Alexander Radulov: the man who transformed relationship between Russia and the NHL
Alexander Radulov isn’t just one of the most exciting players in modern hockey. He’s also played a significant role in sporting politics. His bold decision led to the creation of a new system of cooperation between the KHL and the NHL.
The roots of the scandal
Due to Alexander Radulov, we saw a fundamental change in the relationship between the KHL and the NHL. Until 2006, trades were regulated in a way that saw a fixed pay-out for home-grown players when they left Russian clubs. From 2006, that moved to a free float after the Russian side rejected a new transfer agreement. Both systems meant that the NHL could sign players at will, regardless of any existing contract. For example, in 2001, Ilya Kovalchuk left Spartak at a moment’s notice, while in 2006 Evgeny Malkin left Metallurg. Both players had valid contracts.
The situation changed in 2008. On July 11, shortly after the KHL was founded, Radulov walked away from his contract with Nashville to sign for Salavat Yulaev. Across the Atlantic, there was a storm of protest. The media talked about a new “cold war”, fearing that Radulov’s move would trigger a chain reaction and other Russian stars would also rush home. Within 24 hours there was an emergency summit in Zurich involving the IIHF, KHL and NHL. The parties reached a gentleman’s agreement to respect existing contracts, which was later upgraded to an official memorandum that remains in place. Thus, Radulov’s transfer fundamentally changed the relationship between hockey’s biggest, best known and most prestigious leagues.
11.07.2008 Signed with Salavat Yulaev, prompting the NHL to sign an agreement with the KHL on mutual respect of contracts.
02.09.2011 Two assists against Lokomotiv in his first KHL game
06.04.2010-14.10.2010 Set a KHL record productive streak of 17 games (9+21 points)
A Gagarin Cup in Ufa
Radulov played his first pro season with THK, Dynamo’s farm club at the time. The 17-year-old forward made such an impact that in the simple black-and-white team-sheets handed out at games, Radulov’s name was accompanied with a thumbs-up emoticon. This was back in 2003, long before emoticons enjoyed their current ubiquity.
Radulov finished the season as THK’s top scorer and headed across the Atlantic the following season. He worked his way through Canadian junior hockey to reach the NHL and after two years played for Nashville. But he did not complete his three-year rookie contract and instead returned to Russia.
Salavat Yulaev won the Russian Superleague in the previous season, but it took some time to repeat that success. Ufa topped the table in the first KHL regular season, only to crash out of the playoffs in the first round against 16th ranked Avangard, Jaromir Jagr and all.
Head coach Sergei Mikhalyov admitted that he did not expect to face Avangard in the first round and had expected a routine passage to the last eight, a result that would enable the team to reach its peak as the playoffs progressed. Instead, they lost the series 1-3. Vyacheslav Bykov replaced Mikhalyov and brought more top-class players to an already solid roster, but the following season brought more playoff frustration. It wasn’t until season three that Salavat Yulaev won the Gagarin Cup. Radulov played a leading role – he had 80 points in the regular season, and 18 more in the playoffs.
10.10.2010 Scored the fastest ever goal in Russian or Soviet hockey after just six seconds. Later Alexander Yelesin broke that record.
20.02.2011 First KHL player to have 60 assists and 80 points in a single regular season
16.10.2022 Had two assists and climbed to third in all-time KHL helpers
Medals with CSKA and Team Russia
In Nov. 2011, Rosneft took over CSKA. Overnight, the Muscovites became one of the wealthiest teams in the KHL and had high hopes of winning the Gagarin Cup. There are various pathways to the top, and CSKA decided to assemble a stellar roster. The brightest star was Radulov, signed to a four-year contract. He couldn’t win a second cup, but he did become champion of Russia again when CSKA was awarded that title in 2015 based on its regular season performance.
For various reasons, including injuries, fatigues and operations, Radulov has not played a major tournament for the national team in almost a decade since the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. In total, he featured in two Olympics and five World Championships.
The most memorable of these, of course, was in 2009, as Russia defended the title it won in Quebec. The Red Machine had a hard time of it in the knock-out rounds and might have fallen to Belarus in the quarter finals, or to the USA in the semis. On both occasions, a single goal verdict kept Bykov’s team alive. Then in the final Russia had to fend off a storm of Canadian offense, with goalie Iya Bryzgalov performing superbly. Shots on goal favored Canada 38-17, but the scoreline was 2-1 to Russia, with Radulov scoring the winner. Earlier, he had two big assists in the quarter final before setting up the game-winner against the Americans. Alexander finished with 10 (4+6) points and a place in the top 10 scorers.
That was arguably his best performance on the international stage. As well as a strong personal contribution, the team delivered – a contrast with, for example, 2013, when Radulov picked up 10 (5+5) points but Russia crashed out in the quarters against Team USA. Radulov had two more World Championship medals: gold in 2008, bronze in 2007. In 2016 he was out of contract but was called up to the national team as it prepared for the World Championship in Moscow. However, he said he could not come due to injury and has not played for his country since.
Now 36, Alexander returned from a second spell in the NHL to join Ak Bars. He still brings the same energy – and prolific scoring – to his game. Last season he led Kazan in scoring as the team reached the Gagarin Cup final.
17.11.2022 Scored a hat-trick on SKA to move to sixth in all-time KHL goals
Gagarin Cup winner 2011
Six times named in the KHL team of the season 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Seven-time KHL All-Star 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Three times leading regular season scorer 2011, 2012, 2015
Regular season MVP on four occasions 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Two-time World Champion 2008, 2009
Dossier
Alexander Valerevich Radulov
Born July 5, 1986 in Nizhny Tagil
Career: THK 2003-2004; Quebec (QMJHL) 2006-2008; Nashville 2006-2008; Salavat Yulaev 2008-2012; CSKA 2012-2016; Montreal 2016-2017; Dallas 2017-2022, Ak Bars 2022-present.
Honors: World Championship gold (2008, 2009), bronze medal (2007), Gagarin Cup winner (2011), Russian championship gold (2011, 2015), silver (2016, 2022), bronze (2010).
