Alexander Radulov confirmed yesterday that he will return to the NHL for the 2016-17 NHL season, according to a Twitter post by Sport-Express hockey writer Igor Eronko.
The 29-year-old could certainly provide an offensive boost to any number of teams. He has 47 goals and 55 assists in 154 NHL games over the course of his two short-lived stints with the Nashville Predators, and scored at better than a point-per-game pace this past season in the KHL with 23 goals and 42 assists in 53 games. However, his last stint in the NHL effectively ended when he was benched after staying out past curfew before a playoff game with the Predators. He has reportedly matured since then and now has a 5-month-old son.
It’s believed that at least four teams are interested in Radluvo’s services next season, with the Colorado Avalanche rumored to be the front-runners. Radulov previously played for Patrick Roy during his final year with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts in 2005-06, but it’s believed he desires to play for a contender and might not see Colorado as an option if he intends to win a Stanley Cup sooner rather than later.
MLive.com’s Asnar Khan confirmed that the Detroit Red Wings are on Radulov’s short list of team’s he’s interested in joining. The team has had conversation’s with Radulov’s agent and are doing their due diligence to determine if he would be a good fit for the club. As a team that struggled to score goals this season, Radulov could be an offensive boost.
Other teams that could potentially get in on the Radulov sweepstakes include the Washington Capitals, who have a strong core of Russian players, the Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks.
