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| Yakupov sporting the Neftekhimik uniform (photo from photo.khl.ru) |
Nail Yakupov, the Edmonton Oilers' 1st overall selection at the most recent NHL Entry Draft, will be permitted to play with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, after all.
A few days ago, the IIHF ruled that Yakupov's tranfer card was invalid, because as a player of major junior eligibility, Hockey Canada had never approved of said transer to send him overseas. Yakupov was thought to be headed back to play for the OHL's Sarnia Sting for the remainder of the NHL lockout as a result of the IIHF's ruling, but after some slight coaxing from his agent, legend Igor Larionov, Hockey Canada approved of Yakupov's transfer on Saturday, making him eligible for KHL competition.
Neftekhimik and Russia Hockey were both threatened with hefty fines by the IIHF if Yakupov were to continue to play with the invalid transfer card, but all parties involved can now rest easy and not worry about repercussions of the offensively gifted Yakupov's participation in KHL competition.
Yakupov is not expected to dress in Neftekhimik's next game on Monday against Dynamo Minsk.