Wandering Russian: Radulov strengthens Nashville ahead of Stanley Cup

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Published time: March 20, 2012 11:38
Edited time: March 20, 2012 16:12

Aleksandr Radulov is returning to the NHL (RIA Novosti / Alexey Kudenko)

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Hockey, KHL, NHL, Salavat Yulaev

The KHL's most prolific player Aleksandr Radulov is going to return to his former NHL team, the Nashville Predators, and see out the rest of his contract.

The Russian’s signing for Salavat Yulaev in 2008 created a rift between the world's two biggest ice hockey leagues. Disputes over his contract caused a major row.

The gist of the problem was that in 2008 Radulov, one of the most talented young Russian players in North America, was still had one more season to run on his Nashville contract. After been offered better conditions in Ufa, Radulov notified his team of his desire to play in Russia.

Shortly after, the NHL, and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) stressed Radulov was obliged by his contract to play another year for the Predators, and signing with Salavat was a direct violation of an agreement made the previous day between the NHL and all international hockey leagues to respect players' existing contracts.

The KHL, in their turn, argued that Radulov signed on July 5, five days before the agreement was made. A few days after, the IIHF suspended Radulov from international play, but the ban was lifted after it appeared there was no legal ground to suspend him.

The star forward was the top scorer for Salavat with 25 goals during the KHL regular season. But the reigning champions stumbled at the first hurdle in the on-going play-offs leaving the 25-year-old free to re-join his former NHL side.

Radulov is now determined to work out his contract in Nashville till the end. He is expected to appear on the ice on Thursday night in the Predators game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will be also allowed to play in the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, his future still remains unclear. In July he will become a restricted free agent, which makes it possible for him to change club, or even league.

So far he hasn’t commented on whether he would like to return in the KHL or not.

Comments (2)

MoMo 23.03.2012 10:46

Radulov had a goal last night in his first game back with Nashville, but Malkin scored twice for the Penguins, who won 5-1.. Radulov has joined a club who have given up 11 goals in the last 2 games, and won't get far in the playoffs with that style of defence..

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Donald 20.03.2012 19:04

&n bsp; This is a significant development with regard to the playoffs. Nashville already strengthened itself with the late-season trade acquisitions of Andrei Kostytsin (reuniting him with his brother Sergei), and also Gaustad and Gill. Now, you throw Radulov into the mix, with what he has the potential to do, and this team becomes a real threat to go all the way to the finals. I don`t think any other team would want to meet them in the post-season.

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