Former Oilers Draft Bust Signs With Chinese Team

One of the biggest NHL draft busts of this century has decided to sign on for the coming season with China's Kunlun Red Star in the Kontinental Hockey League. Nail Yakupov was the No. 1 overall selection by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2012 NHL Draft, but after six largely disappointing seasons in the NHL, he has been plying his trade in the KHL for the past six seasons. Now, make it seven.

⚡️ Kunlun Red Star signed FW Nail Yakupov to a 1-year contract.

Nizhnekamsk native, Yakupov got 242 KHL games under his belt, recording 142 points. He also has 350 NHL games for @EdmontonOilers , @StLouisBlues and @Avalanche #KRS #RedStarHockey #UnitedWeWin pic.twitter.com/oBLVXs0ERv
— Kunlun Red Star (@KRSchina) August 13, 2024

The Oilers made Yakupov the top selection in 2012 after his two OHL seasons in which he totalled 170 points in 107 games, and won the CHL Rookie of the Year.

He did play 350 games (136 points) in the NHL, 252 of those contests with the Oilers. After a moderately successful rookie season in which he notched 17 goals and 31 points in 48 games, finishing 5th in Calder Trophy balloting, things went south for Yakupov, and he never managed more than 33 points in a full NHL season. His last year, 2017-18 with the Colorado Avalanche, he totalled nine goals and 16 points in 58 games.

He then decided to head home, where he had a good debut in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, with 23 goals in 47 games, with a plus/minus of +22. But again, things deteriorated for him, and he only managed to reach double-digits in goals once after that in his six seasons in Russia.

Now 30, Yakupov will try again, on a one-year deal with the Kunlun team based in China, playing in the KHL.