Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Are things still awkward between Alex Radulov and Shea Weber?

2007 NHL Youngstars Game

DALLAS - JANUARY 23: (L-R) Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov of the Wast YoungStars team pose for a photo prior to the 2007 NHL Youngstars Game at the American Airlines Center on January 23, 2007 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The moment it became clear that the Montreal Canadiens were indeed rolling the dice with Alex Radulov, people wondered “How does Shea Weber feel about that?”

In case you don’t remember, Radulov’s previous NHL stint ended in an ugly way with the Nashville Predators, leaving Weber feeling “betrayed” by the Russian winger’s curfew-breaking antics.

Sure, Weber said that Radulov probably “felt bad” about the mistake, which inspired then-Predators head coach Barry Trotz to bench him for two 2012 postseason games ... but he also noted that “those are things you can’t take back.”

So, uh, what about that?

Radulov is saying all the right things about learning from his past errors, for what it’s worth:

Still, there’s the question of how Weber really feels. That incident was the hockey equivalent to vouching for a friend only to see that person burn all bridges with said employer.

How would you feel if that guy got a gig with your new company mere days after you hopped on board?

Apparently Weber either forgives Radulov or is indifferent to his presence, as he didn’t stand in Habs GM Marc Bergevin’s way on the move.

In a vacuum, signing Radulov makes a ton of sense. All of a sudden, the Habs’ top six looks awfully dangerous with a proven scorer added to the mix.

On the other hand, it’s a puzzling move from a PR standpoint, even if Weber is on board.

Radulov boasts the rare scoring skills to make Montreal look very, very smart in taking this risk. He’s wise to look toward the future however much he’s actually changed.

If nothing else, you can’t accuse Bergevin of being afraid to take risks. Fair or not, the media will roast him if things go poorly with Radulov.