Oilers' Yakupov to play with McDavid and Eberle vs. Sabres
The Connor McDavid effect will be put to the test once again Tuesday.
Nail Yakupov is staying put past the trade deadline, and it appears he'll have every opportunity to show the Edmonton Oilers what he's capable of in the final 18 games of the season. With Benoit Pouliot reportedly sidelined indefinitely due to a separated shoulder, Yakupov will slot in next to McDavid and Jordan Eberle on Edmonton's top line against the Buffalo Sabres.
"He's been waiting for this opportunity & we're giving it to him. We expect big things." Coach McLellan on Yak joining McDavid & Eberle
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 1, 2016
The 22-year-old forward has struggled mightily this season, failing to register a point in his last five games, while recording just three goals in 20 contests since returning from an ankle injury on Jan. 14. The good news is, McDavid can certainly elevate his play.
Two-thirds of Yakupov's 15 points in 42 games this season have come while playing on a line with McDavid:
| Games | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| With McDavid | 13 | 10 |
| Without McDavid | 29 | 5 |
Growth in production is nothing new for players playing alongside the 19-year-old rookie phenom:
| Player | Games Without McDavid | Points | Games With McDavid | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Eberle | 37 | 22 | 14 | 16 |
| Benoit Pouliot | 34 | 14 | 27 | 21 |
Amid endless speculation surrounding Yakupov's future with the Oilers, there's clearly no better time than now for the former first overall pick to turn his career around. If not, it's certainly possible he could find himself playing somewhere else in the near future.