'He's the best': Alexander Radulov lifts spirits of everyone around him

It's hard to pin down exactly why Alexander Radulov is struggling to score this season, but rest assured it's not because of effort.
The burly veteran winger knows but one speed - Tasmanian Devil.

So, when the 35-year-old slammed home a power-play goal late in the second period of a 4-3 win over the LA Kings on Wednesday, it looked like so many before. Radulov, who 40 seconds earlier helped his line set up a Ryan Suter goal, scrambled to the net, and then spun at just the right moment to catch a Suter shot bouncing off the end boards. It was vintage Radulov, the kind of goal fans on both side of the Atlantic have come to know for 15 years.

"He's the best," Stars forward Luke Glendening said. "He's a character, for sure. But he keeps it light, keeps the guys going. It's fun to watch him, he works so hard and enjoys playing so much. I love to see him get rewarded, that's for sure."
Radulov is a rolling ball of razor blades at times. He exudes energy, and he drags others into the battle. Now, sometimes, he goes over the edge and makes mistakes or takes penalties, but he typically makes something happen.
He started his career in Russia but was drafted 15th overall by Nashville in 2004 and came to Canada to play junior hockey. He crushed the QMJHL, topping out at 152 points (61 goals, 91 assists) in 62 games in 2005-06, and then added 55 points in 23 playoff games that season.
It was a quick jump to the NHL, and he was a 20-year-old on the Predators alongside Suter. Asked what Radulov, who celebrated his 500th NHL game Wednesday, was like as a rookie, Suter chuckled and said he was about the same.
"Crazy, awesome, just a great guy that loves the game," Suter said. "So passionate about it, loves to score goals. Great energy. Can't say a bad thing about him. Plays the right way, blocks shots when he needs to, just an awesome, awesome teammate. Awesome friend."
After a contract dispute with the Predators, Radulov decided to return to the KHL and sandwiched eight seasons around one failed attempt to come back to Nashville.

He won four Golden Stick Awards as League MVP, and then decided to return to the NHL in 2016. He spent one season in Montreal and then signed a five-year free agent contract with the Stars. He was a solid scorer for the first three seasons, and then missed most of last year with a core injury. He had 12 points in 11 games, and there was the expectation he would be fine this year.
However, the points just haven't come.
Radulov has three goals among 18 points in 47 games. He was a fixture on a line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, but the trio struggled earlier in the year. That created a breakup, and Radulov was moved to a line with Jacob Peterson and Joel Kiviranta. That's a significant difference in time on ice. Radulov averaged 18:33 in October, 16:07 in November, 17:04 in December, 13:59 in January, and just 10:58 in February.
Despite that, he's continued to be energetic at practice and in games.
"It's a real thing," Glendening said when asked about building off the energy of Radulov. "He's always got a smile on his face, but then you see him on the ice and he's working so hard, but he's also enjoying himself. It's infectious, for sure."
Glendening has been a checker in the league and has had to go against Radulov, and said the mix of strong skating and skill make him a tough mark.
"He's got a heavy stick, he's hard on the puck, he can hold onto pucks in the corners, he's great at making plays, and he's a load," Glendening said.
So why isn't he scoring more? Well, that could change in the coming weeks. The Stars have been looking for improved depth scoring, and Radulov could be a source of that. If he and Peterson continue to build chemistry, and he finds himself around the net a little more, who knows what could happen.
Yes, he's played 500 games in the NHL and another 391 in the KHL, but you couldn't tell from his attitude.
"It feels like yesterday I was 20," Radulov said of celebrating game No. 500. "Time flies but I still wanted to play, still love the game, so it's good."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.