Nail Yakupov is in a much different position than he was 12 months ago. Last year Nail Yakupov was selected 2nd Overall in the CHL Import Draft. Expectations are high when you’re picked at that spot, but you never really know what to expect. On the first day of training camp, he unleashed the biggest one timer I’ve ever seen out of a 16 year old. At that moment I knew Yakupov was something special. Nail is arguably the best prospect available in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft for several reasons. First and foremost is his skating. He maintains a low centre of gravity, great strength in his lower body and his quick footwork allows his first few steps to be very strong, giving him exceptional acceleration.
He likes to keep moving, and is not a player who likes to stand still at any point except when setting up his shot. He can explode on the outside, but also has excellent lateral agility and can go outside/inside better than most players in the CHL. He is a threat regardless of the talent and size of the opposing defencemen. The release on his shot is powerful and accurate, none more so than his one-timer. Goaltenders simply need to hope that the puck hits him, because when he connects it’s just a blur. Although he’s clearly more of a finisher than a set up man, he has at times made some great reads on the play and set up some very nice goals. Offensively Yakupov is a devastating weapon, and several times last year he turned an out of reach game into a close battle. It will be interesting to watch what he does with a team with the talent Sarnia currently has. Unlike many Russian players, and very much like one that currently plays in Washington, in addition to his outstanding offensive skill set, Yakupov has excellent core strength, and centre of gravity which allows him to be capable on a team with several players 6’3”+ to throw the biggest hits in a game. He has gained a reputation of being able to level opposing players. Despite all these strengths, Nail needs to improve his play within his own zone. He did make steps to improve last year, but will need to continue to get better.
He will likely never be used as a specialist in defensive situations, but if he can prove he can take care of his own zone effectively while still putting up big offensive input for his team, it will go a long way in helping him in his attempt to secure the #1 Overall spot. Maybe the easiest way to compare Nail Yakupov is a smaller version of Alexander Ovechkin. Although it is extremely unlikely for Nail to reach Alexander’s 6’3” 225lb size, he plays a very similar game and has a great number of similar traits. It’s too bad the London Knights were unable to grab Mikhail Grigorenko with the 1st Overall pick in the CHL Import Draft, because both players will be battling for that #1 spot the entire year. However we also can’t write off Nail’s teammate Alex Galchenyuk, from that race.
