2015 NHL Draft
SHARE
Share with your Friends


Unsigned transfer card benches Yakupov

Thursday, 09.27.2012 / 9:44 AM / News

NHL.com

Share with your Friends


Unsigned transfer card benches Yakupov
An unsigned International Transfer Card (ITC) has forced Nail Yakupov off the ice.

An unsigned International Transfer Card (ITC) has forced Nail Yakupov off the ice.

Yakupov, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, had been playing with his hometown team, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, in the Kontinental Hockey League, but the International Ice Hockey Federation ruled he had illegally played -- because of the lack of a valid ITC -- in the two KHL games in which he appeared.

Hockey Canada did not sign the ITC because it believes Yakupov's rights belong to the Sarnia Sting, the junior team for whom he played the past two seasons and for whom he is still eligible to play this season. Yakupov is 18 years old and still has junior eligibility, according to the Canadian Hockey League, which oversees the three Major Junior Hockey leagues in the country.

"[We] cannot sign the international transfer card for Nail Yakupov until the Sarnia Sting releases this player from his contract," Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said. "If Sarnia advises Hockey Canada that it has released the player, Hockey Canada will sign his transfer card."

Sarnia has yet to comment on the matter.

Tuesday, the sport's governing body levied a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs against the Russian hockey federation as punishment for allowing Yakupov to play in the KHL without proper documentation. It also warned of stiffer penalties for both the player and federation if it happened again.

NHL.TV™

NHL GameCenter LIVE™ is now NHL.TV™.
Watch out-of-market games and replays with an all new redesigned media player, mobile and connected device apps.

LEARN MORE

NHL Mobile App

Introducing the new official NHL App, available for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablets. A host of new features and improved functionality are available across all platforms, including a redesigned league-wide scoreboard, expanded news coverage, searchable video highlights, individual team experiences* and more. The new NHL App on your tablet also introduces new offerings such as 60fps video, Multitasking** and Picture-in-Picture.

*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads