It’s time for igor larionov to tell his client nail yakupov that wearing the C means you talk. Kid needs wake-up call

— Jim Matheson (@NHLbyMatty) January 2, 2013

SEE THIS?

So Nail Yakupov doesn’t do post-game interviews in Ufa after another quiet game. Kid making people wonder on and off the ice.

— Terry Jones (@sunterryjones) January 2, 2013

THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS.

Swiss G Melvin Nyffeler comes out in gear to talk about gut wrenching s/o loss to Russia. Russian capt Nail Yakupov? Nyet. #wjc2013 #oilers

— Joanne Ireland (@jirelandEJ) January 2, 2013

Team Russia squeaked out a W over Team Switzerland at the World Juniors today.  By ‘squeak’, I mean Team Switzerland had the lead with ninety seconds remaining in the third.  Nikita Kucherov tied it for Team Russia, and Kucherov scored in the shootout to give Russia the win.

Media wanted to ask Russia’s captain Nail Yakupov some questions.  Yakupov declined to meet with the media.

Which of course, means that we start attacking Yakupov’s integrity, we call him a prima donna, we say that he’s got no heart, no grit, isn’t clutch, is bad in the room, will never be captain material, probably isn’t fit to make the Oilers, and other such nonsense that we’ve heard over and over with different players.

Ales Hemsky and Linus Omark are probably laughing upon hearing about this story.

Let me get this straight:  guy is averaging a point per game (5 in 5), scores a lonely assist in today’s game, doesn’t give interview to media, and then media gripes about it on Twitter while attacking his integrity?  Respect to you, Mr. Jones, but him not talking to the media doesn’t have me raising red flags about his character.

Hey, Edmonton?  The guy hasn’t even played a game for the team yet, and you’re already crapping all over him.  Stop it. Knock it off, seriously.  I know we’re starved for hockey, but this is a non-story.

I might be more able to see your point if the Oilers got mauled by the Canucks, but this isn’t the case.

Ever wonder why when players leave town it sounds like a soap opera?  THIS IS A HUGE REASON WHY.

Can’t we at least wait for him to play with the Oilers before questioning his integrity?

Am I asking too much?  

Follow Oil On Whyte on the Twitters.

Jeff – @OilOnWhyte

Ian – @ibleedoil

Jonathan – @jonrmcleod

Troy – @heavyoilcountry

Dave – @rustyknuckler

Check out the Oilers Army!

Click Here to visit our NHL main page “Too Many Men” – Fansided’s Hockey Home on the Internets

The game in a couple of sentences – The United States came out and flatly dominated the Slovakian team.  It was 5-2 by the end of the first period, and USA never looked back. Team USA got goals from seven different players and had good enough goaltending to cruise past Team Slovakia.

• SPREAD IT AROUND – Seven different players scored for Team USA, but John Gaudreau and Vince Trochek had two apiece.  Both Gaudreau and Trochek had three points (2-1-3), while Alex Galchenyuk and Jake McCabe had two (1-1-2).
• Matus Matis had a pair of goals for Team Slovakia, who were unable to come back after the first ten minutes of the first period.
• Slovakian goaltender Adam Nagy was chased from the crease at the 9 minute mark of the first peroid.  Nagy surrendered three goals on eight shots.  Replacement Patrik Romancik yielded an additional six on 32 shots.  Team USA’s netminder John Gibson finished with 26 saves on 29 shots.

Ouch. Photo courtesy TSN

• OUCH:  USA defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere was ejected from the game after “slashing” (read:  it wasn’t a slash, more a poke, or a stab to the groin of) Slovakia’s Karol Korim.  I’m going to leave that one alone.
• The United States will take on Team Czech Republic at 2 AM (4 Eastern) tomorrow morning.  Team Slovakia will take on Team Latvia following USA/CZE.

Follow Oil On Whyte on the Twitters.

Jeff – @OilOnWhyte

Ian – @ibleedoil

Jonathan – @jonrmcleod

Troy – @heavyoilcountry

Dave – @rustyknuckler

Check out the Oilers Army!

Click Here to visit our NHL main page “Too Many Men” – Fansided’s Hockey Home on the Internets