Jul 3, 2018
Former No. 1 pick Yakupov signs in KHL
Nail Yakupov’s time in the NHL appears to be at an end after six seasons. The unrestricted free agent has signed a two-year contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg, the club announced Tuesday.
TSN.ca Staff
Nail Yakupov’s time in the NHL appears to be at an end after six seasons.
The unrestricted free agent has signed a two-year contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg, the club announced Tuesday.
Yakupov failed to meet expectations in the NHL after being selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2012 NHL Draft. He was ranked 44th of 49 in TSN's ranking of No. 1 picks from the modern era of the draft last month.
The 24-year-old scored nine goals and added seven assists in 58 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season. He did not dress in any of the team's six playoff games.
He signed with the Avalanche in July after he was not qualified as a restricted free agent by the St. Louis Blues last summer. He was unqualified as a restricted free agent once again this year.
A veteran of 350 NHL games with the Oilers, Blues and Avalanche, Yakupov has 62 goals and 136 points in his career.
Yakupov played in 22 games with the KHL's Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik during the 2012-13 season, before joining the Oilers for the lockout-shortened campaign.
TSN's Travis Yost made the argument last week that Yakupov could still be a useful depth player in the NHL.