Nail Yakupov plans to sign his next contract in the NHL.

The 23-year-old winger told Fox Sports' Andy Strickland on Thursday he has no plans of returning to Russia to play in the KHL.

Yakupov is coming off a knee surgery which he underwent during the first round of the playoffs. He will be a restricted free agent this July.

The 2012 first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers scored three goals and added six assists during the regular season. He did not dress in the playoffs due to the knee injury.

Yakupov was traded to the Blues in October in exchange for prospect Zach Pochiro and a third-round pick. Had Yakupov scored 15 goals or more during the regular season, the pick would have become a second-rounder. Pochiro spent the majority of the season in the ECHL.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun noted Thursday that believes the Blues will leave Yakupov unprotected in the Vegas expansion draft. and wonders whether Yakupov will wind up in Sin City. 

Strickland also believes the Blues will leave Yakupov unprotected in the June draft and lists Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Paul Stastny, Alex Steen, Patrik Berglund, and either Ryan Reaves or David Perron as the seven forwards St. Louis will protect.

 Yakupov scored a career-high 17 goals as rookie in the lockout-shortened 2013 season. He has not topped 14 goals in a season since. He played 22 games with the KHL's Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik in his home city during the lockout.