Radulov's new look

Alexander Radulov was introduced by his new KHL team this week in Ufa, much to the chagrin of fans and management in Tennessee.

Last week, he spoke to sports.ru about his decision to return home, something that his father apparently did not initially support but that his friends said would make him "a champion of Russia."

Radulov says he tries not to read the newspapers or negative press, and that the leaders of the Salavat team have assured him things will be fine given he signed the contract when there wasn't an agreement between the NHL and KHL.

He also indicates that he went to several other Russian clubs looking for a contract, but that Ufa had the best offer. He also seems pretty optimistic that the KHL is going to continue to improve.

As columnist David Climer wrote in The Tennessean this week: "With each passing day, it appears less likely that Radulov will be back in the NHL."

It certainly doesn't look promising for this coming season, but you wonder if he ever comes back given he'd have to take a sharp pay cut by playing out the final year of his entry-level contract. There may not be that warm of a welcome in Nashville, either.

Perhaps he's Радулов for good?
.