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With Alex Radulov eyeing an NHL return many have asked me what I think about him as a fit in New Jersey.

While it makes a lot of sense on the surface - Radulov has lit up the KHL in recent years and the Devils are desperate for goal scoring - I wouldn't be too optimistic about him signing in New Jersey.

One of the reasons for that is that John Hynes is a no non-sense guy. He wants players who play a 200-foot game and he wants players that won't be a problem for him on or off the ice. I think Radulov's perceived off-ice issues are overblown but I don't see the Devils taking a chance to find out.

Another thing working against a possible marriage between Radulov and the Devils is that he will be 30 years old in early July.

GM Ray Shero has said on more than one occasion that he will be careful about how he spends money and will not be looking to hand out lucrative contracts to players that don't fit into the Devils' retool.

Via NJ.com: “We have cap space, which is a great asset,” Shero said. “But once you start spending it, it goes pretty quickly, and then you realize a year or two later, ‘Oh boy.’ So it’s never been an issue of having the money to spend. From my standpoint, it’s spending it wisely and, more importantly, spending it at the right time.

Generally that means not giving big money or term to players on the wrong side of 30, which Radulov will be in a couple month's time.

I doubt Radulov will land a long-term deal regardless of where he signs but I think he'll be paid a lot more than most realize.

Over the last two seasons Radulov tallied 136 points in 99 regular season games and was paid handsomely to do so. He's not going to leave his home country so he can return to the NHL and play for peanuts. He will want to be paid a fair chunk of change and, quite frankly, he deserves to be.

In general I'd have no problem taking a shot on a guy like Radulov but, given the way the Devils are run and where they're at right now, I just don't see him ending up in New Jersey.

Time will tell if that's the case.

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