IT’S EARLY, BUT THE AVALANCHE’S GAMBLE ON NAIL YAKUPOV IS PAYING OFF

Let’s not sleep on the other things Yakupov has been doing well, either. Small sample size and all that, but Yakupov leads the Avalanche with a 61.3 percent Corsi For percentage and it’s not as though he’s getting fluffy zone starts. In fact, a greater percentage of his shifts are coming in the neutral and defensive zones, impressive given he’s yet to be on the ice for an even-strength goal against. It’s not as if he’s facing lightweights in terms of competition, either, and his line with Duchene and Kerfoot has been almost inarguably the Avalanche’s best unit through four games.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/it-s-early-but-the-avalanche-s-gamble-on-nail-yakupov-is-paying-off