Revisiting Edmonton's 2012 First-Overall Pick and the Yakupov What-If
The article revisits Edmonton's 2012 first-overall selection of Nail Yakupov, a pick that did not work out. It considers realistic lottery alternatives the Oilers could have chosen instead, including Morgan Rielly, and how those players might have changed the roster. The discussion is a hindsight redraft exercise rather than a current transaction.
Edmonton’s 2012 first-overall pick, Nail Yakupov, produced little and was out of the NHL within a few seasons. The draft class was not especially deep, though later selections like Shayne Gostisbehere, Tomas Hertl, and Frederik Andersen built notable careers. At the time, none were viewed as top-pick candidates.
A redraft can only consider plausible lottery-range choices. Morgan Rielly, taken sixth by Toronto, became a productive blueliner, while Andrei Vasilevskiy, selected 19th by Tampa Bay, became a Stanley Cup-winning goalie. Edmonton later drafted Darnell Nurse, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid, so Rielly might have complemented that core.
This retrospective could interest Oilers fans, hockey analysts, and draft followers, shaping how they debate high-pick strategy and player development. It may influence expectations around young athletes, reminding audiences that careers depend on opportunity, environment, and timing. Media outlets could use such redrafts to sustain engagement, though the format may oversimplify individual outcomes and organizational decisions.