Nail Yakupov is a young Russian hockey player playing in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues team. Prizewinner of junior and youth world championships. Role of the game - extreme striker.
Athlete Biography
Nail Yakupov was born in October 1993 in Nizhnekamsk. His father is a well-known hockey functionary, so the boy from an early age was inextricably linked with hockey. Already in three years he had the first skates.
In 2009, the 16-year-old striker was enlisted in the local Reactor team, which took part in the Youth Hockey League. For the season, Nail Yakupov played in 14 fights, in which he scored 4 goals and gave 2 assists.
An unfortunate hand injury forced the athlete to miss the ending of the season, and she also prevented playing at the junior world championship as part of the Russian team.
Professional career
In 2010, the 17-year-old striker in the KHL draft defended Neftekhimik. Also, under the second draft number, he was chosen by the Ontario Sarnia Sting club, playing in the Hockey League of Canada. After some deliberation, Yakupov decided to continue his career overseas.
In two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, Nail has demonstrated tremendous potential. In the debut championship, he became the top scorer of “Sarnia Sting”, gaining 101 (49 + 52) points in 65 matches. With this indicator, the Russian hockey player received the Emms Family Awards - prize for the best newcomer in the league.
The following season, Nail Yakupov became one of the leaders of the club from Ontario. In 42 fights, he scored 31 goals and gave 38 assists. At the end of the championship, he decided to try his hand at the most powerful league on the planet - the NHL.
Starting from the 2012/13 season, Nail Yakupov is a hockey player at the Edmonton Oilers club, who chose the Russian forward for the draft with the first number. A three-year rookie contract was signed, but due to a lockout in the NHL, the debut only took place in January next year in a game with Vancouver Canucks. A few days later he threw the first goal into the goal of “Sharks” from San Jose.
In total, in the current draw, the striker played in 48 fights and scored 31 (17 + 14) points. With this indicator, he received the title of best scorer and sniper among NHL rookies, and also became the most productive player in his team.
In the next three seasons at Edmonton Oilers, Nail played in 204 matches, scored 33 goals and authored 47 assists.
In October 2016, as a result of the exchange, Yakupov transferred to Set Louis Blues, where he regularly plays in the same attacking line with another Russian hockey player - Vladimir Tarasenko.
International career
For the first time, Nail Yakupov received an invitation to the junior team of Russia in 2010, but due to an injury he could not go to the world championship. A year later, he was one of the team's most productive players. In 7 matches, he scored 6 goals and assisted partners 7 times. With such a brilliant game, the 18-year-old striker helped his team win the bronze of the World Cup.
In 2012, Yakupov as part of the Russian youth team reached the final of the MFM. A year later, Nail, as the team captain, leads the team to bronze medals. Since 2014, the coaches of the main team of Russia are gradually starting to attract a promising extreme striker to the training camp.
Athlete's personal life
The young athlete is doing very well not only in the ice arenas, but also in his personal life. For several years he has been dating the popular microblogger Natasha Bliss, whom he met on the Internet.
Nail Yakupov and his girlfriend are absolutely not embarrassed by their relationship, posting their love messages to each other on their blogs on Twitter. Perhaps in the near future the couple will decide to legitimize their relationship.