Fresh off a 4-2 Series loss to the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens winger Alexander Radulov was expected to join Russia for the upcoming World Championships in Paris and Cologne. Instead, he has refused to join the tournament according to the Russian Hockey Federation website citing his lack of a contract. Radulov is set to become an unrestricted free agent once again, but has been expected to re-sign with Montreal. The article also states that Nikita Zaitsev will not participate because of a concussion he suffered at the end of the regular season. Though Zaitsev returned in the playoffs for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he’ll opt-out of the tournament to focus on his health.
Radulov is set for a bit offseason after proving he was still the dynamic offensive player that left the NHL several years ago. With 54 points in the regular season and seemingly the Canadiens’ only dangerous player in the playoffs, Radulov has set himself up for a multi-year deal on the open market should he make it to July 1st. The length of the contract is up for debate, after Radulov and his agent both immediately downplayed the report that he was asking for eight years earlier this season.
Without a contract signed, the World Championships pose an incredible risk for Radulov if he were to get hurt, and the same goes for Zaitsev. The young Maple Leafs defender has been rumored to have agreed to a seven-year extension, but since it hasn’t been made official yet an injury—especially one that revolves around his brain—would be catastrophic for his future. He’ll instead work on being 100% ready for the start of training camp in a few months, where he will likely be penciled into the Leafs top-4 once again.
Gavin, other than Montreal, where can you envision Radulov signing? Just a theoretical question.