Yakupov, top pick in 2012, hopes career resurrects with Colorado Yakupov’s career statistics
Newcomer Nail Yakupov and many of his Avalanche teammates are kindred spirits when it comes to resurrecting a young career.
Yakupov, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, hasn’t done anything spectacular since leading the Edmonton Oilers with 17 goals in the lockout-shortened 48-game season of 2012-13. And the Avs? Well, they have a handful of high-profile 20-somethings coming off the worst year of their careers.
Matt Duchene, Nathan Mackinnon and Gabe Landeskog — top-three overall draft picks themselves — are hoping to put the recent past behind them.
“Every year is important for everyone in this locker room,” Yakupov said. “This team, they didn’t have a good year last year. And me? I wasn’t really happy about my year as well. Now we move forward and just try to have fun and play the game.”
The Russian-born Yakupov, who turns 24 on Oct. 6, was traded from Edmonton to the St. Louis Blues just before last season began. He played in just 40 games and had only three goals for the Blues.
Yakupov became a free agent July 1 and agreed to terms with the Avalanche on July 4 to a modest one-year, $875,000 contract. He was making $2.5 million with the Oilers/blues.
“They had really good interest in me,” Yakupov said of the Avs, who finished with a league-low and clubrecord worst 48 points last season. “I talked to them a few times and the agents Season Team 2012-13 Edmonton Oilers 2013-14 Edmonton Oilers 2014-15 Edmonton Oilers 2015-16 Edmonton Oilers 2016-17 St. Louis Blues
NHL totals * Lockout-shortened season GP 48 63 81 60 40 292
were working on it. I’m happy. I want to be here. I know a few of the guys already and it’s a good group.”
Yakupov mostly has been playing left wing on a line with Duchene, the center, and rookie Alex Kerfoot.
“That line has been really good in camp. All three of those guys,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “I think they’ve found a little chemistry there. Hopefully, that will continue and get better and better.”
Asked whether he thinks Yakupov will be used in a Goals 17 11 14
8
3 53 Assists 14 13 19 15
6
67 Points 31* 24 33 23
9 150
top-six forward role to begin the season, Bednar quickly said: “Yes.”
“There’s no doubt that he’s talented. There’s no doubt he has a lot of skill,” Landeskog said of Yakupov. “He had some injuries, some tough seasons, but we’re happy that he’s here. What I’ve seen from him so far, I’m really impressed.”
Footnote. In St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday night, the Avs lost 2-1 to the Wild in a preseason game. Andrew Agozzino scored Colorado’s goal.