Selecting Nail Yakupov with the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft was a no-brainer for the Edmonton Oilers after the Nizhnekamsk, Russia native scored 80 goals and totaled 170 points in 107 games. However, after putting together a decent rookie campaign where he scored 17 goals and totaled 31 points in 48 games, the 24-year-old has only hit the 30-point mark twice in his NHL career.
Although he hasn’t turned into the star a lot of scouts expected him to be by now, he still happens to be a fan favourite in Colorado for the way he treats the fans, especially the youngsters.
On Monday night Yakupov ended up making even more fans as he spent his night off surprising a local youth sled hockey team with brand new equipment.
Not only were they shocked to see Yakupov standing on the other side of the door, but they were even more shocked when they found out they were going home with brand new equipment courtesy of Yakupov and Warrior Hockey.
He might not be the superstar that everyone expected him to be on the ice, but he’s certainly acting like one off of it.
(H/T Twitter/Avalanche)
