Alexander Radulov: Nashville’s Hero?

The Predators are a good team. One of the best in the West. Their record (41-21-7, good for 6th overall in the league) would be much better if they weren’t battling out of the toughest division in the NHL. GM David Poile made some good additions to the lineup before the trade deadline, bringing in big Hal Gill on defense, big Paul Gaustad up front and not big but not small either Andrei Kostitsyn to score some goals. They boosted an already good team and to me and right now they are the biggest threat to the Canucks and the Red Wings in the Western Conference playoffs.

But now there is talk of a prodigal son returning to Nashville. Someone who played 2 seasons with the Predators before getting a case of the homesickies and flying back to Russia to dominate a weaker league. Someone who scored 61-91-152 in 62 games for the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL in 2005-2006. Someone who always had the potential to be the most explosively offensive (as in scoring a lot) players the Nashville Predators ever had. The man, the enigma, Alexander Radulov.

Reports have it that his path has been cleared to return the NHL and the Nashville Predators for the stretch run and the playoffs. Usually a player who has played overseas must clear waivers before returning to play for the NHL (ala Nabokov, Turco) and may not be allowed to play in the playoffs (ala Turc0), but not this time. Radulov will be allowed to return to North America without going through waivers and being claimed by the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets to help mentor, oh, I don’t know, Nail Yakupov. He will be eligible to play in the playoffs as well.

Understandably, some teams (reportedly the Canucks are included in this) have protested against Radulov’s return. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said “Any resistance would be competitive-based resistance, not logic-based resistance” and I agree with him. Like Greg Wyshynski from Puck Daddy inferred on the excellent Marek vs Wyshynski podcast, this is mostly sour grapes and terror from other teams in the Western Conference. Radulov’s return makes the Predators an even more scary prospect in the playoffs.

What can Radulov bring to the Predators? Offense. More offense than we’ve ever seen from them. Funny thing is though the Predators score more goals than perceived. They are 9th in the NHL in goals for per game (2.84) and have the 2nd best power play (21.1%). Radulov will give that potent power play another boost and he will be strong 5 on 5 too. In the 2 seasons he played with the Predators earlier in his career he put up 44-51-95 in 145 games. Since then playing for Ufa Salavat Yulayev in the KHL he has put up 91-163-254 in 210 games. The guy can score, and setup scoring as well. Potentially he could push the Predators to another level.

Unbelievably to me considering their goaltending and defense, the Predators are 10th in the NHL in goals against per game (2.54), behind even San Jose. Radulov probably won’t improve that stat for them, but at least with him in the line up they are a better chance of scoring more than 2.54 per game and therefore winning. Radulov could be the hero they need.

The Western Conference had best be scared. The Nashville Predators are fast becoming  the Boston Bruins of the West – big, tough, skilled with strong d and a great goalie. If the Canucks (or even the Red Wings) come up against them in the playoffs, they are in for a hell of a tough series.