It appears Alexander Radulov may be on his way back to Nashville.
Acording to Yahoo! Sports, Radulov's Russian agent Yuri Nikolaev confirmed the 25-year-old winger's return on Monday, telling Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport "the matter has been resolved within the framework of the Kontinental Hockey League regulations. Alexander is leaving for Nashville."
While Predators' general manager David Poile has not yet received confirmation of Radulov's return, he sounded optimistic in a statement released on Monday.
"We have been in contact with Jay Grossman, Alexander's agent, throughout this process of trying to return Alexander to the Predators and the NHL," said Poile. "Though the complicated process has yet to be concluded, every indication is that Alexander will be returning to Nashville in the near future. We do not anticipate having any further update on this process until tomorrow, at the earliest."
Radulov left Nashville for the KHL's Ufa Salavat Yulayev in 2008, despite having one year left on his entry-level contract. But if he plays just one game with the Predators this season, the NHL's current collective bargaining agreement would allow him to fulfil the final season of that deal. He would then become a restricted free agent on July 1.
According to Nikolaev, Radulov's KHL team did not agree to terminate the existing contract and will retain his playing rights for next season.
Radulov scored 25 goals and added 38 assists in 50 games with Ufa this season. He racked up 26 goals and 50 points with Nashville in the 2007-08 season, his last before returning to Russia.
Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Predators, Radulov has scored 44 goals and added 51 assists in 145 career NHL games.
