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Radulov speculation continues |
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Rick Sadowski
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The odds for the Avalanche winning the NHL draft lottery Saturday weren't good, and they maintained their No. 10 selection, but it still sounds like their chances of landing Russian forward Alexander Radulov are decent based on his connection to coach Patrick Roy.
The 6-1, 200-pound right wing has said he plans to play in the NHL next season after spending the past four with CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League, where he made $9.2 million annually, which is considerably more than he'll be paid in the NHL. He had 23 goals and 42 assists in 53 games this past season, with four goals and 13 assists in 20 playoff games.
Radulov, who will be 30 in July, played two seasons for Roy with the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he combined for 93 goals and 134 assists in 127 regular-season games. He had 27 goals and 39 assists in 36 playoff games.
The Avalanche aren't commenting.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Radulov is interested in the Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals.
A first-round pick (No. 15) of the Nashville Predators in 2004, Radulov spent two seasons with them, accounting for 44 goals and 51 assists in 145 games, with five goals and three assists in 10 playoff games. He left for the KHL with one year remaining on his entry-level contract but returned late in 2011-12. He had three goals and four assists in nine games, with one goal and five assists in eight playoff games.
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The Avalanche will have the 10th pick in the first round of the NHL draft for the second year in a row. The draft is June 24-25 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo.
Colorado selected power forward Mikko Rantanen with the 10th selection last year, and he should spend the entire 2016-17 season with the big club after collecting 24 goals and 36 assists in 52 games with the San Antonio Rampage. He shared the league's outstanding rookie honors with Providence's Frank Vatrano.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who had best chance of winning Saturday's lottery, did so and are expected to take center Auston Matthews, 18. Matthews, who is from Scottsdale, Ariz., had 24 goals and 22 assists in 36 games while playing for former Avalanche coach Marc Crawford with Zurich in Switzerland. Matthews will play for the U.S. in the IIHF World Championships.
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Six Avalanche players/prospects have been named to play in the World Championships: Reto Berra (Switzerland), J.T. Compher (U.S.), Matt Duchene (Canada), Calvin Pickard (Canada), Mikko Rantanen (Finland) and Semyon Varlamov (Russia).
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