The Dallas Stars made a big splash in free agency on Monday and signed Alexander Radulov to a five-year contract worth $6.25 million per season.
Radulov, 30, was one of the biggest names in free agency this summer and reportedly was looking at final offers from Dallas and the Montreal Canadiens.
For the Stars it fills a big hole in the top-six forward. It’s highly likely Dallas could role out a top line on opening night with Tyler Seguin centering Jamie Benn and Radulov.
The Stars did their research on Radulov, who has a bit of a checkered past in the NHL. Mike Heika from the Dallas Morning News has more:
In doing due diligence on Radulov, Stars talked to Sergei Zubov, Dan Hamhuis (Nashville) and Vern Fiddler (Nashville) and got good reviews.
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) July 3, 2017
Here is the official release:
Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed forward Alexander Radulov to a five-year, $31.25-million contract.
Radulov, 30, posted 54 points (18-36=54) in 76 regular-season games played with Montreal in 2016-17. He led the team in assists, was second in points and third in goals on the year. He went on to lead the Canadiens with seven points (2-5=7) in six playoff contests.
In four NHL seasons with Nashville and Montreal, Radulov has combined for 156 points (65-91=156) in 230 regular-season games. He has appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in all four of his NHL seasons, combining for 21 points (8-13=21) in 24 games played. He has been an even or plus player in every regular season and postseason of his career, totaling a +39 mark in the regular season and a +3 in the postseason.
He returned to the NHL last year after spending most of the previous eight seasons playing in the KHL. During that time, he posted 492 points (169-323=492) in 391 KHL regular-season games played. He appeared in the league’s championship twice, winning it in 2010-11 with Salavat Yulayev Ufa and falling in seven games with CSKA Moscow in 2015-16. He led the KHL in points in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2014-15, and finished second in 2012-13 and 2015-16.
“Alexander is a dynamic playmaker with top-end speed and skill,” said Nill. “To add a forward of this stature to our lineup makes our top-six as deep and talented as any group in this League.”
Radulov has represented Russia in several international events. He has appeared in two Winter Olympics (2010, 2014), five World Championships (2007. 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), two U-20 World Junior Championships (2005, 2006) and one U-18 World Junior Championship (2004). He has won gold at two of the World Championships (2008, 2009) and the U-18 World Junior Championship.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound native of Nizhny Tagil, Russia was originally selected by Nashville in the first round (15th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.
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