Nashville Predators Suspend AWOL Alexander Radulov Without Pay

What a turn of events for an up-and-coming superstar: Nashville Predators forward Alexander Radulov has been suspended without pay by the team for the upcoming 2008-09 season. Earlier in the summer, Radulov signed a contract to play back in the new Russian super league KHL knowing full well he had one more season under contract with the Predators. Nashville, maybe thinking Radulov may have been bluffing, set a deadline of Sept. 1 for the winger to report what his intentions were going to be. The deadline came and went with no response from either Radulov or his agent. Radulov, in the largest mistake made in this debacle, said that he did in fact tell the Predators of his intentions to go back to play in Russia. And because, at the time of his decision, there was no agreement between the leagues, he had no obligation to go back to Nashville for the last season of his contract. Note to Radulov and his agent: Next time, check with the NHL first, it will save the embarrassment of not ... (link)