The New Jersey Devils decided to cut down their defenders earlier this week, and Russian defenseman Yegor Yakovlev learned he was not making the NHL roster out of training camp.
There are many factors as to why, included the fact that once he plays one NHL game he is no longer waiver eligible, but the bottom line is he still has to learn more about the North American game. He just took too many penalties in the preseason. He took two minors in three games.
Yakovlev has a ton of talent, and could be the answer eventually on this defense, but what he brings would be counteracted by mistakes dealing with the rules.