From Disappointment to Asset: Yakupov's Trade Impact

0:00You're listening to NHL News today. Subscribe now for fast, daily updates on your team. Back in the 2011-2012 NHL season, Edmonton Oilers fans chanted for losses to land the top draft pick. It worked, and they selected Neil Yackepaw first overall, hoping he'd spark a new era alongside young stars, like Taylor Hall and Ryan Nujan Hopkins. But over four seasons, Yackepaw managed just 50 goals in 111 points in 252 games, struggling with a minus, 88 plus minus rating. A change came in October 2016 when the Oilers shipped him to the St. Louis Blues for a conditional third-round pick in 2017 and Prospect Zack Pochero. Yackepaw fell short of the goals needed to upgrade that pick, and Pochero soon moved on as a free agent after minor league stints. That third-rounder, the 82 overall selection proved valuable. On draft day 2017, Edmonton packaged it with their

1:00126 pick to move up just four spots from Arizona, grabbing the 78th overall choice. They used it on goalie steward Skinner from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Skinner rose quickly, becoming the Oilers starter by 2022. In 51 games during 2024-25, he posted 26 wins, a 2.82 goals, against average, and 0.89. Six save percentage, earning his first all-star nod at the 2025 game in Florida. Fast forward to 2025-26, an inconsistent team play led Edmonton to trade Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jerry and Samuel Poland. Was started as a disappointing first overall pick, turned into a smart asset flip for the Oilers. The Daily News Now is made possible with support from our sponsor. Head in, sound on, lights out, that is the routine, S-O-L-L-I-SOLYPELLOW.COM.