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General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers, with the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft have selected Nail Yakupov from the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.

Yakupov, in his second season with the Sting, played in 42 games collecting 69 points (31G, 38A).
 
In 2010-11 the 5’11”, 190-pound right-winger recorded 101 points (49G, 52A) in 65 games. That year he was named the OHL Rookie of the Month three times as well as the OHL Rookie of the Year and BMO Rookie of the Year in the CHL.

Yakupov, who hails from Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan, was part of Team Russia in the 2011 World Junior U18 Championship. He collected 13 points (6G, 7A) and scored a hat trick in the bronze-medal game, including an empty-net goal with four seconds left, helping defeat Team Canada 6-4.

Yakupov was also part of the 2012 World Junior Championship with Team Russia that lost 1-0 to Sweden in the gold medal game, acquiring a silver medal. In seven games he had a team-high nine assists and was +5.

Edmonton Oilers hockey is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial, Cenovus Energy and Ford.

FULL COVERAGE

VIDEO

• EXCLUSIVE: Yakupov with Tom Gazzola & Jack Michaels
• BEHIND-THE-SCENES: Draft Day Yak Attack
• IN FOCUS: Yak It Is - Round 1 Wrap-Up
  
• RAW: Steve Tambellini after Round 1
• RAW: Stu MacGregor after Round 1
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Nail Yakupov
  
• GM Steve Tambellini makes the 1st overall selection
• Yakupov and Tambellini with TSN's James Duthie

AUDIO

• EXCLUSIVE - Yakupov with Tom Gazzola & Jack Michaels
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins one-on-one with Tom Gazzola
• Stu MacGregor - Draft Day 1
  
• Steve Tambellini - Draft Day 1

NAIL YAKUPOV PROFILE:

	NAIL YAKUPOV
	North American Skater
	SARNIA, OHL
	Final Rank:	1	Midterm Rank:	1
	Position:	RIGHT WING	Shoots:	LEFT
	Height:	5' 10"	Weight:	189
	Born:	OCTOBER 6, 1993	Hometown:	NIZHNEKAMSK, RUS
	Born in:	NIZHNEKAMSK, RUS

NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards
"His first step and ability to control bouncing pucks, knock them down and make a play are the best of any of the guys in the draft, in my opinion. He really gets up to top speed very quickly and his hands are outstanding. Like Pavel Bure, Yakupov is dangerous every shift. He may not have been dominant on every shift like Bure was, but he created something every shift … you have to be aware where he is on the ice all the time."

MORE ON YAKUPOV

• 2012 Draft Prospect Profile - Nail Yakupov
  
• June 21: Yakupov jovial, confident heading into draft
  
• June 21: DRAFT - Yakupov RAW
• June 8: IN FOCUS - First Impressions
  
• June 4: RAW - Yakupov Press Conference
• June 3: Yakupov visits Edmonton; wants to go first overall
  
• June 3: EXCLUSIVE - Yakupov arrives in Edmonton
• June 1: Yakupov at the Combine
• May 31: Yakupov before the Combine
• What makes a No. 1 overall pick?

FAVOURITES

• NHL team: Detroit and Vancouver
• NHL player: Pavel Bure, Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby
• Shootout move: "It’s a secret"
• Goal celebration: "I love to celebrate"
• Video game: NHL '12
• TV show: NHL Hockey and Russian TV
• Actor: Jason Statham
• Website: nhl.com
• Activity away from the rink: Hanging out with friends and teammates
• Home-cooked meal: Pasta and chicken