Yakovlev, 26, has spent the past six seasons, 2012-18, in the Kontinental Hockey League including three each with SKA St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. He most recently completed his third campaign with SKA, where he recorded five goals and four assists for nine points and 14 penalty minutes in 35 games. In 2016-17, Yakovlev set career highs in assists (15) points (21) and plus/minus (+30), while helping St. Petersburg win the Gagarin Cup. Through 301 career KHL games, the Magnitogorsk, Russia native has 26 goals and 42 assists for 68 points and 210 penalty minutes with a +29 rating. He added two goals and eight assists for ten points with 34 penalty minutes in 67 KHL playoff contests.

The 6-0, 190lb., left-shooting blueliner won a Gold Medal with the Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, notching one assist in five games. Yakovlev has also represented Russia at three World Championships, participating in the recently concluded tournament this year, while winning a gold medal with the 2014 squad and a silver medal with the 2015 team.