YAKETY-YAK
Nail Yakupov and his Russian junior teammates will take on Team Canada in a super series beginning tomorrow morning in Yaroslav.
The tournament is designed to honor the 40th anniversary of the Canada-Russia series that changed the game forever. The Yaroslavl location also comes on the eve of the one year anniversary of the September 7th Lokomotiv air disaster.
The Russian portion of the 4 game series will be in Yaroslav, and Halifax is the Canadian city that gets the games.
Dennis Beyak makes the call, Mike Johnson does color. First game tomorrow morning, 9am Edmonton time.
I love hockey and this is a breath of fresh air. Watching Yakupov is the main item for Edmonton fans, and the Canadian squad boasts names like Jonathan Huberdeau and Ryan Murray.
And I was all geared up for a Sutton/Peckham/Potter RE this morning…
Actually, I’m really curious about the Peckham RE. He had an awful year, but I think he’ll have a career. Not sure it will be with the Oil, but solid 3rd paring defense along with the other things he brings would be a welcome addition from within.
Will be nice to see some hockey. Tough to catch the games during the work day but I guess the Halifax ones will be at a normal time. And can’t wait to see Yak in TC – hope it isn’t delayed too long…
Delighted to see FIFA confirm that they need “more” investigating to be done before they can discipline anyone. Sinclair and Tancredi will play tomorrow. Guess it saved FIFA from having to scramble to find a new host for 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Driving down to Halifax Monday for a look a Yakupov and Team Canada. Canada’s Defence looks great.
Thank goodness, some hockey. If I had to read another weeks worth of crying soccer fans I might have gone insane.
I have to say, I did expect a bit more chirping from Yakupov’s twitter account before this tournament. Is the teeter-totter decidedly heavier on the Canadian side of this matchup again?
Did anyone else see the interview Yakupov did for Russian press in late June?
It’s here: http://hockey.sport-express.ru/reviews/22837/
Some elements, courtesy of my dangerous half-knowledge of Russian:
“I’m the happiest man on Earth!” declared Nail Yakupov immediately after donning the Edmonton sweater for the first time. The emotions are deserved and justified. To be recognized as the world’s best 18 year old hockey player was managed by only two Russians, Alexander Ovechkin and Ilya Kovalchuk, Russian native Alexander Deglov and Patrik Stefan do not bear [comparison]. If you choose someone first who doesn’t panic, they will explode into a superstar. Yakupov intends to continue the tradition.
Q. One could say you’re already Canadian, you played for two years in the OHL. Was that a deliberate choice?
A. I came here in order to learn how to play hockey. At first it was difficult here. The speed is quite different in smaller rinks, so we have to react differently. But then I was hooked, I liked it, and began to enjoy it enormously. It’s just great to play at this age in crowded arenas with an organization like this. Particularly with Alex Galchenyuk.
[some talk about the draft; essentially he didn't know he was going to be picked first and was very nervous about the whole thing]
Q. Now you’re in line [following in sequence] with Kovalchuk and Ovechkin.
A. For now, I only have in common with them that I’m from Russia. They’ve been in the NHL for many years, and I still need to prove myself. So far I have only proved something to my parents. I worked for this purpose in Canada for two years. Now that’s been achieved, and now ahead there is a greater path. I’ll go for it. More precisely, to work hard [literally, пахать to follow the plow, so this translation is a bit of a guess on my part, but it's a very Russian thing to say that you're working like a bull]. My goal-to get on the team.
Q. But you were just compared with Ovechkin …
A. In vain. The man is the star of the NHL, but I’ve yet to play a single game. Someday, maybe. If, at least we win [The Cup] here, then you can compare me with someone else.
[...congrats from home, etc.]
Q. In Edmonton you’ll have to play with other young star forwards, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, Eberle. Given this, what could you put down as a realistic goal? [Clearly the interviewer is big on LT's RE series.]
A In the first season? To play on the first line, to be in a leading roles, to fight for the Stanley Cup. The team is young and energetic. To get to the top line, would mean that playing time will give many chances of scoring. I’ll be able to eat ice hockey [no really, that's what he said], to have a great time, and to please all those who helped me get here. Generally, there is something to strive for. By the way, I met Hopkins yesterday. He’s a normal, quiet guy, very articulate.
Q. There’s Khabibulin, who became an Olympic champion before you were born….
A. Uncle Nicky? I only saw him on TV. I am confident that we will have a great relationship. I have general impressions of Edmonton that were only the most positive.
Q. Were you taken out to the city?
A. The schedule was approved two weeks prior to arrival. It was very clear. I was shown the arena, met with the club leadership, saw all the Stanley Cups, saw and experienced everything. And then I met with Russian-speaking fans who came and gave me a tour of the city. In general, it was a very warm welcome.
Q. Your game number 10, is that in honour of Bure?
A. Yeah, I really liked him when I was small.
Q. They’re not going to give it to you in Edmonton, it belongs to Horcoff the team captain.
A. Then I’ll choose another. I have not thought about. It’s not so important.
[...how about playing for Team Russia? Sure!]
Q. What do you think about fans in Edmonton who feared the Russian choice?
A. I’m heading to you! [Followed by impenetrable colloquialism that means he'll meet everyone. I think.]
Sorry for any errors that more fluent speakers will see.
The kid’s personality really comes through (you should hear Malkin in Russian, he is one of these witty punsters, really clever], and I like him more given some of these remarks.
Everyone I’ve met from Tatarstan has been unusually level-headed and cheerful. IMO a very helpful analogy is to think of it as the Saskatchewan of Russia.
Thanks for that translation, Bohologo. It’s pretty cute.
Looking forward to Yak making Ryan Murray look like a pylon for the next week and years to come.
Bohologo,
Great stuff, thanks!
It’s funny, I tend to think of these #1′s like any other young prospects (think Cogs, Gagner and Nilsson for instance, but there’s a long list of others) in that they’ll hopefully be very good players (but might stall or fail completely). It’s easy to forget just how huge these guys upsides are. Nice to be slapped back to reality, with comparisons to Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Bure, that 2 or all 3 of them will very likely be not just good, but elite NHLers. Yak does sound like a great personality. Can’t wait for NHL hockey to start again!!
Let’s hope LowBellTavish included a clause in Yakupov’s contract that prohibits him from ditch water-skiing.
I had hoped that Yak would have had more time with the Nuge and Hall and Ebs and Khabi after being drafted… Thought they might want to give him a good welcome.
I don’t usually forward this type of rumour but things are so dull now it might be fun to throw around. Eklund says:
As if to prove fences CAN be mended when new ownership takes the scene, there is talk today the Oilers and Sabres are discussing a MAJOR deal. Sources vary quite a bit on what is being discussed, but piecing it together it sounds like a “significant” defenseman going to Edmonton along with a solid prospect (or possibly even Enroth) for “young star top 6 center and a third line young player who many feel has top six potential.” I hope to have more on this in the next day or so..
I have little doubt that Eklund has no connections to any real sources and likely just made this up. Tambo has the Oilers on radio silence as evidenced by Hemsky and the draft and I doubt they are going to answer Eklund’s calls.
But if it were true who would the players be?
I would think by the description, maybe Gagner and Pitlick/ MPS? Who would be coming from Buffalo? I doubt Myers is available. Maybe Erhoff or Sekera?
Ducey,
I think that Eklund does have some actual contacts within the league, but as he states himself, he ‘reports’ anything he hears.
Interesting scuttle-butt, to be sure. I wonder if it is Myers in the rumor – doesn’t his salary jump to about $10M per season this year?
Ducey, it says *star* top six centre, that’s got to be Horcoff.
delooper,
Awesome…….who else could it be?
Star top 6 centre? That says it’s not Edmonton at all.
Well, considering most teams only have four centers, it could be an OKC Baron.
I figure the rumor about Buffalo is nonsense. My question is if it were true who would the Oilers be interested in? Maybe Regher wants to come back out west.
I think that the Flames moved him at the right time. I don’t think that there is much gas left in that tank.
LT
This is the first time I played your videos and I absolutely loved it.
Brought back all sorts of memories
Thanks.
Love the Coasters. Awesome.
I am really looking forward to this tourney. Not just because Yak is playing, but I think with the spirit around the olympics, the anniversary, the talent involved and the general goodwill it will prove to be quite the showcase of young men playing a great adversarial game.
Now……how much does it cost to go to beautiful Halifax?
I live in Hali and I’ll be at the Monday game. Are they going to be televised for the rest of you? I’ll keep an eye on the notables and hopefully post a few impressions.
Paper: Please do. I’m especially interested in Yakupov (obviously) and the Canadian blue.