Edmonton Oilers: The Rise and Fall of Nail Yakupov

There was a time where Nail Yakupov represented hope for the Edmonton Oilers. In 2012, it was no surprise that Edmonton selected Yakupov first overall, in what seemed to be a low-point of all the draft years. Only Alex Galchenyuk was considered a real competitor with Yakupov for that top pick, as yet another high-performing teammate of his when he was playing with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting.

His numbers were exciting. In 2010-11, he scored 49 goals and 52 assists for an astonishing 101 points in just 65 games. Then, just a year later, he scored 69 points (31G, 38A) in 42 games with Sarnia.

Which justifies why he would deserve to be a first overall pick. A hard worker who’s fast and can start a play, while also scoring goals a plenty, is someone that you definitely want on your roster. But if you’re the Edmonton Oilers, in an off-year where promising defensemen are what the team needs, you shouldn’t focus on forwards. Unless you’re Craig MacTavish.

MacTavish used his first-overall pick to get Nail Yakupov, hoping he’d be the light that saves Edmonton and join the likes of their new core, consisting of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Besides, another forward is just what the Oilers needed, right?

MacTavish took Yakupov first, citing him as the best player available in the draft, and put that pressure on him as being just what the Oilers needed. He hoped that this would be the solution to all of their problems, and take away all of the problems that they had. With Yakupov in the lineup, they would have no problem scoring. With Yakupov, there’d be no more worries.

Yakupov was then set to join the Oilers as the 5-foot-11, 190 pounder that he was. But then, the lockout struck, limiting his rookie campaign to 48 games. He played an impressive short season, tallying 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points. Those are decent numbers to put up in a little over half an NHL season, but little did we know that this wasnt because of the limit of games.

When 2013-14 rolled around, he’d have a full NHL season ahead of him. While we all thought that this would be the time where Yakupov would have the ability to show his potential and rack up plenty more points than he did in a 48-game span, we were wrong. In fact, his point total would decrease severely. He’d only score a mediocre 24 points (11G,13A) in his second season, and thanks to injury, his campaign was cut short to 63 games. Plus, his plus-minus went from a -4 in his rookie year to a horrifying minus-33.

Now we’re in just a season back. He’d return for all but one game, and bring in a career-high 33 points. Not impressive at all, and the plus-minus would dip to -35. And let’s fast-forward to this year, where he has 16 points through 50 games, and thanks to an ankle injury, he has been held out of the lineup.

But let’s just ask this: what’s wrong with Nail Yakupov?

His scoring ability did not translate to the NHL. He is a fast, young skater who can shoot the puck, but he needs an excellent center to ride for this play. Look at his seven-game point streak to start the season. Riding McDavid, nothing could stop Nail.

Trust me, I’m a huge fan of Yakupov, but all of the pressure is getting to him, and when he has to do something, he just doesn’t. For instance, when he got demoted to the third line, he just rolled with it, and was angry with the move, but didn’t try to justify why he shouldn’t have been demoted. He doesn’t try to work harder, and when opportunity knocks, he just plays as he would. Yakupov doesn’t step it up when he has to.

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But then again, there is the argument that there is too much pressure on Yak, and that he is given no time to prove himself. For example, when bumped to play with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl on that first unit, he stayed with them for one shift before being brought back to the bench and demoted again. What did he do wrong? Did he not score? It is things like that where we will ask if it is the fact that Todd McLellan doesn’t give Yakupov enough time to prove himself.

Then you look at Yakupov’s behavior during practice, and cite instances such as what happened on Saturday. Bob Stauffer told this story on Oilers Now on 630 CHED. The Oilers had a morning skate and were working on power-play drills. Yakupov wasn’t on the first or second unit. In his place at the right wing was either Jordan Eberle, or Lauri Korpikoski on the second unit. So, instead of participating, like every player was (whether or not they were killing the penalties or working on the units) he sat on the Oilers bench on the other side.

Sure, as Stauffer pointed out during the show, it’s frustrating when you’re Yakupov and your coach puts Korpikoski on the man advantage over you, a former first-overall pick, but there has to be some kind of understanding. Yakupov has only six goals and 10 assists, and he hasn’t been playing tot he best of his ability. He’s struggled backchecking and defending, and when trying to score, he just doesn’t step up to the plate. The Yak that plays with some much energy and gets so excited just isn’t there anymore. If he wants that ice time, he has to show some kind of fight.

Mike Johnson of Sportsnet had the same idea, that sure, it’s tough seeing a demotion, but it should trigger him to reflect on his play rather than feel sorry and carry on.

“You also have to look at yourself in the mirror,” Johnson said. “You have to be honest with yourself, which can be unpleasant at times and recognize what you’ve done poorly, why you are where you are, and what you need to do to change it.”

It’s sad to say this, but with his attitude and lack of effort, as well as his recent demotions, it looks like the final nail is in the coffin (pun intended). Yakupov’s career in Edmonton seems to be coming to end, and I doubt he returns to Edmonton next year. It’s sad to see, because he was a winger who had a lot of potential.

Next: Edmonton Oilers Must Be Patient with Reinhart

He does resemble a great third-liner, who can skate fast and create chances, but thanks to the pressure Edmonton has put on him, as well as the frustration he has created for himself, it looks like now we can only remember what could have been.

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