Paying Off His Debt?

A deep playoff run was cut short for  Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League on Friday. Ak Bars Kazan avenged last years semi-final loss to Ufa with a 4-3 series win in this years quarter finals. After winning the Gagarin Cup last year, a first round exit in this years playoffs was the last thing the team wanted. The loss may be the last thing on their mind as they may also lose their star player.

Radulov holding the Gagarin Cup in 2011

Alexander Radulov has been the KHL leading scorer for the past two seasons in which he averaged 1.38 P/G including 63 Pts in 50 games this past season. He has basically carried the club on his back. This is why losing him would be a crushing feeling. 

The very same crushing feeling that the NHL's Nashville Predators felt at the end of the 07/08 campaign when Radulov decided to go back to Russia. He still has one year left on his entry-level contract with the Predators. Playing the remainder of this season in Nashville would use up the last year of that contract, which would allow him to work out a deal this summer. 

This is a win win situation for both parties. Radulov would earn the final portion of his entry-level contract and be able to sign a massive contract for next season. If he does not return to Nashville now then next season he would make under a million dollars as he would still be under an entry-level contract. From a financial aspect, it makes a lot of sense for him to join the Predators this season as well as for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Provided that he actually wants to return to the NHL. 

The Nashville Predators win because they would get an offensive power house going into the playoffs. Assuming that they maintain their current standing in the Western Conference. Nashville currently averages 2.82 G/G and rank 9th overall in the NHL. Adding an offensive superstar to the roster could result in an offensive explosion. The Predators who already have solid goaltending and impeccable defence would be a complete team if Radulov were to join the club. A deep playoff run may be in the clubs near future.

Radulov recored 58 Pts in 81 games in his last season with the Predators as a very young player. What is key to note is that Radulov has developed. Four seasons in Russia have seen him become a more disciplined offensive power house. He has experience at an elite level that would add a great deal to the Predators. Winning a major championship last year in Russia looks great on a resume for a club looking at winning a Stanley Cup. 

It is very hard to imagine how Radulov would do in Nashville but 58 Pts in his sophomore season only heightens his potential. That season was before he matured and developed as a player, so really that was just the beginning. Radulov could do a lot of damage on the scoreboard for Nashville before the year is out.

If Radulov does come over than lookout, the Predators just got dangerous.  

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