Nashville Predators on Alexander Radulov: 'cautiously optimistic'

Predators General Manager David Poile said that he was “cautiously optimistic” that wayward forward Alexander Radulov could return to the team soon.

But he also said there was “no new information” regarding Radulov, who bolted the NHL in 2008 for the Kontinental Hockey League in his native Russia.

“The table is set, everything has been discussed, all the hurdles have been cleared,” Poile said via phone from the NHL general managers meetings Tuesday in Florida. “Really, as it always has been and remains, it’s up to Rad to make his decision to come back. I’m leaving that up to (his agent) Jay (Grossman) and him.”

Since Radulov’s KHL team was eliminated from the playoffs last week, it is believed the forward has been exploring the possibility of returning to Nashville. He would fulfill the final year of his contract with the Predators, which would make him a restricted free agent after the season.

“The timing seems to be really good,” Poile said. “That’s what I feel. I think everybody feels the same thing. Past years, there have been cir*****stances like his team went further in the playoffs and the timing wasn’t as good. Now, his season is over. We have a real good team in Nashville. There are a lot of reasons for him to play the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.”

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