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Yakupov: “I definitely want to go to Edmonton and play for the Oilers”

Nail Yakupov

We linked to this in the Morning Skate, but if you missed it, likely first overall pick Nail Yakupov would be more than happy to get drafted by the Oilers this summer.

“I definitely want to go to Edmonton and play for the Oilers, for sure,” Yakupov told the Edmonton Sun.

“I’ve played in Canada, in Sarnia, for the last two years. I love the people. I very much want to play for a Canadian team like Edmonton. I want to play for those guys!

“If they draft me, I will work very hard to make the team, give it everything I’ve got to work hard and play for the Oilers.

“I want to be No. 1. No. 1 is No. 1. I don’t want to be second or third.”

Of course, Yakupov could still go first overall and end up somewhere else if the Oilers trade the pick, an option GM Steve Tambellini has said he’ll explore.

Or, Edmonton could draft Yakupov and trade a young forward like Sam Gagner, or maybe Ales Hemsky, for help on the back end.

At this point, all options are on the table, which should make things interesting this summer.