Nashville Predators join hands with Alexander Radulov, Eurasia hockey league right wing -NHL News
The Nashville Predators are reported to have successfully fetched right wing, Alexander Radulov, from the Ufa Salavat club in the Eurasia international ice hockey league, Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
He is expected to arrive in Nashville on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, and most likely to be available for playing straightaway, some sections of media have reported this while citing the local Russian media reports.
Radulov was earlier reported to be facing some difficulties in reaching a deal with his club, which proved to be the major hurdle in the way of his release for the National Hockey League.
However, as of the latest reports, he has been able to negotiate a deal with the club, apparently in an agreement on giving back the club two-third of the salary from the remaining part of his contract.
According to terms of the contract, the club will have the right to final year of the player’s contract and at the same time his out clause will remain effective.
Nashville GM, David Poile, in a statement said:
"We have been in contact with Jay Grossman, Alexander's agent, throughout this process of trying to return Alexander to the Predators and the NHL.
He added:
"Though the complicated process has yet to be concluded, every indication is that Alexander will b returning to Nashville in the near future. We do not anticipate having any further update on this process until (Tuesday), at the earliest.”
The team’s coach, Barry Trotz, had rather an outspoken approach on the issue and confirmed the talk between the player’s agent and Predators’ management when they were in the preliminary phase. He had hoped then for a breakthrough in near future.
He had anticipated the player’s arrival in Nashville a couple of days earlier than his lately speculated date.
The delay is said to be due to the player’s inability to agree to the terms, which according to the local media reports, had demanded of him to give up a greater amount of the salary to the club.
A breakthrough in the talks was first reported on Sunday, March 18, 2012. Both parties were said to have agreed to the revised terms. The deal and player’s release is now officially confirmed.
Meanwhile, Predators’ centre, Mike Fisher, has welcomed the news of Radulov’s arrival. He said he was looking forward to play with Radulov, who had already been there before and was well known to the team members.
Fisher said:
"Radulov has been here before and he knows some of the guys. I don't see him not fitting in fine. He's going to add a lot."
Predators are playing the home game against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 and another home game against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday 24, 2012. In between they also have a road game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is scheduled for Thursday,
March 22, 2012.
The player is expected to join the squad for the last two games at least.
Tags: