NHL Rumors: Dallas Stars sign Alexander Radulov
By Jason Evans
The Dallas Stars have made a big splash in free agency by adding forward Alexander Radulov.
The Montreal Canadiens took a risk in signing forward Alexander Radulov to a one-year deal last season. The Dallas Stars hope that they are rewarded as well by taking an even bigger flyer on him. It was between the two teams for the for the soon to be 31-year-old forward and it appears that Stars have won.
Hearing Stars will announce Radulov signing soon. Five years, just over $6 million per.
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) July 3, 2017
The Canadiens gave Radulov a one year, prove-it contract and he rewarded them by finishing second on the team with 54 points last season. He led the team in assists with 36 and was third on the team in goals with 18. He also led the Canadiens in points during their playoff series loss to the New York Rangers.
Now, Radulov is off to Dallas to help a team that has made the playoffs just twice since the 2008-09 season.
The Stars have made some pretty big moves this offseason already, adding goaltender Ben Bishop and center Martin Hanzal and also acquired defenseman Marc Methot after the Vegas Golden Knights picked him in the expansion draft. They also replaced head coach Lindy Ruff with former head coach Ken Hitchcock.
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The Stars problem was that even though they were middle of the pack offensively, they gave up the second most goals in all of the NHL last season, just a year after winning their division and having over 100 points.
Radulov should help give the stars some scoring depth. With Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin returning, plus all of the changes they’ve made this off-season, maybe the Stars can make it back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2017-18.