Alexander Radulov: Maturity makes a big difference

First off, I will try not to be a "homer" in this article. I have a been a HUGE fan of Radulov, ever since I saw him play with the Quebec Remparts. He was one of the prime reasons that team won the Memorial Cup in 2006. I had the pleasure to meet him in person as well during that time, which just fueled my appreciation for him. I started collecting his cards when he joined the NHL, and the suddenly "BOOM".... He disappears to the KHL. (and my love/hate relationship with him began) Now, with that being said, let's get to it!

It might not be a surprise to anyone that Radulov is already starting to produce with Montreal. (5 points in 6 games) What might be a shock to many, is that Radulov appears to be fitting into Therrien's system quite well. He has gained alot of Therrien's confidence early in the season, and it has alot to do with his maturity. (Something that people have criticized him about in the past)

Radulov has always had the tools to be a superstar, it just seemed that the toolbox was not secured enough. The way he handled his situation with the Nashville Predators was very immature, and painted him as not a "team player". In my mind, Radulov has always been a great teammate. It is just that he let his ego and passion get the best of him. He was never happy in Nashville, and he made that very clear.

The passion is still there today, you can see it. However, his maturity has started to shrine through, and that will make a big difference. Yes, he can be undisciplined at times, (He already has 16 PIM through 6 games) but if he continues to produce, it won't matter. As I mentioned early, he has Therrien's trust so far, and that bold's well for him. He is a big body, who can score, and is not afraid to go into the "dirty" places. This is the Radulov that I thought I would see 8 years ago. Of course, the season is still young, and time will tell if Radulov has truly matured into a legitimate NHL Superstar.

**Math fact and other fun stuff** Radulov wears the jersey No.47. 4+7=11 which is a PRIME NUMBER. Radulov also currently has 47 goals in his career. His current linemates Artturi Lehkonen and Tomas Plekanec wear the jersey No,62 and No.14 respectively. 62-14 =48. Ohhhh so close to being 47!! Someone tell Lehktonen to change his jersey number to 61... Then you could call that line the "Double 47" line.