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 [https://puckpedia.com/player/nail-yakupov] has found new his home [https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/nail-yakupov-is-back-with-his-former-team], signing a one-year contract with HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL. Related: Oilers 2023-24 Pre-Season Schedule Released; Is 8 Games Too Much? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/news/oilers-2023-24-pre-season-schedule-released-is-8-games-too-much] Yakupov has spent each of the last five years in the KHL, and this deal ensures that he is staying there. The former Oilers [https://puckpedia.com/team/edmonton-oilers] top prospect spent this past season with Avangard Omsk, posting 10 points in 16 games. Nail Yakupov. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk5MzA0MzYwODcyNjUwNzAy/usatsi_9204734_168401874_lowres.jpg] Nail Yakupov. Yakupov was memorably selected with the first-overall pick [https://oilersnation.com/news/10-years-ago-today-the-edmonton-oilers-selected-nail-yakupov-with-the-first-overall-pick] of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Once expected to be a long-term part of Edmonton's core [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/news/oilers-mcleod-has-arbitration-date-booked], his excellent skillset in junior would never translate over to the Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/]. In 252 games during his four-year stint as an Oiler [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/opinion/oilers-need-to-shake-up-defence-pairings-to-be-competitive-this-year], Yakupov had 50 goals, 111 points, and a minus-88 rating. Related: Oilers Have 3 Free-Agent Right-Shot Depth Defenseman They Should Target [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/opinion/oilers-have-3-free-agent-right-shot-depth-defenseman-they-should-target] Yakupov would later have short stints with the St. Louis Blues [https://puckpedia.com/team/st-louis-blues] and Colorado Avalanche [https://puckpedia.com/team/colorado-avalanche] but was unable to blossom into his potential. After the 2017-18 season, he would never play another NHL game. Related: Oilers: Important Update on Evan Bouchard Contract Talks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/news/oilers-important-update-on-evan-bouchard-contract-talks] In 211 career KHL games, Yakupov has 64 goals and 123 points. Let's see how the former Oiler [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/news/5-important-oilers-stories-from-the-last-week] builds on these totals with HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk from here. Related: Edmonton Oilers Free Agent Tracker [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/analysis/edmonton-oilers-free-agent-tracker] Related: Yamamoto's Departure Presents Golden Opportunity for Oilers' Top Prospect Holloway [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/opinion/yamamotos-departure-presents-golden-opportunity-for-oilers-top-prospect-holloway] Related: This Is Why the Oilers Targeted Connor Brown [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/opinion/this-is-why-the-oilers-targeted-connor-brown]