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Montreal Canadiens’ general manager Marc Bergevin made quite a few notable changes to his team’s roster during the offseason. While I had personally crossed my fingers in hoping that he would specifically sign a scoring right-winger, that wish came true with a one-year deal given to Alexander Radulov.
Many have continued to question which version of Radulov the Habs will be blessed with- the enigmatic, hot-headed and at times aggressive one or the naturally gifted selfless goal-scoring machine?
I had written a piece on how my instincts tell me Radulov has matured and is ready to succeed in his third stint in the NHL.
Many of my readers will also recall that despite flashes of chemistry between Alex Galchenyuk, Lars Eller and the estranged Alexander Semin during last year’s preseason,
the latter’s body language at the Canadiens’ annual charity golf tournament left much to be desired.
Sadly, we all know how the Semin situation evolved…
But Radulov is not Semin. And I’ll reiterate what I feel: Radulov will be great for this team. Earlier today, he was introduced to the Montreal media and spent approximately twenty minutes fielding questions. I must admit, I did not know #47’s interview style, but I was impressed by a few points.
Firstly, he has a charismatic and extroverted personality. He showed no signs of nervousness while being surrounded by microphones, cracking jokes and laughing heartily with the journalists present. One of the standout moments for me was the anecdote he told about how he scoured the streets of downtown Montreal in search of a bar to take in Saturday night’s UFC 202 event and eventually found himself at the Bell Centre where only one to two people recognized him. He joked that he left as soon as the main card was over.
He said all of the right things (and then some), admitting that he has a lot to prove to himself, fans and management but that his goal is to be a team player and help the team win. He dismissed questions regarding his less-than-glamorous reputation, calling it “a thing of the past” and alluded to the fact that he was younger, less mature, and there’s no point in focusing on those issues. He’s honored to be a part of the most storied franchise in the NHL, and knows that despite the fact that fans may not have seen him play in a few years, he’s ready to give his absolute best on and off the ice.
He loves the fact that Montreal is a hockey town, and that the organization is aspiring to win a Stanley Cup. Humbly, he admitted that his role will be assigned to him based on where the head coach feels he belongs. He’ll gladly accept the responsibilities given to him, and he’s confident he’ll fulfill his promises of doing everything he can to win.
He added that he hates losing, which Bergevin will surely appreciate after making comments about the Chicago Blackhawks’ “winning mentality” being instilled within the locker room.
Finally, when contrasting the KHL with the NHL and how the latter league emphasizes smart defensive play, he acknowledged that he’ll have to focus on video with the coaching staff in order to further understand exactly what’s expected of him.
It will be interesting to see who Radulov lines up with, considering he does not know yet where he’ll necessarily play in the lineup. While he admits that he’s more comfortable on the right wing, he doesn’t “care” where he’s slotted as long as the team is winning.
Click here to see the full interview. 
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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