Oilers former first overall draft pick joins Chinese team to continue playing

Mention the name Nail Yakupov, and who knows what type of response you will get from an Edmonton Oilers fan. In one respect he's renowned as a quality person, but at the same time he's also often mentioned as one of -- if not the -- biggest busts in draft history.

Irrespective of this, one thing which is indisputable, is Yakupov's love of the game of hockey. And it's this love which has now seen him sign a one-year deal to play with the KHL's one Chinese team the Kunlun Red Star, which they confirmed on social media.

However, when we say Chinese team, it's a bit of a technicality as things stand for a team which began play in 2016-17. That's because these days, the Red Star play their home games at Mytishchi Arena, which is just outside Moscow in Russia.

As much as this is a novel opportunity in some respects, this isn't Yakupov's first rodeo in the KHL. He has already played five seasons in the biggest hockey league outside of North America, between 2018-19 and 2023-24.

A success in the KHL

In that time, the 30-year-old has played for SKA Saint Petersburg, Amur Khabarovsk, Avangard Omsk and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, which is his hometown team. The move to the KHL has proved to be a fine success for him, highlighted by 142 points (72 goals and 70 assists) in 242 regular season games and even winning the KHL's version of the Stanley Cup -- the Gagarin Cup -- in 2020-21 with the Omsk.

This is of course in stark contrast to Yakupov's time in the NHL, which saw him fail to live up to the expectations which came from being a first overall draft pick. In fairness to him, he should have never been selected so high in the 2012 entry draft.

The winger actually started off his NHL career quite decently in 2012-13, as he produced 31 points (17 goals and 14 assists) in 48 games. His 17 goals actually led all rookies, as he finished fifth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Just not meant to be with the Oilers

Unfortunately for everyone concerned with the Oilers, this turned out to be the high point of Yakupov's four seasons in Edmonton. It didn't help that he was playing for a poor overall team, which was mired in a franchise-worst 10-year playoff drought.

Ultimately, the Nizhnekamsk native finished with just 111 points and a shocking -88 rating in 252 combined games for the Oilers. As per Sportsnet, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues just before the beginning of the 2016-17 season, where he would have only nine points and a -3 rating in 40 games.

The Blues let Yakupov leave after one season, but he still had a desire to play in the NHL and was able to agree a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. However, after just 16 points and a +2 rating in 58 games, his NHL dream finally came to an end.

Overall, as much as Yakupov did fail in the NHL, there are no hard feelings from the Oilers and their fans. As such, most people connected to the organisation, are more than happy that he's been able to carve out a good career in the KHL and will wish him good luck with the Red Star.

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