NHL Draft's overall top pick Nail Yakupov to return to his native country Russia after lockout
As many other players are moving towards European hockey leagues or their native country’s hockey leagues, the top pick of 2012 NHL Draft, Nail Yakupov has decided to move to Russia, his native country to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Yakupov’s agent, Igor Larinov broke out this news that the highly talented, 18-year-old player has decided to play for the team which is in his birth place, Neftemhimik Nizhnekamsk and would be moving there very soon.
Before moving to Sarnia Sting in Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Canada at the age of 16, Nizhnekamsk born forward played for Reaktor Nizhnekamsk in Minor Hockey League (MHL) but now he would get a chance to play top class hockey as he would be playing in Russia’s
top league.
Larinov had mentioned last month that his client would be moving to either the home country’s league or Finland’s league in case lock out takes place, but now he has chosen the Russian League, a move that was on the cards.
But the 18-year-old right winger would still need an NOC (No Objection Certificate)/ Clearance certificate or permission from International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to play in the Russian League as he had earlier signed a 3-year entry level deal with
Edmonton Oilers on 23rd June 2012 and he was assigned to play for their OHL affiliates Sarnia Sting after lockout.
According to Larinov, it might take few days for Yakupov to get that transfer card from IIHF as so many players have applied for it at the same time because of the lockout, as he said,
“There’s a hundred players, so it takes a little time. They’re not used to processing that many, so it’s a mess right now, but I think he should be ready to go in a couple of days."
A muslim from Tatarstan, Yakupov was a silver medal winner with Russian Junior Team in 2012 World Junior Championships and he helped Team Russia a lot in reaching finals by scoring 9 assists in 7 games. He also scored 100+ points in his first OHL season
by playing 65 games for 49 goals, 52 assists and 101 total points and followed it up by 69 points in 42 games of next season.
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