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Another twist, another turn...

July 11, 2008, 6:21 PM ET [ Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Team almost sold... Team almost moved... Team saved by mostly local group of investors... The one outside investor goes belly up and appears to have defrauded many, many folk(with much more to come... that story is FAR from done)...

So, put your hands up in the air and get ready. The roller coaster of the last 15 months looks to continue for awhile as Pred Nation is now dealing with the defection of one of their young stars. He may come back for a year, but the reality is, Alexander Radulov is done like dinner in Music City.

If this is a bargaining move on his part, well... it's a type of scortched earth method that Doug McLean would be proud of. If it truly is a way of going back on his word... well... disappointing is a very mild word for his actions. Details are emerging as the contract terms for Alexander Radulov's deal with the KHL's Salavat Yulaev Ufa are coming to be known. $24 million tax free over three years... That's worth about $36 million in an NHL deal. It would be hard for anyone to walk away from that kind of money.

The fascinating part of this is going to be what the KHL does. The founder of the league, Alexander Medvedev, is in one helluva pickle... allow the contract to proceed and be exposed as a businessman that cannot be trusted (no worries there, he's an oil tycoon... nuff said.) Void the contract and his league owners may completely rebel. He's trying to walk a very fine line in his comments published today on Bill Meltzer's blog.

In a "give credit where it's due" moment... I spent an hour speaking with my wife today. She is currently in St. Petersburg, Russia taking language classes. The news of the signing was big in Radulov's home area. She has been saying to quite a few folks, since the announcement of the KHL, that it would mean trouble for the NHL. These discussions seemed to go in one ear and out the other... Her words have been proven true. Score one for a very intelligent, observant lady!

Another problem I see is for Russian players going forward, and especially their agents... How do you convince an NHL team that you won't follow the same pattern? Well, I suppose you could prove your intention by coming over early, playing in the Canadian junior system, get drafted, show that you belong... oh wait... now that one has been blown. I'm sure future Russian prospects will appreciate that.

As far as Radulov is concerned, I guess his can enjoy his inflated stats against inferior competion... and when he stops, with the wisdom of a few years, he may wonder what if he stayed in the NHL... and he may never know how good he could've been playing against the world's best.

Hockey is global and competition is part of it. The NHL (and its' fans) will have to get used to the fact that some players will go for the money, despite their protestations that all they want to do is play for the best league in the world... in the immortal words of Bob Dylan... "Money doesn't talk, it swears."
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