New Nail Yakupov video suggests he's eyeing a return to the NHL
Despite last appearing in the NHL in 2018, 30-year-old Nail Yakupov remains in NHL shape, and a recent video has reignited speculation about his return.
The Edmonton Oilers had four No. 1 overall picks in the 2010s, and while Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Taylor Hall have become fantastic NHL players, the same can't be said for Nail Yakupov. Despite bringing plenty of hype from Russia, Yakupov couldn't find his footing in the NHL. After six underwhelming seasons, he left the league following the 2017/18 season with the Colorado Avalanche.
Now, speculation is swirling about a possible comeback. A video has surfaced on social media showing Yakupov training alongside Andrei Svechnikov, sparking rumors that he may be aiming for an NHL return.
At 30 years old, Yakupov is still in good shape, but his KHL performance since 2018/19 hasn't been impressive, with none of his seasons surpassing 30 points. This raises doubts about his ability to compete at the NHL level. Given that few teams need a player like him, it's unclear if there will be any interest.
However, it would be an incredible story for one of the NHL's biggest busts to return and become a star. While no teams have shown interest yet, it wouldn't be surprising if a team decided to give him a chance on a cheap deal.
| POLL | ||
3 AOUT | 96 ANSWERS New Nail Yakupov video suggests he's eyeing a return to the NHL Will Nail Yakupov ever appear in the NHL again? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 18.8 % |
| No | 78 | 81.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
