Comments on: Radulov back in the NHL next season?

By: danphipps01

danphipps01 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:25:09 +0000

Difference ‘tween a typical job and a professional sports position is, generally, typical jobs don’t involve signing a contract saying “I will work here until this date.” Sports positions do. And when the players signing them walk out on that commitment, yes, they’re pretty classless for doing so. He was signed to three years. He played two and left for greener pastures. And yes, it is fair to hold that against him. He signed a contract saying in no uncdertain terms that he would play three years in Nashville, then decided it wasn’t good enough for him. It’s absolutely fair to view that very negatively.

However, as I said, if he’s willing to come back and play out that year, *especially* in light of the fact that Poile’s said he’s willing NOT to hold him to it… alright, fair enough. That’s a strong gesture of goodwill and I wouldn’t hold it against him if he did that.

In any event, I should clarify – I’m not a Nashville fan. I just think it’s a very poor move to walk out on your word like that. If he’s willing to make right, though, fantastic. That’s the right thing to do and a guy with his skill still has a good chance of making his way in the NHL. I’m glad to see he’s considering it.

By: stakex

stakex — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:40:00 +0000

Classless? These guys are professionals, who play hockey to make a living. Would you call it classless for someone in another profession to quit one job and go to another one in which they are making a crap load more money? Of course not, you would call it a no brainer. So why is it suddenly classless when a professional hockey player leaves one job to go to another in which hes making more money? Especially when that new “job” is in his home country, and not on the other side of the planet.

I could understand some Nashville fans being sore on the subject obviously, but I would certainly never call what Radulov did “classless” or say that he needs to redeem himself. Sure he broke his contract which isn’t cool… but given the reasons he did it I can’t say I blame him. Either way though hes a top notch player and the NHL should and would welcome him back with open arms… and I doubt that the fans of what ever team he goes to would care much about his past.

By: danphipps01

danphipps01 — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:45:33 +0000

Huh. I don’t know. I’m a little leery of Russian star forwards, what with Semin, Filatov, etc. considered. And Radulov DID walk out on his third year to sign a bigger deal in Russia. Pretty classless. But if he actually spent a couple years there and then agreed to come back and play for his entry-level salary with the Preds and re-enter the NHL in the right way, that would redeem him. Who knows? If he can cut it in the NHL and he wants to play in Nashville, why the hell not? I’d go for it.

By: loinstache

loinstache — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:53:37 +0000

I’m not a predators fan but the prospect of securing Weber and Sutter and finally having a dominant up and coming scorer in the bank is pretty exciting.