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Nail Yakupov: Departs for KHL
Yakupov is set to sign a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports.
Yakupov has chosen to leave hockey's highest level after failing to live up to his 2012 first overall selection with Edmonton. Throughout six seasons, he averaged only 0.39 points per game and accumulated a dreadful minus-89 rating. While Yakupov's first NHL stint was largely unsuccessful, he is still only 24 years old. It's possible he could rediscover his game oversees and contribute to an NHL roster at some point down the road.
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Nail Yakupov: Not retained by Avalanche
Yakupov wasn't tendered a qualifying offer Monday and will now become an unrestricted free agent, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post reports.
Playing for his third team in as many seasons, Yakupov saw a decent amount action for the Avalanche, tallying nine goals and seven assists across 58 games. However, he didn't participate in a single playoff game and is now looking to join a new team when free agency opens July 1 after failing to get a qualifying offer. The former first overall pick should find a handful of suitors on the open market.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Rides pine in playoffs
Yakupov watched all six games of the Avs' first-round series against the Predators from the press box.
On his third club in as many seasons, Yakupov failed to impress, as he served as a healthy scratch in 24 of the final 32 contests of the year. When he was in the lineup, the winger garnered a meager 16 points and 94 shots. Selected first overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Russian would certainly be in the conversation for the biggest bust in NHL history. A restricted free agent this offseason, the 24-year-old could find himself without an offer from Colorado.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Watches fourth straight game
Yakupov was a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game during Friday's 7-1 win over Minnesota.
Considering the 24-year-old winger can't crack the lineup consistently or land a prominent role when dressing, there aren't many fantasy settings where Yakupov warrants a roster spot. He might receive another fresh start next fall, but it also wouldn't be a shock if his NHL career is over after this season.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Logs just 9:10 in win over Sharks
Yakupov recorded one shot through 9:10 of ice time (2:09 with the man advantage) during Thursday's 5-3 win over San Jose.
It's easy to poke fun at Yakupov because he was the first overall selection from the 2012 draft, and he's definitely failed to live up to expectations to this point of his career. Slotting into a depth role hurts his scoring potential, so while his offensive numbers have been disappointing this year (eight goals and 13 points through 38 games), it's not a great fantasy setup, either. It's probably safe to continue fading Yakupov in the majority of settings at this stage of the game.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Back in tow
Yakupov (illness) will rejoin the action for Saturday's home game against the Lightning, Adrian Dater of BSN Denver reports.
This is an ideal spot for Yakupov to return, as the Avalanche need their best offensive weapons to try and knock down a virtually impenetrable wall that Tampa Bay has built around the cage this season. (The Bolts are tied with San Jose for the second-fewest goals allowed at 2.39 through 31 games.) Yak's converted seven goals on 42 scoring chances for a robust 16.7 shooting percentage, plus he gets power-play ice time, so consider him to be a decent flier in deep pools Saturday.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Inactive on Thursday
Yakupov (illness) will not be active for Thursday night's home game against the Panthers.
Yak's about to miss his fifth consecutive game for an Avalanche team that is fading into obscurity after blazing a trail to start the season. Still, provided he doesn't miss a bunch more games, the man who's been labeled a bust since the Oilers drafted him first overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft has a legitimate chance of reaching 20 goals for the first time in his career. Keep him on the bench for now, but the Russian often makes for a solid value play when healthy.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Ruled out Tuesday after all
Yakupov (illness) won't play Tuesday against the Capitals, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
A previous report indicated that Yakupov would suit up if Alex Kerfoot (lower body) couldn't play. However, even though the rookie indeed will miss his first NHL game, Yak's illness is still bothering him to the point that he won't suit up, either. This likely will force the Avalanche to rely on defenseman Anton Lindholm to round out the fourth line with Sven Andrighetto and Colin Wilson.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Could play Tuesday
Yakupov (illness) could draw into the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Capitals if Alex Kerfoot (lower body) is unavailable.
Yakupov missed Monday's matchup with Pittsburgh due to an illness, but he's evidently already overcome that ailment ahead of Tuesday evening's contest. The 24-year-old winger has notched seven goals and 10 points in 26 games this campaign.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Under the weather
Yakupov will miss Monday's road tilt against the Penguins due to an illness, Mike Chambers of The Denver Post reports.
The first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, Yakupov missed each of the last two contests as a healthy scratch and has gone six games without recording a point. Colorado will continue to utilize a combination of 11 forwards and seven defensemen in its lineup with Yakupov out, and the 23-year-old Russian's next opportunity to play is Tuesday in Washington.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Point drought reaches six games
Yakupov has failed to register a point in six games and is averaging just 10:26 of ice time (1:56 with the man advantage) during the slump.
The 2012 first overall selection has the necessary offensive skills to score at the highest level, but for whatever reason, he can't mark the scoresheet frequently enough to provide serviceable fantasy results. Yakupov's ice time is down, and now with his third organization, time is running out for the 24-year-old Russian. It's probably best to continue to steer clear in most virtual settings.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Nets opening goal in win
Yakupov deposited his team's first goal in Sweden, scoring in a 4-3 overtime loss to Ottawa on Friday.
After an October slump, Yakupov has found November more to his liking, scoring in three of four contests, including this latest one as part of the NHL's SAP Global Series event. He remains prone to hot and cold streaks, but for now, Yak's probably worth keeping in your lineup.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Quiet following strong start
Yakupov hasn't recorded a point through the past four games.
After recording three goals and two helpers over the first four games of the season, Yakupov has cooled down significantly. He logged just 8:11 of ice time and was benched last time out against St. Louis. However, Yakupov projects to return to a scoring role on a line with Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog against Dallas on Tuesday. He's likely to have plenty more offensive peaks and valleys over the coming weeks.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Tallies two points
Yakupov lit the lamp and added an assist in a 6-3 win over the Bruins on Wednesday.
The first overall pick in 2012 has never lived up to that, and by this point he's essentially been given up on. However, he's still only 23, and he has five points through four games this year. It's too early to get excited, but what is encouraging is that Yakupov has averaged more than three minutes a game on the power play with the Avalanche.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Lights the lamp twice
Yakupov scored two third-period goals to seal up Monday's shutout win over Boston. The second was an empty-netter.
Yakupov is already two-thirds of the way to last year's goal total after his late flurry. The 2012 first-overall pick has never been able to put things together offensively, but he's worth monitoring now that he's gotten a change of scenery.
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Avalanche's Nail Yakupov: Signs one-year deal
Yakupov (lower body) put pen to paper on a one-year deal with Colorado on Tuesday, Mike Chambers of The Denver Post reports.
The 2016-17 campaign was supposed to provide Yakupov with a career resurgence after he was traded away from Edmonton and joined St. Louis. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, he could never secure regular minutes with the Blues and suited up in a mere 40 contests. Even when the winger was in the lineup, he averaged a paltry 10:39 of ice time. Yakupov will look to see if the Mile High City is a better fit, but fantasy owners may want to take a wait-and-see approach on 2012's No. 1 overall pick, who's never exceeded 33 points or posted a positive rating in his five NHL seasons.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-11, 195 lbs |
| Birthplace: Nizhnekamsk, Russia |
| Age: 30 |
| Experience: 5 |
| Shoots: Left |