The Edmonton Oilers have traded Nail Yakupov to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Zach Pochiro and a conditional 2017 third round pick.
The Oilers said the draft pick becomes a second-round selection if Yakupov scores 15 goals or more during the 2016-17 season.
Yakupov was selected first overall by the Oilers in the 2012 NHL entry draft.
Yakupov, 23, had 23 points, including eight goals and 15 assists, in 60 games with the Oilers last season. The Blues said Yakupov will wear number 64 in St. Louis.
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Yakupov is expected to arrive in St. Louis on Saturday and practice with the team on Monday.
In his past four NHL seasons with the Oilers, the Russia native has accumulated 111 points, including 50 goals and 61 assists.
This is the second time this year the Oilers have traded away a number one overall draft pick.
READ MORE: Edmonton Oilers trade Taylor Hall to New Jersey
In June, the Oilers traded forward Taylor Hall to the News Jersey Devils for defenceman Adam Larsson. Hall was selected first overall in the 2010 entry draft.
Pochiro, a 22-year-old centre, was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL entry draft. Pochiro had nine goals and 17 assists in 44 games last season for Quad City in the ECHL
Watch below: Will Nail Yakupov return to the Edmonton Oilers next season? When asked during an end-of-season media availability in April, Yakupov said ‘it’s big business.”
With a file from The Canadian Press.
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