Nail Yakupov is a Muslim Tatar ice hockey forward from Russia. He was the first overall pick by the Oilers in 2012, but he failed to impress in the NHL. He also played for the Blues and the Avalanche, but he is now seen as one of the worst draft busts ever. In this article, we will explore Yakupov's career and what went wrong with his time in the NHL.
Nail Yakupov, a Russian professional ice hockey player, has signed a new contract with the Colorado Avalanche. The contract is for one year, worth $875,000, with the full amount guaranteed. Yakupov will earn an annual average salary of $875,000 as part of the deal.
The 29-year-old winger joined the Avalanche in 2017 after playing for the Edmonton Oilers and the St. Louis Blues. He scored nine goals and seven assists in 58 games for the Avalanche in the 2017-18 season.
The star has not played in the NHL since then, spending the last four seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He hopes to revive his career with the Avalanche and prove himself as a valuable player.
Nail Yakupov started his professional ice hockey career in Russia, playing for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the KHL. He made history in 2012 when he became the first Tatar and Muslim player to be drafted first overall in the NHL by the Edmonton Oilers. However, he did not perform well in the NHL and was traded to the St. Louis Blues after three seasons with the Oilers.
Yakupov spent one season with the Blues and then signed with the Colorado Avalanche for another season. He left the NHL in 2018, scoring only 136 points in 350 games.
The athlete returned to the KHL and joined Avangard Omsk. Yakupov is considered one of the biggest draft busts in NHL history, as he failed to live up to his potential and expectations.
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Nail Yakupov does not reveal much about his personal life to the public. He has never talked about his relationship status or been spotted with a partner. Therefore, there is a question about whether he is currently dating or not.
Yakupov is a private person who keeps his personal information to himself. He is focused on his hockey career and does not seem to be interested in sharing his personal life with the media. This has led to speculation about his relationship status, but there is no evidence to support any of the rumors.
Nail Yakupov’s parents are Rail Yakupov and Firdaus Yakupova. They have been very supportive of his hockey career and moved with him to different countries to help him pursue his dream.
They first moved to Canada when he joined the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League, and then to Edmonton when he was drafted by the Oilers in 2012.
Yakupov has said that his parents were always there for him and helped him overcome shyness and language barriers. He also has a sister named Amina who is a figure skater. She stayed in Russia with her grandparents while Yakupov and his parents moved around.
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Nail Yakupov attended Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School in Sarnia, Ontario, while playing for the Sting. He graduated from high school in 2012 and was accepted to Western University in London, Ontario. However, he decided to defer his admission to pursue his hockey career.
Yakupov has said that he would like to continue his education someday and study business or law. He believes that education is important and that hockey is not everything. He also wants to learn more about the culture and history of Canada, where he spent three years of his life.