Man of the Week: Alexander Radulov

KHL.ru’s weekly column returns with Alexander Radulov, who led Lokomotiv to its first Gagarin Cup triumph and was named the playoff’s MVP with 16 points in 21 games.

Alexander Radulov has once again etched his name into hockey history, capturing his second Gagarin Cup title and earning Playoff MVP honors in the 2024–2025 KHL season with Lokomotiv. At almost 39, the Russian forward continues to defy age and expectations, delivering clutch performances that solidify his status as one of the Kontinental Hockey League’s all-time greats. His season already started on a positive note, with Lokomotiv claiming the Opening Cup match against Metallurg. Radulov became the first player in KHL history to win five Opening Cup games, and the first to do so with four different teams — twice with Salavat Yulaev, and once each with CSKA and Lokomotiv.

Early years

Born in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, Radulov started making a name for himself in the Russian junior leagues before he made a significant impact in North America with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. There, he amassed an astonishing 152 points (61 goals, 91 assists) in the 2005–2006 season. His early promise led to stints in the NHL with the Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens, and Dallas Stars, where he totaled 368 points, with 144 goals and 224 assists, over 524 career games.

Dominance in the KHL

Radulov’s most prolific years unfolded in the KHL, where his offensive prowess and leadership were on full display. Over 571 regular-season games, he accumulated 623 points (228 goals, 395 assists), complemented by 128 points (42 goals, 86 assists) in 141 postseason appearances.

His tenure with Salavat Yulaev was particularly noteworthy. In the 2010–2011 season, Radulov set a KHL record with 60 assists, contributing to a total of 80 points in 54 games. His performance was instrumental in Salavat’s Gagarin Cup victory that year, where he also earned the Golden Stick award.

Radulov’s consistency was unmatched; he achieved a remarkable 17-game scoring streak in 2010, tallying 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists) during that span. His excellence was recognized with four Golden Stick awards, making him one of only two players in KHL history to receive the league’s MVP honor four times, with the other being Sergei Mozyakin.

The numbers from his KHL career tell the story of sustained excellence. With CSKA Moscow, Radulov has accumulated over 200 regular season points, consistently ranking among the league's top scorers year after year, and making another stop in the Gagarin Cup finals in 2016, losing to Metallurg.

But statistics only tell part of Radulov's story. On the international stage, Radulov was a key contributor to Russia’s gold medal at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Bern, Switzerland. In the final against Canada, he scored the decisive goal in a 2:1 victory, finishing the tournament with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) over 9 games.

Throughout his KHL tenure, Radulov has consistently proven that age is merely a number. Even in his late thirties, he continues to produce at an elite level, combining the hockey IQ accumulated over nearly two decades of professional hockey with a competitive fire that burns as bright as ever. His playoff performances have been particularly noteworthy—the recent MVP honors marking just the latest in a series of postseason heroics that have defined his career.

Second triumph

Radulov’s return to the KHL in recent years saw him continue to be a formidable presence. With Ak Bars in the 2022–2023 season, he notched 57 points (25 goals, 32 assists) in 62 games, reaching the finals again with a loss to CSKA. That performance was then followed by a 40-point campaign in Kazan in 2023–2024. His leadership and clutch performances were pivotal in Lokomotiv’s recent Gagarin Cup run, culminating in his second championship and Playoff MVP recognition.

As Radulov hoisted the Gagarin Cup once more, he not only celebrated a season of personal triumph but also reaffirmed his enduring legacy in the KHL. His relentless drive and temperament, and exceptional skills continue to inspire, proving that even after two decades on the ice, he’s still the man of the moment.