smart and makes things happen. And then they’ve got Nick Schmaltz up, first-round pick from 2014 who’s a first-year pro, who’s more of a pure offensive guy.

“Those four guys are basically competing for three spots and how they all shake out remains to be seen. But Joel Quenneville looks like he kind of wants to try Jonathan Toews with Richard Panik up front, and see who that left-winger is. It could be any one of those guys we just mentioned. And he’s got Anisimov and Kane and one of those left-wingers. And then he’s got Kruger and Hossa and probably Tyler Motte from that group. And then figure out his fourth line and spares and stuff.

“So there might be a spot for Yakupov there under the right set of circumstances, but I think the Hawks first want to see how Hinostroza, Hartman, Schmaltz and Motte work out first.”

Source: TSN 1040/ Transcript: Nichols

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