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Setting the standard, by Andrew Saadalla |
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When Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin signed Alexander Radulov to a one-year, $5.75 million contract last July, there was a surprising amount of fans who rolled their eyes in disbelief. Some expressed their discontent at the GM taking yet another gamble on a right-winger who has something to prove before potentially earning himself a deal with longer term and more money. As we all know by now, the Daniel Briere, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Zack Kassian and Alexander Semin experiments had all been failures to varying degrees, although the argument can be made that the first two players were not properly utilized by head coach Michel Therrien.
Six games into the 2016-2017 regular season schedule, Radulov is proving all of his critics wrong by setting the standard regarding what it takes to succeed as a Habs player. Put aside his otherworldly talent, exceptional skills and endlessly exemplary work ethic, and you’re still left with one of the most passionate hockey players to ever don the red, white and blue jersey.
He currently boasts two goals and five points, three of which earned him first star honours last night against a Philadelphia Flyers team that put its dirty style on full display at the Bell Centre. Wayne Simmonds seemingly got away with everything last night, including a cross-check to the back of Andrei Markov which sent the latter crashing into the boards and a trip on a player entering the Flyers’ zone seconds later. Nobody retaliated, except for Radulov, who “cleanly” hit Simmonds behind the net later that period. He dropped him and was sent to the box for his 16th and 17th penalty minutes of the season, though I can’t help but commend Radulov for standing up for his teammates in a totally acceptable manner. You all know by now how I feel about fighting in the National Hockey League, so I saw Radulov’s minor penalty as a bittersweet response to Simmonds’ nastiness.
On top of all of the positive things Radulov brings to the table, Habs fans are being treated to a different kind of animal in the 30-year-old Russian. When Shea Weber scored last night, Radulov’s reaction resembled a team’s uncontested captain scoring a Stanley Cup playoffs’ game-winning goal. The hugging, screaming, and even the recognition Radulov showed towards goaltender Carey Price on more than one occasion- he deliberately skated over to him and gave him props after he scored his goal- are unlike anything we’ve seen in years of watching the Montreal Canadiens. Forget how he defines the term “character”; this is how a true leader should behave, and that is perhaps one of the biggest and most overlooked qualities of the extroverted forward.
When Price spoke regarding Radulov, he talked about the endless enthusiasm and “positive vibes” he brings to the locker room. He said the newcomer is fun to be and hang around with, and that he’s always smiling. For an introverted person like Price to specifically praise Radulov’s energy (that he clearly feeds off of) is very telling of just how much his teammates appreciate him.
Last summer, I wrote a top-ten list of the Habs’ all-time scoring right wingers because I believed that Bergevin needed to address that specific need, contrary to popular belief which stated that the team was missing a first-line center. I knew Radulov would be a perfect fit in Montreal, but have to admit that I did not expect him to immediately become a fan favorite as well as a treat for journalists to interview.
Radulov does everything well both on and off the ice. After all, I’m not sure I can recall the last time a Russian player bothered to speak a single word in French, which most definitely earned him more points than he’s already won with the Bell Centre faithful.
Always the humble man, Radulov gives credit where credit is due:
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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