The NHL has entered its annual holiday roster freeze, but that won't stop the trade rumors from flying.
The latest, coming from TheFourthPeriod.com, says the Montreal Canadiens and general manager Marc Bergevin would apparently "love" to get their hands on struggling Edmonton Oilers winger Nail Yakupov.
"Bergevin has held discussions with the Edmonton Oilers about right wing Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov, and while a deal for Eberle appears unlikely, the Habs would 'love' to get their hands on Yakupov, according to a League source."
The Habs, in the market for a scoring winger for the past several seasons, may have finally decided to focus their efforts on the big youngster in Edmonton. With Alex Galchenyuk moving to center and David Desharnais moving to wing, the Canadiens lineup shuffle has left an open spot in the top 6 that Yakupov, still only 21 years old, could fill quite well.
Yakupov has only four goals and eight total points this season and only one in his last 18 games. He admitted recently that he's feeling the pressure to perform better, though he doesn't know why the production hasn't matched his effort.
"I'm doing everything right," he said on Monday, according to Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun.
"I can say I do everything right. I work 100 percent. I'm not cheating (defensively). I'm not doing any bad stuff."
It's hard to fault a player working so hard and still unable to fill up the scoring sheet. He skates with purpose, he competes with tenacity and he hits the ice with energy night in and night out.
"Of course I want to get more points," he said. "I had some chances, just couldn't score. I have to bring that feeling back. I want more for sure, but I don't want to get crazy, start worrying about it or hit the walls with my head."
But as a top pick in the 2012 NHL draft, the Oilers, no doubt, were expecting more production from Yakupov. And while what he brings to the rink is surely a positive, it's not the type of impact Edmonton was hoping to get out of their first-round selection.
Perhaps a new environment and a fresh set of faces around him in Montreal could kick start Yakupov's scoring?
