NHL: St. Louis Blues allow RW Nail Yakupov to become free agent

The St. Louis Blues opted against extending a qualifying offer to right winger Nail Yakupov on Monday, making the top overall pick of the 2012 draft an unrestricted free agent.

Yakupov collected just nine points (three goals, six assists) in 40 games last season after spending four years with the Edmonton Oilers. The 23-year-old Russian, who will be free to sign with any team July 1, scored 57 goals and set up 67 others in 292 career games.

The Blues tendered qualifying offers to five other restricted free agents: defensemen Colton Parayko and Petteri Lindbohm, forwards Magnus Paajarvi and Oskar Sundqvist, and goaltender Jordan Binnington.

St. Louis also re-signed forward Wade Megan to a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old led the American Hockey League with 33 goals and finished fourth with 66 points in 73 games with the Chicago Wolves.