Alex Radulov decides on KHL for next season, influenced by potential NHL lockout
Just under a week ago, we wrote about Alexander Radulov and his KHL rights being traded to CSKA, the storied Red Army club.
On Monday, the news comes that Radulov will indeed play in Russia next season.
The always outspoken Yuri Nikolaev, Radulov's Russian agent, in an interview to Russian newspaper Izvestiya implied that Radulov is going to play in the KHL next season.
"Alexander no longer has thoughts, watching the sea, whether he should go to the NHL or play in the KHL," Nikolaev told Izvestiya.
"We are negotiating with CSKA about a personal contract. However we are not in CSKA yet; there are matters we have to discuss with the club's general managers."
According to the publication and Nikolaev, the real threat of a lockout in the NHL was one of the most important factors in Radulov's decision to seek a contract with CSKA.
As we reported earlier, Radulov still has a year left on his KHL contract. CSKA, however, together with the club's new owners, Russian oil giant Rosneft, want Radulov to commit longer than just one season and are reportedly looking to sign him to a 2-3 year extension.
