Nail Yakupov’s story is, if nothing else, unique.
Five summers ago, his name was called first overall at the NHL draft in Pittsburgh. Hailed as the consensus top prospect, his raw skills and electric scoring ability were seen as a boon to the Edmonton Oilers, a team so dreadful that Yakupov represented their third first overall pick in the previous three years.
Yet, on July 4, he signed a one-year contract with the team whose point total last season made those Oilers teams from the 2010-12 era look good. Along with Jonathan Bernier, the 23-year-old right wing represents the only free agent acquired by the Avs this summer.