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The front office has finally decided to start to address the Blues’ secondary scoring issue with the pre-season trade for former first-round pick Nail Yakupov.
From the official press release:
St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the Blues have acquired 2012 first overall pick Nail Yakupov from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Zach Pochiro and a conditional 2017 third round draft pick.
Yakupov, 23, dressed in 60 regular season games with the Oilers last season, posting 23 points, including eight goals and 15 assists.
Overall, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward has appeared in four NHL seasons, accumulating 111 points, including 50 goals and 61 assists, in 252 career regular season games.
The Chicago Blackhawks were rumored to be in on Yakupov as recently as yesterday, but the Oilers have finally decided to cut ties with their enigmatic Russian winger. The pick, per Strickland, turns into a second round selection if Nail Yakupov scores 15 goals next season.
Yakupov recorded 8 goals and 15 assists over 60 games last year, but he’s got speed and nice hands, and he’s only one season removed from a 33 point season. Pierre LeBrun has confirmed that no salary was retained in the move, and Yakupov will wear #64 in St.Louis.