Russia's Alexander Radulov celebrates the team's fourth goal during the first period action of the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Finland and Russia, in Moscow, Russia, in a Dec. 19, 2015, file photo. The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Alexander Radulov and goaltender Al Montoya to a one-year contracts on Friday as NHL free agency began.Ivan Sekretarev/The Associated Press
If there was a secret store somewhere crammed full of right wingers, Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin would be its most loyal customer.
Since he was hired in 2012, the right side of the Habs' top two lines has variously been occupied by Brian Gionta, Michael Ryder, Daniel Brière, Thomas Vanek, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Alex Semin, Dale Weise, Paul Byron, Daniel Carr, Brendan Gallagher and Sven Andrighetto.
Next man up is Alexander Radulov, most recently of the Kontinental Hockey League's CSKA Moscow and formerly of the Nashville Predators.
The Russian's last stint in the NHL finished amid chaos and recriminations – he and former Hab Andrei Kostistyn missed curfew in the 2012 playoffs after a night of drinking.
Earlier in his Preds career, he bolted from the team in mid-season for a lucrative KHL deal.
It might seem like a head-scratching move for a team that – if the rumour mill is to be believed – dealt franchise cornerstone defenceman P.K. Subban because he was a less-than-ideal teammate.
"We've done our homework. But yes it's a gamble," Bergevin said at a news conference Friday.
Asked about Radulov's stormy past, he said that, after vetting his big-name signing with former Nashville captain and CSKA coach Sergei Fedorov (a former Bergevin teammate), the conclusion was "it was a question of maturity at the time, not character."
Radulov, who is on vacation in Italy, told a conference call that parenthood is "a completely new experience in my life. I'm living for my child right now … I have to be a good example."
Asked about his Nashville debacles, he admitted to his mistakes and said: "I know what I'm doing right now, and I know what I want, and I know how to do this. You have to be 100 per cent on hockey."
Bergevin has been criticized for the Subban trade, his instincts and even intelligence questioned by the Twitterati. But he seems under no illusions concerning Radulov.
He said he had a good feeling from their face-to-face meeting in New York after the end of the KHL season, then added: "I had the same feeling with Zack [Kassian]. It didn't work out."
Kassian, a right winger acquired last summer, entered the league's substance abuse program after training camp and never suited up for the Habs.
Perhaps the biggest question is how Radulov will fit within coach Michel Therrien's plans, although he's no Semin when it comes to defensive responsibilities.
Radulov won't make fans forget Subban, but he helps address the team's needs up front.
He turns 30 on Monday, he played his junior hockey in Quebec City, and he is a speedy, solidly built, offensively gifted and ill-tempered player.
The acquisition, along with the low-cost additions of backup goalie Al Montoya – how handy would he have been six months ago? – and free-agent defenceman Zach Redmond made it a very good day indeed for Bergevin.
Radulov should also be motivated by his show-me contract: one year for $5.75-million (U.S.) – a bargain price given Bergevin vied with the Detroit Red Wings, among others, for his signature.
Term was key, Bergevin said; he wanted to avoid "boxing out" younger prospects.
The day may have taken on a different complexion had former Boston Bruin – and Bell Centre scourge – Milan Lucic been enticed to join his British Columbia-based pals Weber, Gallagher and Carey Price in Montreal, apparently for more money than he got in Edmonton.
"Me and my wife, we thought about it really, really seriously," Lucic told TSN.
The burly winger wasn't the only target.
"Probably today was the July 1st I was the most aggressive and some players told me flat out: 'I won't play in Montreal,'" Bergevin said, adding he didn't dwell on finding out why .
Montreal also signed first-round draft pick Mikhail Sergachev and extended restricted free agent forward Daniel Carr for two years, leaving RFA centre Philip Danault as the club's only unsigned player.
This is a pivotal off-season for the Habs and, if it got off to a blustery start, Friday's tidy business may foreshadow calmer skies ahead.