Radulov returning to KHL on 2-year deal with Ak Bars

Alexander Radulov is headed back to the KHL after signing a two-year contract with Ak Bars, the league announced Thursday.

Radulov spent the past five seasons with the Dallas Stars. He returned to the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2016-17 campaign after a four-year stint with CSKA Moscow.

The 36-year-old also bounced between the NHL and KHL as a member of the Nashville Predators, who drafted him 15th overall in 2004. He suited up for the Preds for two seasons from 2006-08 but went back overseas to play for Ufa for four years.

Radulov then played nine regular-season games and eight playoff contests with Nashville in 2011-12 prior to another lengthy tenure in his home country.

The powerful winger had some productive campaigns in his latest stint in North America, racking up 198 points in 228 games across his lone season with the Habs and his first two years with the Stars. Radulov's numbers dropped off drastically after that, though. He managed 22 points in 71 games in 2021-22 while averaging just over 14 minutes per contest.