Report: Alex Radulov signs 3-year contract extension to remain in KHL

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 21, 2010 6:33 PM EDT

A report from Sports Daily, a Russian news site, indicates that former Nashville Predator Alexander Radulov has agree to a 3-year contract extension with Salavat Yulaev, the KHL club for which he left the Preds in the summer of 2008. Thanks to Predators fan @betaset on Twitter for the pointer.

Yes, Barry Trotz and Radulov didn't get along at times, but the fact remains that Radulov would make a useful addition to any NHL team, and the news that he's not coming back any time soon is a loss to the Predators organization.

I can't say I'm surprised in the least at this news. Radulov leads the KHL in scoring at this point, was named MVP of the league last season, and can establish himself as the game's biggest star in Russia. As I've said before, he'd leave millions on the table in order to come back and honor the last year of his current (and valid) Predators contract, and the buildup to the 2014 Winter Olympics, to be held on Russian ice in Sochi, has to be on his mind.

Perhaps the only disappointment here is tied to the KHL's pronouncement a few weeks ago about an agreement with the NHL to respect each other's contracts. Clearly, they don't intend to apply that respect in this situation.

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Comments

not surprised

but that just reaffirms my feelings about ole #47. traitor.
I wasn’t crazy about him possibly being back on the team, anyway… but hoped we would end up leveraging his contract into a trade or something.
Pretty obvious NHL and KHL are never gonna be legitimate partners.

by Broadwaybully on Oct 21, 2010 7:42 PM EDT reply actions

I just want that 1st round pick back.

by 29thWard on Oct 21, 2010 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly 29thWard, exactly … Poile has really shied away from Russians since that draft

by Dave_is_a_killer on Oct 21, 2010 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

eh whatever

i’ve doubted how good he would actually be in the nhl after “developing”(i use the term lightly) in the far less competitive KHL.

"It's gonna be fun on the bun."

by flyalder on Oct 22, 2010 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

It’s important to realize that nothing is final at this point, and it’s also important to realize that the KHL itself hasn’t approved anything. The club may want it, Radulov may want it, but I have to believe that this breaks the KHL-NHL agreement, and therefore won’t happen. If the rules are followed, he’ll be a Predator for 2011-12. He may intend to go back to Salavat for 2012-13, but they can’t negotiate that deal as of yet from what I understand.

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by Bruce Peter on Oct 22, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

I spoke to a representative of the KHL last week, and they do not consider the Radulov situation bound by the “agreement” enacted with the NHL. Besides, the latest reports indicate that the deal was already signed over the summer, leaving us in the same old scenario. What’s David Poile going to do? Get Nick Polano to stuff A-Rad into a car trunk and pull a Petr Klima?

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 22, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Sue ’em. Just like Washington with Semin.

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by Bruce Peter on Oct 22, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Did that do any good?

I’m not 100% conversant with the Semin scenario, but reading this, the lawsuit appears to have been ineffective, as he still stayed in Russia until he fulfilled his military “obligation”. One other difference here is that Radulov has a separate Russian agent besides Jay Grossman, who negotiated his deal with the Preds. Who would Nashville sue? A Russian player and agent in a Russian court? Good luck with that…

On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators. Catch me on Twitter at @Forechecker.

by Dirk Hoag on Oct 22, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions