Avs' Yakupov on pace to smash career high in goals

Sometimes all a player needs is a fresh start.

That's what the Colorado Avalanche offered Nail Yakupov in the form of a one-year, $875,000 contract in the offseason.

The 2012 first overall pick was traded by the Oilers to the Blues prior to last season, and he contributed only three goals and six assists in 40 games for St. Louis.

Seemingly on his last legs at the NHL level, the 24-year-old is making good on his opportunity with last year's last-place team.

Yakupov scored during Sunday's win over the Red Wings, bringing his goal total to six through 19 games. That's not groundbreaking production, but it puts him on pace for 26 goals should he appear in all 82 games - a nine-goal improvement on his previous career high of 17 (scored in 48 games as a rookie in 2012-13).

The six goals he has now would put him third on the Oilers, behind only Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

His six goals have come on 33 shots, meaning a shooting percentage of 18.1, well above his 9.9 percent career average. Yakupov may level off, but he's being given an opportunity to succeed in Colorado, and even 20 goals would be a win for both player and team.

At any rate, Yakupov is on pace for a strong season, along with some job security and a raise on his next deal. He'll be a restricted free agent in 2018.