Infamous Former Oiler Nail Yakupov Signs With New Team

Former Edmonton Oilers first-overall pick Nail Yakupov has found a new team for the 2023-24 season.

Oilers could put one of Connor Brown, Warren Foegele or Dylan Holloway into the top-6 spot vacated by Kailer Yamamoto.

Former Edmonton Oiler Nail Yakupov has found new his home, signing a one-year contract with HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL.

Yakupov has spent each of the last five years in the KHL, and this deal ensures that he is staying there. The former Oilers top prospect spent this past season with Avangard Omsk, posting 10 points in 16 games.

Yakupov was memorably selected with the first-overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Once expected to be a long-term part of Edmonton's core, his excellent skillset in junior would never translate over to the Oilers. In 252 games during his four-year stint as an Oiler, Yakupov had 50 goals, 111 points, and a minus-88 rating.

Yakupov would later have short stints with the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche but was unable to blossom into his potential. After the 2017-18 season, he would never play another NHL game.

In 211 career KHL games, Yakupov has 64 goals and 123 points. Let's see how the former Oiler builds on these totals with HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk from here.