The Detroit Red Wings could replace one Russian talent likely departing for the KHL with another one heading the other way.
The Red Wings, who may lose star forward Pavel Datsyuk, have interest in signing unrestricted free agent Alexander Radulov to a one-year contract for 2016-17, MLive.com’s Ansar Khan reports.
Radulov, a former Nashville Predator, announced last month that he will again be seeking work in the NHL. The new father is believed to be seeking a two-year contract.
According to MLive.com, Detroit spoke with Radulov and his agent, Yuri Nikolaev, shortly after being eliminated in Round 1 of the playoffs despite concerns about his off-ice demeanor.
“They believe signing him to a one-year deal, likely in the $4 million to $5 million range, would limit their risk, a source said. Radulov might be more motivated to prove himself and earn a longer contract and the Red Wings could part with him after one season if the move backfires,” writes Khan.
Just informed Panthers out of Radulov bidding. MCCann makes him moot. #flapanthers
— Harvey Fialkov (@hfialkov) May 28, 2016
The 29-year-old star forward turned down multiple contract extension offers from CSKA Moscow, the KHL club he led within one win of hoisting the 2016 Gagarin Cup.
Radulov has been a dominant force in Russia since leaving the Predators in 2011-12 to ink a four-year deal with Moscow for a reported $9.2 million annually.
The winger has been good for a point per game in each of his four seasons with CSKA. This season Radulov — a two-time IIHF world champion — put up 23 goals and 42 assists in 53 games, finishing second in league scoring behind Metallurg’s Sergei Mozyakin.
Surprisingly, he was left off Team Russia’s World Cup roster.
In two short-lived NHL stints, Radulov scored 47 goals and notched 55 assists over 154 games.
Radulov departed the NHL under unpleasant circumstances. He and teammate Andrei Kostitsyn were memorably suspended during the Predators’ 2012 playoff run for violating curfew.
Detroit needs to improve its forward group and could free up money with impending UFAs Kyle Quincey, Brad Richards and Darren Helm all scheduled to come off the books. There is also the possibility of trading Datsyuk’s cap hit to a club needing to reach the salary cap floor, such as Arizona or Carolina.
The Red Wings are also expected to make a pitch for Steven Stamkos, should the Tampa Bay Lightning captain test free agency on July 1. Signing Radulov might not leave enough cap space to sign Stamkos. Khan notes that scenario has also been discussed within the Red Wings front office.
