"That's the time to make yourself better," Radulov said. "In a game, you've got to give everything you've got. In practice, you want to work on something you might need to do better, and that's what I'm trying to do."
That quote is very telling, because Radulov approaches every practice like it's a game, and that heightened intensity is very noticeable when it counts.
When Radulov gets the puck in the offensive zone, watch as defensemen try to get around his 6-foot-2, 205-pound body and take it from him. They simply can't.
Game after game, Radulov uses this ability to protect the puck in tight quarters deep in the offensive zone to create scoring opportunities for his teammates, and if he can't find one of them he creates one for himself.
His impact can be seen in the production of his center, Alex Galchenyuk, who has seven points in 10 games this season playing without Radulov on his wing and 12 points in nine games playing with him.
"The plays he makes at top end speed is unique," Galchenyuk said. "He does it every game."
Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty thinks Radulov's ability to protect the puck comes from playing on the big international ice surface in the KHL, and said he has benefitted from watching Radulov do it this season.
"I think when you see him do it and you see how much time and space he creates, it kind of carries over to your game and you realize there's more time out there than you think," Pacioretty said. "It doesn't look like it, but if you're able to take that first contact and still have control of the puck, you kind of put them in a vulnerable position defending and you're able to make a play.
"He's the best I've seen at it."
Couple that ability with an incredible work ethic, one that led Radulov to hustle and beat out an icing call while ahead 5-0 late in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 12, and you have something the Canadiens have lacked for years, a true power forward who is able to attract defensive attention away from Pacioretty and give Therrien another legitimate scoring threat off the wing.
The work ethic, in spite of his prior reputation, is something Weber says Radulov has always had in him.
"He's always worked hard, always wanted to do the right things," Weber said. "He wants to win. When he gives up the puck he's going hard trying to get it back. It's just one of those things, he's always been like that.
"Maybe it's just getting noticed now."
It's getting noticed because Radulov is making it impossible to ignore, and in doing so is making a new name for himself in the best hockey league on the planet.