22-year old Russian star Alexander Radulov has wrapped up his season in the KHL after getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by Jaromir Jagr's squad.
He had 22G, 26A and 92 PIM in 52 regular season games (league leader Sergei Mozyakin had 76 points) over there with 2G, 2A and 6 PIM in 6 GP in the playoffs.
So has the possibility of Radulov making his way back to the NHL this season to play for the Nashville Predators been ruled out?
"No, not absolutely,'' GM David Poile told the Tennessean yesterday. "I'd have to talk to (Radulov's agent) and Rad to answer that, but we haven't had that discussion.''
The winger still has a year left on his contract with the Preds (he signed a three-year deal with Salavat Yulaev Ufa that now has two years remaining) and apparently, according to this article, Radulov could finish up the rest of this season in the NHL and that would still qualify as service rendered on this final year of his NHL deal. This, despite the fact that there are only a handful of games left in the season.
Then he'd be a restricted free agent this summer.
So on the one hand, it'd be good for him to help the team he worked over by leaving them in the lurch when he bolted for Russia. He'd also be freeing himself from his contractual obligation to the Preds by playing only one month of the season, as opposed to owing another six-month regular season whenever he came back to the NHL in the future... which you know he's going to do eventually.
But on the other hand, he'd still only be a restricted free agent anyway and the Preds would still "own" him. So it's not like he'd be free to sign with any team. RFA = mirage of freedom.
With this economy and the way teams may view his stability, or lack thereof, it also seems unlikely that any team would tender an outrageous offer sheet too high for the Preds to match.
Hmm. Unless my Oilers wanted to gamble on him. They could use a finisher like him to play with Ales Hemsky and K-Lowe could instruct Steve Tambellini on the finer points of Jaw-Dropping Offers 101.
But if Radulov didn't come back to the NHL this season, the Preds might actually be able to get more in a trade for him with him still having a full season of NHL service left to fulfill on a contract.
Food for thought, anyway.
This kid has a big ol' set of hockey skills and it's just a matter of time until he's dominating opposing NHL defencemen.
GABORIK HITS THE ROAD
Speaking of guys with gobs of talent that are extremely frustrating to their fantasy owners...
The Star-Tribune reports that star winger Marian Gaborik, who has missed most of this season with hip problems and the recovery process of surgery on it, is hitting the road with the team.
It's an indication that he's getting close to being able to practice with the team, which is the final step before returning to action for the first time since December 23.
"He's coming to Colorado," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said after the morning skate Tuesday. "That's what he told me. That's the only comment I have to say about that. I don't know when he's going to play, when he's going to practice. He's just coming on the trip to Colorado. After that? I don't know."
There is no timeline for practice or a return to game action, but as that ST article's author noted... it stands to reason that he wouldn't be going with the team if he wasn't close.
Gaborik may just be able to provide that last-minute goal boost needed for poolies.
WINGS TANDEM TWIST
Michigan Live reports that Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said after last night's game that he might alter the goalie rotation he has been using the past couple weeks to play Ty Conklin at home and Chris Osgood on the road.
Conklin has a dominating 14-1-0 mark at Joe Louis Arena and that loss came back in late November. He's sporting a 1.74 GAA and .935 SV% there with four of his six shutouts having been earned on home ice as well.
"Maybe we'll have to play (Conklin) again (Thursday at home vs. Calgary)," Babcock said. "Ozzie might have to play on the road and (Conklin) might have to play here.
"Just looking at the record and save percentage and how it's going, I haven't really thought about it for sure, I've just been going game to game. Oz played real well the other night in St. Louis (5-0 win on March 3). So I don't know. I'll look at the week here and decide what I'm going to do."
Osgood has an excellent 11-4-3 record at home, but his peripherals (3.48/ .871) should come with an NC-17 rating.
His splits away from home (3.12/ .885 with a 9-2-4 mark) are barely any better though, in case you were wondering.
Actually, breaking down Osgood's splits over the entire season is downright scary.
There isn't one month where his SV% is higher than .891. His lowest GAA in any month was November at 3.01 and he still went 5-0-2!
Pre All-Star (3.23/ .883) or Post All-Star (3.48/ .866), divisional games (3.46/ .853) or conference starts (3.34/ .877)... it's a mess.
But wait.
As someone who has both Osgood & Conklin (thankfully with Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist) with Henrik Zetterberg and Brian Rafalski on my fantasy team's active roster... and as the resident stats geek... I should be able to help Babcock out by mathematically figuring out the best statistical probability scenarios of Osgood coming away with stellar stats.
It's like an episode of NUMB3RS.
Ok, give me a second here.
Let's see... carry the one... consider that quotient... factor in global warming...
Hmm.
According to my calculations, there are two scenarios most likely to help the Wings:
1) Start Osgood on the road in Friday games against non-divisional teams or St. Louis. But only when there isn't a full moon in the sky, it hasn't snowed the night before and Punxsutawney Phil hasn't seen his shadow.
2) Just get it over with and declare Ty Conklin the starter for the rest of the season.
They won't yet, of course, since Osgood is the guy with the Cup rings and the Wings are a fiercely loyal organization. Osgood has also shown signs of life lately and aside from a few stinkers (the second of which was hopefully a real eye-opener for this group), the team itself has actually generally been trending in the right direction defensively and that'll help any goalie.
Also, Osgood is a veteran guy that really battles, has been through a lot in his career and he still believes he can be "the guy". A huge portion of goaltending is confidence-related and it still wouldn't take much for him to get on a roll.
He has actually only started twice since he was given a time-out by the team to refocus his game and not only did he get wins in each, but he gave up a total of one goal.
He gave up 11 goals over two relief appearances in those team clunkers @NAS and vs. CBJ.
The bottom line here though is that today is March 11th and the regular season ends in just over one month.
Time is running out.
Tick-tock Chris. Tick-tock.