Yakupov was inactive Thursday for the third time in the last four games.

EDGE Analysis

It's not happening for Yakupov, who's been given multiple chances to secure a larger role. There were available minutes for Thursday's loss to the Wild -- center Kyle Brodziak's foot injury has him out at least five weeks -- but AHL callup Ivan Barbashev started instead. That could be because Barbashev has more experience at center, but the fact that Yakupov is in a position to get beat out for the playing time is the main takeaway.