Oilers trade Nail Yakupov to St. Louis

The Edmonton Oilers have traded former No. 1 pick Nail Yakupov to the St. Louis Blues for Zach Pochiro and a conditional 2017 draft pick.

Yakupov, the NHL's top pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, had been rumoured to be on the trading block. One of four No. 1 picks the Oilers have had in the past six years, he had 50 goals and 111 points in 252 games.

According to the website General Fanager, Yakupov is in the final year of a two-year deal that carries a cap hit of $2.5 million. He will be a restricted free agent following this season.

The trade continues a rebuild for the Oilers, who haven't made the playoffs since 2006 when they lost in the Stanley Cup final to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Oilers also traded Taylor Hall, the 2010 No. 1 pick, to the New Jersey Devils this summer.

Pochiro, a 22-year-old left winger, was the 112th overall pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. He played last season with the Quad City Mallards of the East Coast Hockey League. If Yakupov scores 15 or more this season, it becomes a 2018 second-round pick.

Also Friday, Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman reported the Oilers have signed free-agent defenceman Kris Russell. 

Russell deal may not be announced until tomorrow, but word is it's a one-year deal at approx $3.1M

— @FriedgeHNIC

Russell, 29, started last season with Calgary before being traded to Dallas at the trade deadline. He had a cap hit of $2.6 million.

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Oilers trade Nail Yakupov to St. Louis