I called him Yakupunk immediately after the celebration, mostly because I was ticked at the Kings for letting it happen. I have since calmed down and come to realize that youthful exuberance is a wonderful thing for the sport. Having said that, I would recommend that Mr. Yakupov skate with his head up the next time the Oilers play the Kings.
With how toned-down the rest of the NHL is, this was excessive. However, I think of this kid like Ovechkin. He just loves to play and if that enjoyment and love for hockey shines through, then I am perfectly fine with it. Now... if his next few goals don't get any celebration at all, then I would be disappointed.
As a whole, I wish hockey players did show a little more passion after scoring in the regular season because that energy is contagious. I may be over-thinking this but... there is a reason why teams tend to win or lose in streaks. A little more excitement, passion, and heart from scoring a single goal could spread to your teammates and turn into multiple goals, and that could end up leading into win streaks, and next thing you know... you go 16-4 in the playoffs!
I wasn't the least bit offended. I thought it was a bit lame that he blew right by two or three of his teammates outstretched arms to solo-slide across center ice. Not that you can learn much about a guy from a goal celebration, but his message seemed to be "I DID IT!" as opposed to "WE DID IT!". But whatever.
im pretty sure grapes would say the same thing, regardless of where the kid was from. for years he has said how much he hates european soccer type celebrations.
now , if the game had been significant....i think a celebration like that would have been warranted....but it wasn't
just a regular season game he tied ffs.
i also like you guys that said "well if it was a Canadian....." yet in the same interview he calls quick, an american, the best goaltender in the league. what a jerk
The only idiots I saw we're the fans that threw trash all over the rink, and other fans and the Kings and the officials and their own team and all over any respect that they should have for the game.
If I hadn't noticed the lack of respect from the Oil kids, followed by the classy litter brigade from the stands...I might have felt differently about the celebration. But couple the entire package together, and I think Nail needs to be smacked. And smacked hard...along with a few others on the U20s in Edmonton. The celebration was a bit much.
Chalk it up to whatever you want, but twice in the game, an Oiler shot the puck into the net well after the whistle had blown. Quick took exception to both instances. Jon had words with the player the first time, and angrily dug the puck out and wristed it away from his crease the second time. Now I cannot certainly recall which player/s did this, but think it may have been Nail the first, if not both times it happened.
To me, this clearly shows lack of respect for the rules "unwritten". There is an unspoken etiquette between warriors (hockey players), that players respect and police (remember when there were enforcers and no instigator?). This "code", the air of class in conduct, amongst the chaos of a full contact, sometimes brutal sport, is what keeps hockey players separated from the crybabies and drama queens in the NBA and soccer.
Old school Smythe Division Rivalry Revival! Eff the oil and their fans!
He said the same thing about Fleury so this isn't about him being a European player. I didn't have a problem with it until I realized that it looked like he was mocking Quick at the end of the celebration. Quick was face down on the ice for several seconds and when Yakupov turns and sees him, he goes face down as well. He's a rookie playing in his third game and he's likely mocking the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Not cool with that.
And "celly" is the worst thing I've heard in a long time.
F*** Don Cherry!
that. is. all.
If anyone is an expert on acting like an idiot, it is Don Cherry.
I think Yaks and Cherry were both excessive
