Oilers former first overall pick Nail Yakupov makes statement on NHL return

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Liam McCormick
August 10, 2024 (2:39 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers selected Nail Yakupov first overall in the 2012 draft, and after leaving for seven years, he's looking to return to North America.

Now 30 years old, Yakupov is currently a free agent after his last KHL contract expired. He's reportedly been training with Andrei Svechnikov and Matvei Michkov, and could perhaps gather some NHL interest. On a recent Instagram post of him training in Colorado Avalanche gear, Yakupov seemed to confirm that he his trying to return to the NHL.

«Brother, I arrived early and am getting ready. You understand»
- Nail Yakupov

Shortly afterwards, TheMugNHL on Instagram reported that Yakupov is getting some interest from teams on a tryout contract. It's possible he could sign a deal closer to training camp to prove himself on an NHL team, or he could still return to the KHL.

Nail Yakupov was an extremely curious case in his brief NHL career. He got off to a great start in his rookie year, scoring 17 goals and 31 points in 48 games - including some real electric moments. Over the next few seasons his production declined, and after a disappointing two seasons the Oilers traded Yakupov to the St. Louis Blues in 2016. He played two more seasons, with the Blues and the Avalanche, then left for the KHL in 2018. In 350 career NHL games, Yakupov scored 62 goals and 136 points.

It's totally unknown if Yakupov could be an NHL player at this point, especially after 7 years of not playing full seasons in the KHL due to injuries. We'll have to see closer to camp if another team decides to take a chance on him, potentially a team with a strong Russian connection like the Carolina Hurricanes.