Alexander Radulov considers NHL return in KHL free agency: Report
Is it possible that our favorite curfew breaker/miscreant could return to the NHL after next season?
Oh my god, please let Igor Eronko’s tweet about Alexander Radulov’s potential return to the NHL in 2016 be true. Please let it be true so we can see Keith Jones carve him on national television again. So we can see him taunt every human on the other team like a pro wrestler. Please let it be true because Alex Radulov entertains like a speeding locomotive heading for a wall.
Here is his translated interview in the Russian publication Business-Gazeta.
This is my favorite line:
At the moment I have a simple strategy: to prepare for the upcoming season and carry it with dignity. What will happen next? I think that this will be decided after the season.
Yes, because Radulov always carries himself with dignity.
In late May, there was a rumor out of Russia that said Radulov’s Russian agent had talked with the Colorado Avalanche about a possible return to North America. Patrick Roy was Radulov’s coach in junior when the Russian played with the Quebec Remparts. He is pretty much the only head coach in North America to get through to Radulov.
What does it say about a man when Roy is the only coach who could speak Radulov’s proverbial language?
With the KHL going bust recently and players jumping ship for NHL returns, it would make sense that Radulov could leave his haven in Russia and again see if he has enough to play in the world’s top hockey league. Last season, the Great Radu had 71 points in 46 games for CSKA Moscow.
Of course, this didn’t work out so well the last time he came back, that whole curfew violation thing with the Predators and being suspended in the second-round of the 2012 playoffs by the team.
He has been considered the best non-NHL player in the world since he initially left the Predators in 2008 for the KHL, though his return in 2012 dented that rep. Also Ilya Kovalchuk’s decision to play in the KHL harmed this title as well.
But you know what? Radulov’s got talent. If a coach can somehow get through to him, may as well see if you could try him for not a lot of money. He’ll be 30 years old, but will clearly be more mature this time around than his last stint in North America. (Note: sarcasm)
Though for entertainment’s sake I certainly hope he’s the same Radulov we’ve come to know and enjoy in a perverse sense.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
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