Radulov....

[DEATHTRON 19]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=390157

Looks like NSH want's to bring Radulov back. Here is my question that doesnt seem to be answered anywhere; Would he be allowd to play in the playoffs this season? My guess is yes as he is still under contract....

Anyone have a more definitive answer?

Zach

[Law Goalie 147]

Yes. The NHL and PA have agreed to allow him to bypass waivers and join the Preds directly; because he was already signed (this will burn the last year of his entry-level deal) he can play in the playoffs, and will become an RFA on July 1. McKenzie and Dreger went over it on TSN.

[camhockey16 5]

some of the other teams wont be very happy about it - but i think it should be allowed as well - nashville has been at a disadvantage all this time because the player just left - im sure they will wonder how much better of a record they would have if he had played since the start of the season.

[Law Goalie 147]

As long as he doesn't KO his own players with absurd celebrations again, he's going to make Nashville a much more dangerous team to play against -- hopefully not to play for.

[ibeck 38]

As long as he doesn't KO his own players with absurd celebrations again, he's going to make Nashville a much more dangerous team to play against -- hopefully not to play for.

Or nail Barry Trotz in the face with the blade of his stick.

[bagsbie 8]

Radulov knows all about blade to the face thing - he lost a few teeth of his own this season...

[RadioGaGa 162]

Radulov knows all about blade to the face thing - he lost a few teeth of his own this season...

I think that was a reference to this incident...not Radulov getting hit himself:

[bagsbie 8]

^ that's what I call a passionate player

[IPv6Freely 2094]

It's weird to see people whining on various other forums, tsn.ca comments, etc about him being "signed" after the trade deadline etc. It seems people can't seem to comprehend the fact that he's already under contract with Nashville... he's not SIGNING anywhere!

/rant

[chk hrd 164]

I don't like that he is able to play. I hope he throws off the team dynamics

[IPv6Freely 2094]

My problem with the whole thing was that the player bolted for the KHL while owing time on his contract to the NHL and Nashville. I'm having a hard time with the NHL laying down like a bitch on this one and allowing the player to come back as if nothing happened.

I agree, but it's difficult to penalize the player without penalizing the team, aside from the league fining him (which lets face it, doesn't accomplish much either).

I don't like that he is able to play. I hope he throws off the team dynamics

The problem is that it's not the teams fault, and I don't think THEY should be screwed over any more than they already have been... so for that, no, I don't hope he throws off the team dynamics.

[Chadd 916]

The real problem is that the IIHF didn't force the KHL to honor his NHL contract as they have been intent on doing when the shoe has been on the other foot.

[Law Goalie 147]

He is permitted to bypass waivers because he is on Nashville's "reserve" list. He is property of Nashville, under contract to them (suspended however for leaving for the KHL), and, his coming back will eat up this final year owed to them, thus becoming a RFA.

This is a completely different situation than the Nabokov thing from last year, where he was an UFA and thus permitted to sign with any team, but, having to clear waivers first.

My problem with the whole thing was that the player bolted for the KHL while owing time on his contract to the NHL and Nashville. I'm having a hard time with the NHL laying down like a bitch on this one and allowing the player to come back as if nothing happened.

That's the rationale - he was still under contract, thus still Nashville's - but there was enough of an argument that he should have faced some sort of re-entry hurdles (waivers, no playoffs, *something*) in coming off reserve that they felt they had to declare him a special case, then roll over and assume the position.

It's a lovely precedent, isn't it? You can sign an entry-level deal, benefit from NHL development, then sign an enormous, tax-free, largely cash contract for a few years, come back, play a few games and one playoff run, and all is forgiven.

The real problem is that the IIHF didn't force the KHL to honor his NHL contract as they have been intent on doing when the shoe has been on the other foot.

Bettman may be intractable, but he's not going to have his private security guys open fire on your car if you threaten legal sanctions.

With respect to how the league can penalise the player and not the team, make him an perennial RFA with no arbitration rights or offer-sheet contingencies: if he wants to play in the NHL, it's only for Nashville until they decide to trade him or cut him loose. I'd love to see the PA grieve that: "No, he's clearly entitled to his full rights and privileges..."

[IPv6Freely 2094]

I think that was a reference to this incident...not Radulov getting hit himself:

No matter how many times I replay this, the coaches reaction (or lack thereof) never ceases to amaze me.

[camhockey16 5]

i noticed 2 things i thought was funny in this video - first i think malkin walks by and radulov says something to him in russian mid interview and second, the one root sports reporter had his microsphone taped to the end of a warrior dolomite stick - don't know why, but i thought it was funny.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=53&id=166794

[hamstercaster 2]

This is a case that serves both parties equally. The problem is that both parties are getting away with it too easily. I'm ok with the fact that he did not have to clear waivers. However, he should not be able to play in the playoffs and most importantly, this should not count as a full year on his contract and he should not be able to get out of his Entry Level contract this summer.

[shotty 7]

i'm almost in total agreement with you hamstercaster... he IS under contract, just "suspended" by the team for not reporting, at which point he played in a non affiliated league. nashville never waived him, they are entitled to him. however, it's totally ridiculous to suggest that he not be qualified for the playoffs. if he returns to the game and nashville chooses to activate him, he is a regular player with regular rights and privileges. AND the fact that he is playing a total of 8 games to finish off the final year of his entry level contract is a short term win/long term loss for nashville and a long term win/short term loss for radulov. nashville wins because they're bringing in a great player for an $86,000 cap hit, but long term, the obvious: they lose 167 days of his service, making him eligible for arbitration / market rate / offer sheet on july 1. for radulov he burns a one year deal in 18 days of work, making him eligible for substantial raise significantly sooner, but his sample size for showing what he's "worth" to nashville and the rest of the NHL in RFA is much smaller.

if they didnt see him as a valuable asset to their club at this time, i'm sure they wouldn't have brought him back this season, and held out until he served them right.

[pizzakid13 5]

Did he count against the cap all this time?

How many years were left on his contract when he left?

[wrangler 157]

I don't think he counted against the cap, or the roster, after being suspended.

[Chadd 916]

Did he count against the cap all this time?

How many years were left on his contract when he left?

no and it was a one year qualifying offer. He didn't like the amount, so he went home.

[shotty 7]

Did he count against the cap all this time?

How many years were left on his contract when he left?

no, the team suspended him to get his contract off the books, but his salaryis payable only to the days he was on the nhl roster so his avg. cap hit for this season is $86,000. he is still playing out the final year of his 3 year entry level contract, which is one of the reasons why him playing these final games of the season is such a big deal... it burns up an entire year of a deal that is set up to be favourable to the club. essentially he went to KHL and got paid big money, then came back to the nhl to play out an entire year of his contract in 18 days. on july 1 he becomes a RFA and will weigh his options again. he is basically holding a gun to the head of nashville predators or any other club -- pay me big money or i'm going to the KHL.

[wrangler 157]

Wouldn't he have still used up the last year of that contract, if Nashville had chosen not to lift his suspension for this year?

[shotty 7]

his contract was not active while he was playing in the KHL

[wrangler 157]

I haven't noticed a post yet on this -- Radulov's heading back to the KHL.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8123102/2012-nhl-free-agency-alexander-radulov-formerly-nashville-predators-signs-khl-cska-agent-says

[17D1998 1]

I haven't noticed a post yet on this -- Radulov's heading back to the KHL.

http://espn.go.com/n...cska-agent-says

''Me just want drink vodka and party and play subpar hockey. NHL people is very, very mean with me''

-Alexander Radulov

But, seriously what a letown. That is really disapointing. I thought he wanted to be a superstar NHL player. I wonder if Andrei Kostitsyn is off to Russia too