Jerome Miron – USA TODAY Sports
It may have taken a half season to happen, but Nail Yakupov is finally showing everyone why the Edmonton Oilers nabbed him with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft. The promising rookie has shook off a mid-season slump and come in strong in April, and with the Oilers eliminated from playoff contention yet again he is giving the team hope for the future.
Yakupov started the season strong, scoring four goals in his first seven games. After that, he managed just two goals in February and failed to find the back of the net in 15 games in March. He must like playing in April, as he has caught fire in scoring six goals and collecting 10 points in the last 12 games. He now has 12 goals and 26 points in his rookie season, good enough for fourth on the Oilers behind Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner. His late efforts are impressive but likely won’t bring him much Calder Trophy consideration, especially since fellow rookie teammate Justin Schultz delivered a much more consistent season.
When the lockout extinguished hope of the season starting on time, Yakupov returned to Russia to play in the KHL rather than play another year in the OHL for the Sarnia Sting. He was nearly a point-per-game player for Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik, and playing against older, more seasoned competition seems to have helped him transition to the NHL. As the Oilers head home early with more questions about what’s missing, the addition of Yakupov to a group of forwards that is rich with young talents like Hall, Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins should help point out that they definitely have the scoring talent to be a playoff contender in the future.
Jonathan Katje is an NHL senior writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter or add him to your circles on Google Plus.
