The Never Ending Story: Alexander Radulov Continues to Hold the Nashville Predators in Limbo

Radulov's moves not only embarass opponents, but his situation is embarassing the Predators...

As those of us who are fans of teams not in the NHL’s playoff picture sit back and watch teams go about battling for Lord Stanley’s Cup, we notice things. Things our teams didn’t, or couldn’t do. Things that our teams need to develop to be more competitive. Things that our teams need period.

The biggest thing that a lot of fans will acknowledge needing, is a good—if not great—goaltender. While a goalie is the last line of defense, in the playoffs he’s the first source of critiscm. If a team loses, whether it’s 2-1 or 5-1, it’s on the goalie’s shoulders. Maybe one of the goals was a softy, maybe he could’ve done more to get across the crease to block the cross-ice one-timer, or maybe it was just one too many goals, but the goalie is the first to have the finger pointed at.

From there, it’s about the defense: Is there depth? Are they mobile? How banged up are they? In the playoffs, there’s more of an emphasis put on an all-around defenseman. It’s not enough to score eight points in six games, but you better be in the corners grinding it out and winning the battles in the corners, blocking shots, and clearing the zone as well.

Upfront is where team’s make their impact. Players who were soft on the fore-check in the regular season have to be banging and crashing throughout the playoffs or else they’ll be picked out of the lineup and replaced with players who will lay it on the line for the good of the team.

Above it all though, the team’s need scoring.

Your goalie can stop 30 of 31, 65/66, or 100/101 shots, but you’ll still lose if you can’t score goals.

As has seemingly been the theme here on the Nashville Predators page at The Hockey Writers, we’ve been talking about that lack of offense over the past few weeks.

In watching the IIHF World Championship on Sunday, the Preds’ lack of offensive depth was on display in the form of the defector, Alexander Radulov.

Radulov, playing for his native Russia, scored what turned out to be the winning goal as he displayed creativity and patience on a two-on-one to stick it to Canada, and former Nashville teammate Shea Weber.

While the twirling and sheathing of the stick was a little out of taste, it represented a bit of what else the Nashville Predators might need: Flair.

Ten days after the opening of free agency—July 11th—will mark the anniversary of Radulov leaving the Preds mid-contract (one year remained on his three-year entry level deal) for the KHL. In him, the Preds lost (and eventually suspended) an assumed 60-points and 30-goals if he had continued his development following his first two seasons (Radulov “retired” after a season of 26 goals and 58 points)—offense that would’ve come in awfully handy in a season where Steve Sullivan, Jason Arnott, Martin Erat, and David Legwand all missed extended periods of time.

In the KHL this season, Radulov posted 22 goals and 48 points in just 52 games, making 60 points and 30 goals a little less than a stretch.

As the Predators prepare for the draft, a lot of people are saying how they need to add a dynamic goal-scorer on the wing, and I tend to agree.

A young power forward to compliment Colin Wilson or Cal O’Reilly would be perfect.

Then again, getting Radulov back would be that same step in the right direction.

Unfortunately for the Predators, that question may take a few years, rather than a few months, to answer.

Whenever it’s answered though, the question of Radulov will be one that Preds fans have in the back of their minds through the draft, free agency, and for as long as it takes to get him back—that is, if he ever comes back.