Alex Radulov agrees on new KHL deal, ending NHL drama: Report
Alex Radulov is in the last year of his contract with CSKA in the Kontinental Hockey League. There was rampant speculation that the sniper would return to the NHL for a third tour of duty next season, but it appears he’s close to re-upping in Russia for the next two years.
Reports out of Russia are that the two-year deal is worth over $10.7 million (U.S.), or 840 million rubles, which sounds a lot more impressive. He’s in his fourth season with CSKA Moscow, and has 54 points in 46 games. Last season, he had 71 points in 46 games. Bottom line: He’s one of the KHL’s most accomplished offensive players, and biggest names.
His agent, Yuri Nikolaev, has denied that the contract is done, telling SovSport that – “the negotiations are going. We continue to talk and understand each other. But what will happen next - we'll see. About what stage they’re in and when they will end, I will not speak now.”
He also said that CSKA wanted to go longer than two years in their talks with Radulov.
For what it’s worth, Igor Eronko believes the Radulov extension is done.
There was plenty of speculation that Radulov, 29, would return to the NHL and reunite with Colorado Avalanche coach Patrick Roy, who coached the Russian on the Quebec Remparts and, frankly, has been one of the few coaches to really crack the code on the guy.
But the KHL puts a premium on keeping their veteran stars from bolting overseas, as one official told Elliotte Friedman in a terrific column this week. And it sounds like Radulov will keep doing as he does in the KHL.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
