After a long escape to the KHL, Alexander Radulov is returning to the NHL. Again.
The oft maligned Russian star has caused a frenzy, as rumors swirled about his potential return to North America. That rumor was reportedly confirmed to Russian media last week as Radulov indicated he is indeed looking to make a comeback in the NHL next season.
With his Nashville Predators affiliation expired, the 29-year-old is free to sign with any team he chooses, and a fair few have been involved already.
While Colorado, Detroit, Washington, and Florida appear to be the frontrunners for the unpredictable winger, reports from Russian media suggested Radulov may be considering signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs along with his CSKA Moscow teammate Nikita Zaitsev.
Toronto may seem an odd choice for the KHL standout, as he’s spoken about his desire to win a Stanley Cup before his career is through and the Leafs have plenty of work to do before they’re in that conversation, but it’s likely a very appealing option.
The central issue at the core of Radulov’s decision is likely his role. He’s already made it clear that he’s unwilling to be a small-time player in the NHL, serving a limited role to help push his club to a championship. That’s simply not the type of player Radulov is.
We saw that when he first bolted the NHL for more favourable conditions in the KHL in 2008, and when his lack of dedication the Predators’ cause in 2012 resulted in a team suspension during the postseason.
Rather, he seems a player that wants to be on the ice, in the prime position to succeed offensively, and serving as one of his club’s central offensive weapons. On that note, a true contender like Washington seems to be out of the question, as the Capitals’ forward depth would significantly limit Radulov’s potential role.
An up-and-comer seems more likely then, which brings Toronto into the mix. While 2015-16 was a blatant failure for the club (albeit by design), it’s hard to deny they’re gaining momentum.
Their crop of exceptional prospects – Mitch Marner and William Nylander in particular – dazzled for their respective clubs this season. Head coach Mike Babcock began to implement the structure that allowed the Detroit Red Wings to reign as one of the most consistently successful organizations in all of professional sports. New General Manager Lou Lamoriello has stockpiled enough draft picks to make waves via the trade market this summer.
And, of course, Toronto just snagged the first-overall selection in the 2016 draft, giving them a shot at drafting star centerman Auston Matthews.
The seeds have been planted for Toronto to have much more success in the coming seasons, and while that won’t mean a Stanley Cup next year, it does make the Leafs a much more attractive option for prospective free-agents.
Looking to Radulov, the Leafs seem like an excellent fit. Today’s Slapshot’s own Carolyn Wilke summed it up aptly:
He already checked off box number four with his KHL stint, so Radulov’s 2016-17 decision will hinge on one or more of the first three of these options. As for No. 1, he’s already been paid well in the KHL.
Which leaves us with the third option. It’s unlikely that a true contender can give Radulov a significant enough role to warrant him leaving a league in which he remains one of the elite players.
Think back to Jaromir Jagr’s return to North America. The legendary scorer stressed the fact that he wanted to join a club that gave him a significant chance at contributing consistently. He could have very easily joined a powerhouse team with plenty of offensive firepower (i.e. the rumors of him returning to Pittsburgh), but the prospect of being the fourth or fifth option on a team and barely seeing any power play time wasn’t appealing to the veteran.
Joining a team like Toronto, Radulov could have the opportunity to be front and center, playing a significant offensive role on a team that was fairly low on top-tier NHL talent in 2015-16.
Toronto’s skill level will likely improve dramatically next season if Matthews, Marner, and Nylander are all in the fold, but a veteran like Radulov – who’s finished among the top three in KHL scoring in three of the last four seasons – would still merit a leading role as the young guns find their game.
For Radulov, one crucial factor could be the presence of Babcock behind the bench, as well as his puck possession-focused system.
The success of Babcock’s system in 2015-16 helped the talent-deprived Leafs jump from 27th in the league to 13th in Corsi For percentage, finishing the season with a mark of 51.34 percent. The Leafs also finished sixth in the league in shots per game (30.7), but their central issue was the ability to actually convert on those chances.
Stepping into a situation wherein the team’s system is driven by consistent offensive opportunities but in need of a closer, Radulov would have the chance to thrive. It would be a drastic change from the Predators team he played for in 2012 – Nashville ranked 29th in the league that year with an even-strength Corsi For percentage of 46.6. His previous season in the NHL was 2007-08, when Nashville ranked 14th with a Corsi For percentage of 50.5 – the result of which was a 26-goal, 58-point season for Radulov.
Joining the Leafs could provide Toronto with some exceptional scoring potential in their top six as well, as Radulov could net a shot at top-line minutes alongside first-line veterans James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri, while Babcock could send out a second line consisting of high-flying prospects Marner, Matthews and Nylander.
Given the potential role allotted for him, the potential improvement of the organization as a whole, and the impact Babcock’s system could have on his offensive game, Toronto seems like a prime opportunity for Radulov’s return.
Whether the club is willing to bring him in is another story. The Leafs would undoubtedly need to get some inkling of Radulov’s true commitment level before bringing him aboard, as they’ll likely be wary of his attitude rubbing off on the team’s promising young prospects.
However, with a trio of hard-nosed leaders like Lou Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock holding down the fort, it doesn’t seem like in-house discipline would be an issue.
As is usually the case with Radulov, there’s no telling what he’ll decide and where he’ll move to next. But if the skilled winger is looking for a chance to contribute meaningfully in the NHL rather than simply ride some coattails to a Stanley Cup, then the blue and white might just be in the Russian phenom’s future.
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