Nail Yakupov entered the NHL just four years ago as the consensus best prospect available in the 2012 draft and a future franchise cornerstone. Now the question is whether the 23-year-old can salvage a major league career.
The St. Louis Blues are determined to give him the best possible chance.
The Blues have several advantages over the Edmonton Oilers that give them a better shot at success with Yakupov than his former team ever had. They have a veteran roster, one with the ability to both complement and shelter the young winger. They have an experienced coach who knows his team. Critically, they also know exactly what they’re getting into.
When Yakupov joined the Oilers, it was as a high-profile scorer who was expected to shoulder some of the burden of turning around the team’s long, slow rebuild. He couldn’t live up to those expectations, and as the package the Blues traded for him shows, his goals in Missouri are going to be much more modest.
A 2017 third-round draft pick (which turns into a second-round pick in 2018 if Yakupov scores 15 goals) is at the heart of the deal, and ...
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Article written by Jonathan Willis
How the St. Louis Blues Are Saving Nail Yakupov’s NHL Career
November 1st, 2016 by Jonathan Willis Leave a reply »
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