from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Nail Yakupov wants to play more. Dallas Eakins, the Edmonton winger’s coach, does not agree.

And so the sad-sack Oilers have a situation that is entirely of their own doing. The team is in the dumps. Arguably their most talented offensive player — scouts compared Yakupov with Hall of Famer Pavel Bure — is angry. Nobody, from the player to coach to captain Andrew Ference to general manager Craig MacTavish, has uncovered any answers to fix the first thing around the team.

Yakupov is not at fault. Yakupov is 20 years old. For most young, wealthy, and entitled men, maturity arrives in following years — if at all.

The blame belongs to the Oilers. They are one of the primary log-throwers onto a fire that’s burning organizations as well as players. The Oilers are leading the charge toward rushing young players into the meanest league in the sport.

continued plus additional NHL notes...