The Stars showed Monday they are in "win now" mode, signing Alexander Radulov to a five-year contract that averages $6.25 million.
Radulov, 30, is a talented right wing who has battled some controversy in his career, but showed last season in his return to the NHL that he has matured quite a bit. After bouncing back and forth between the NHL and the KHL, Radulov signed a one-year deal with Montreal to prove he could be a viable NHL'er. He tallied 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) in 76 games and added seven points in six playoff games (two goals, five assists).
That was enough to impress the Stars to make a significant financial leap. Dallas has the cap space to accommodate Radulov, and when you consider the cost is significantly less than the combined $9.9 million Dallas spent on Patrick Sharp and Ales Hemsky last season, the move makes a ton of sense.
Radulov is a shifty play-maker who will likely play with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin on the top line. Benn ranks sixth in the past four seasons with 136 goals, and Seguin ranks eighth with 133. Having a winger who can pass the puck and play defense would be a perfect fit.
Radulov became the top right wing in free agency when T.J. Oshie decided to stay with the Washington Capitals. Oshie, 30, signed an eight-year deal with a cap hit of $5.75 million.
Jamie Benn starts an eight-year deal this season with a cap hit of $9.5 million. Ben Bishop signed for six years at $4.9 million. John Klingberg will be in the third year of a seven-year deal at $4.25 million. While several younger players could need bigger deals in coming years, the biggest concern is that Seguin can become an unrestricted free agent in 2019. He will need a raise from $5.75 million to possibly $9 million or above, but Jason Spezza's $7.5 million contract ends at the same time.
All of that means the top players on the Stars should be ready to play their best now. Radulov has been through a lot, dazzling the KHL and winning four Golden Stick awards as league MVP (2010, 2011, 2012, 2015) but also upsetting the Nashville Predators with his antics. Radulov played two seasons with Nashville (2006-08) and tallied 44 goals and 51 assists in 125 games, but then he signed a deal with the KHL while still under contract.
Nashville retained his rights and brought him back late in the 2012 season. However, Radulov was suspended for breaking curfew in the playoffs and the Predators did not extend his contract after that season.
He decided last season to try the NHL again, and had great success with Montreal. They also were hoping to sign sign him this summer, but instead signed former Stars right wing Ales Hemsky.
Radulov did several stories about his maturity last season and credited his family and new son.
He told the New York Times: "When you're young, sometimes you do things and you don't realize what it's going to be after. Everything is still going to be with me. I have family, I have a kid. I have to lead by example. Who is he going to look for? He's going to look for his dad."
