Welcome to "YAKS" World!

(Nail's home arena in Nizhnekamsk, Russia)

Nizhnekamsk, Russia is home to Nail Yakupov, 1st OV selection at the 

2012 NHL Entry Draft held in June. Oiler fans would love to see Nail practicing his 

trade here in Edmonton. For those of you who have not had a 

chance to read Nail's recent interview with Andrey Osadchenko. There is further answers from

Nail Yakupov on understanding what happened with his transfer papers being delayed by

 Hockey Canada. He also discusses his first experience playing against men in the KHL.

Currently Nail is performing well above and beyond expectations that most fans and scouts have expressed alike.

 

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	TP	PIM	+/-		Postseas.	GP	G	A	TP	PIM	+/-
2009-10	Reaktor Nizhnekamsk	MHL	14	4	2	6	26	-3	|
	Russia U19	WJAC-19	4	2	1	3	8		|
2010-11	Sarnia Sting	OHL	65	49	52	101	71	-2	|
	Russia U18	WJC-18	7	6	7	13	6	-6	|
2011-12	Sarnia Sting	OHL	42	31	38	69	30	15	|	Playoffs	6	2	3	5	4	-7
	Russia U20	WJC-20	7	0	9	9	6	4	|
2012-13	Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk	KHL	7	5	2	7	0	-1	|

When Nail should be trying his trade in the NHL at Rexall Place, the Labour 

dispute has put a temporary hold on NHL Oilers fans excitement. One look at 

the ancient REXALL PLACE and you would wonder why any NHL player would 

want to play there.(Thats a different story for a different time)

(Nail's future home in Edmonton, Canada)

While the KHL is currently the top league currently playing in the world right now, it still is not the NHL. As fans of the NHL and the Edmonton Oilers we need to be careful to look at things with some simple understanding. Yakupov, may or may not score at Hall numbers , let alone Nugent-Hopkins numbers. To see his current scoring rate, we need to look at a few factors...

1) It is still not against NHL teams where most 5-6th defencemen can be better then the 3-4th defencemen on a KHL team (Just my opinion based on numbers and level of competition)

2) His scoring % is crazy high and it is still early.

3) He plays on a less superior team where he slots automatically into the top 6 and top PP time. More opportunity, more points possible. This may not happen on the Oilers NHL squad.

4) His confidence is high right now and it is possible he will slow down his rate of scoring.

Regardless of what we think of the KHL and/or Yakupov, Nail is still playing on a .500% team and scoring at a PPG rate of a top 15 player in the KHL, currently best league in the world. As a Oiler fan, I say sit back, relax and enjoy the great experience that Nail Yakupov is getting before joining his new Komrades here in Oil Country. How could this be a bad thing? I prefer to look at it as the Arena is Half full, not half empty.

I am one fan who cant' wait to see these young Oilers take to the ice at Rexall, this year or next!!

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to...

 www.twitter.com/revingev

REVS Top 15 Draft Prospects "#3.Sean Monahan"

#3 Sean Monahan

At 6'2 and 193 lbs, there are a lot of teams licking their chops at the opportunity to draft Sean Monahan at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. While few predict he will break the top 2, none will say he falls below top 5. He will be a lottery pick, that can be taken to the bank.

 If there was a player that could benefit the Edmonton Oilers for that 2nd line Center position better, I don't know who it is. He drives to the net consistently, works hard, quick learner, good on face-offs, has size and above average speed and most of all Top 6 potential to play in the NHL one day. 

Monahan's ability to find open ice sets him apart from many other high end draft picks. His greatest credit seems to be scoring timely goals. He has great athleticism and a smooth skating stride. Considering Monahan's patience with the puck on his stick, defenders need to have good gap control as Sean has a full arsenal of offensive skills. Between Sean's saucer passes, wrist shot or one-on-one ability to beat defenders, he will be a handful for teams to cover in the future. When it comes to defensive zone coverage, he is no slouch either.

Statistics by Elite Prospects;

 statistics 

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	TP	PIM	+/-		Postseas.	GP	G	A	TP	PIM	+/-
2009-10	Mississauga Rebels Mn Mdgt AAA	GTHL	47	46	44	90	48		|
2010-11	Ottawa 67's	OHL	65	20	27	47	32	24	|	Playoffs	4	2	2	4	0	-1
	Canada Ontario U17	WHC-17	5	3	2	5	2		|
2011-12	Ottawa 67's	OHL	62	33	45	78	38	25	|	Playoffs	18	8	7	15	10	-4
2012-13	Ottawa 67's	OHL	7	4	8	12	0	-7	|

	GP	G	A	TP	PPG	PIM	+/-		GP	G	A	TP	PPG	PIM	+/-
	Regular Season							Postseason
GTHL:	47	46	44	90	1.91	48	0	|
OHL:	134	57	80	137	1.02	70	42	|	22	10	9	19	0.86	10	-5
WHC-17:	5	3	2	5	1.00	2	0	|

For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to...

 www.twitter.com/revingev

Oiler Fans Are Not Supporting The NHL

I did a quick twitter poll last night asking Oiler fans if they have spent any money on NHL related stuff since the lockout began.

Surprisingly, 100% of the people who responded said they have not spent a dime, myself included. I figured a small handful would have said yes, but that never happened. Some folks said they paid for their seasons tickets, but to me that doesn't count because you have to pre pay and have that setup long before the lockout even started.

I find it awesome to hear that the fans are all on the same page. No new hats. No new jerseys. No new anything.

I believe by not making the NHL money while there is a stoppage, the more we show the league we are better than how they are treating us right now.

I applaud Oiler fans, and I hope other fans of the other teams are feeling and acting the same way. We do matter. We can be noticed.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY BURNT-

Is the KHL a threat?

The question being asked by many is simple. 'Is the KHL a legitimate threat to the NHL'? The answer simply is no! However, could this league make a dent into the talent that comes into the NHL? Absolutely! IMO NHL owners and many others are simply being over confident in the product called the NHL. IT is a money making machine and if I was able to, I would boycott it all together.

While the fans are the ones being hurt right now, the NHL and the NHLPA are hoping we all just stay loyal and that these work stoppages (Lockouts, strikes, or whatever else you want to call them) will not affect the fan base. Shame on the NHL for their selfish attitude. The say they are wanting to do this for us the fans when all along it is not about the fans at all. It is all about the money. Remember? 'Show me the money!'

It's funny how people like to go on and say how the KHL is a second class league, will never rival the NHL etc...That is only because of the money. Support financially by big companies and a growing attendance has seen the KHL expand a lot. The KHL means nothing? Then why are some great Russian players staying there? Why did someone like Jagr leave the NHL for the KHL? Money? Partially. There are many factors but regardless don't be fooled that the KHL is not a threat to NHL dollars. This lockout by owners does not help their cause at all. Today with social media like youtube, Facebook, twitter, websites and streaming video we can now follow players all over the world better then anytime in history.

If you were to google search keywords and see how often KHL is now used you will see a increase of 500% in the last 3 years. and since the lockout it has increased even more. With star players heading to the KHL in the lockout they are showing signs that they believe it is at least the second highest level of competition. Fans of the NHL are right, the NHL is still the best league in the world and probably will always be as far as marketing and fan base. Don't be deceived though. The KHL is picking up steam and already starting to make a improved effort in their marketing and financial revenue. Why is the KHL getting so much attention? Simply put, the NHL is in a lockout and now gave them the opportunity to get attention.

The arrogance for me of the NHL has really turned me off in a big way. Truth is, if the Oilers folded tomorrow, I would totally follow other leagues just as much and no longer watch 100's of NHL games a year.  Only reason I have Sportsnet and it's companion Sportsnet One is because of the Oilers. While we do have the best players in the world in the NHL, players come and players go. When Gretzky retired and later Lemieux, I thought the world was ending. However, along comes another great player who makes the game exciting to watch. It's hockey I love, is it hockey you love? Or is it the NHL? If the NHL were to fold, would you still follow hockey and play hockey? 

We say as Canadians, hockey is in our blood. Is hockey in our blood, or is the NHL in our blood? The NHL wants us Canadians to have the NHL in our blood. That is what they are banking on. They are not worried about TV contracts. Know why? Cause the TV contracts are from Canada where all the real big Contracts of revenue matter. They know Canadians love hockey and believe no matter what we will watch and pay.

In the last 4 years, I have begun following the KHL and several other European leagues more then ever and in International hockey have even started liking the Russians more then ever. What even brought that on? It was the last lockout! Now with another lockout, I am hungry for hockey and will now learn more, watch more and follow more now then ever. I am getting to know players I didn't even know existed before this lockout.

Thank you NHL! It is because of your lockout that I have discovered it's not you I love, but HOCKEY itself!

Go #OILERS, Go #OKCBARONS, Go #STOCKTONTHUNDER !!!

3 Cheers For Hockey my hockey friends!!

P.S. 'I have got to get me one of those new 3rd Jerseys from OKC, they are sweet!'

"For Oiler prospect news and the 2013 or 2014 NHL draft watch, go to

 www.twitter.com/revingev

New 3rd Jerseys for OKC Barons / New Captains

The OKC Barons released new jerseys today for the team to wear this season. They are the Oilers vintage blue jerseys with the OKC helmet decal as the chest patch. They look sweet.

The Barons said via twitter that they will wear them approximately a dozen times at home this season. Check out the picture courtesy of Eric Rodgers aka @AHLBarons.

On a side note, congrats to Josh Green who was named captain of the Barons today. He's a deserving recipient.

Assistant captains are Jordan Eberle, Chris VandeVelde, Alex Plante and Dane Byers.

Eberle and VandeVelde will wear the A's at home, while Plante and Byers will wear the A's on the road.

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY BURNT-