Nashville Predators, Alexander Radulov to part ways before 2012-2013 regular season -NHL Update
What were believed to be rumours before are close to being confirmed as Nashville Predators’ general manager, David Poile, in an interview with The Tennessean, said that they looking to trade right winger Alexander Radulov’s rights prior to the 2012-2013
National Hockey League (NHL) regular season kicks off.
There is much confusion around the league as to why Nashville is looking to let go of Radulov and not showing any interest at all to re-signing the player when his three-year, $2.65 million contract comes to an end on July 1st of next month.
Right now, it is not sure whether Radulov will be staying in the NHL or will choose to go back to the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the next playing year.
"The best way to characterize it is it's time to not pursue Rad anymore," Poile told the paper. "If he wants to play in the KHL that's fine; if he wants to play with another NHL team, I'd be willing to trade his rights."
Radulov, a 25-year-old right winger for Nashville, was picked up as the 15th overall selection during round-one of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators. He has participated in three seasons for the franchise up until now.
He spent four straight seasons in the KHL before returning to the Predators club last season and playing nine games for seven points (3 goals, 4 assists). He was a major contributor in the playoffs as he potted six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in eight postseason
games but there is one thing people believe to be the reason for this situation.
Radulov, along with teammate Andrei Kostitsyn, were suspended for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against Phoenix Coyotes due to a curfew violation. Nashville head coach, Barry Trotz, decided to keep them out for the remainder of the series,
which they went on to lose in five games.
"We feel the fit right now is not with Nashville," Poile said. "He is currently in negotiations in the KHL, but still leaving the window open to a possible return to the NHL. I have reached out to a few teams in the NHL to see whether there is any interest.
If there is there's the possibility we could trade his rights. But that's where it stands today."
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