Colorado Avalanche, Alexander Radulov Should Stay Away From One Another

Despite being one of the most skilled players in the world, Alexander Radulov is maligned the world over for being a selfish, egotistical player on and off the ice. That selfishness saw him bolt the Nashville Predators for his native Russia in 2008 with a year remaining on his contract before coming back to fulfill that year in 2012 and causing friction that torpedoed a great Preds team in the playoffs that year.

Radulov was also a coach’s nightmare playing for Russia, as he had more than one run in with his coaches in the KHL in the last few years. After dominating both the KHL and the Sochi Olympics in recent years, there’s speculation Radulov could return to the NHL with a most intriguing team and coach as his preferred destination.

Patrick Roy coached Radulov when he was a teenaged star with the Quebec Remparts a decade ago and helped ease his transition into North American hockey. With Roy now behind the bench with the Colorado Avalanche, there are rumors Radulov would jump at the opportunity to join Roy and the Avs when his KHL deal expires next spring. While Roy has done a good job in Colorado, Radulov is trouble, plain and simple, and he would be an atrocious fit in Colorado’s locker room.

I’m not saying the Avs couldn’t use Radulov’s amazing offensive talent, as his goal scoring ability is rare and would benefit almost any team in the league. But he’s not worth the trouble he brings with him as burning bridges, ignoring coaches and walking out on contracts has become as much a part of his repertoire as his lethal wrist shot. Again, Roy is a great coach and a phenomenal hockey mind who once upon a time got to Radulov, but that was over 10 years ago and the circumstances have changed drastically. A leopard doesn’t change his spots, and while Roy has been a miracle worker before — winning the 1986 and 1993 Stanley Cups with less than stellar Montreal Canadiens teams — getting Radulov to buy into sort of system is too tall a task.

I legitimately think we’ve seen the last of Radulov in the NHL, as it’s doubtful and team would go anywhere near the basket case with a world-class wrist shot. In fact, I would go so far as to say there’s a better chance of John Elway returning to play for the Denver Broncos than there is of Radulov playing a home game in the Mile High City in the future.