Article content

How many goals will Alexander Radulov score?

That’s the $5.75-million question heading into this season for the Canadiens after general manager Marc Bergevin took a gamble on the Russian free-agent forward this summer. The Bodog betting website has posted an over/under of 53.5 points for Radulov.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Stu Cowan: Canadiens hoping Alexander Radulov doesn't become an Enigma Back to video

There hasn’t been such a mysterious Russian in a Canadiens uniform since Alex Kovalev left Montreal for Ottawa following the 2008-09 season, taking The Enigma moniker with him. Radulov, who only signed a one-year deal, will be the second highest-paid forward on the Canadiens, trailing only Tomas Plekanec’s $6-million salary and earning $1.25 million more than captain Max Pacioretty.

Radulov hasn’t played in the NHL since missing curfew the night before a playoff game four years ago while with the Nashville Predators. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward has spent the last four seasons with CSKA Moscow in the KHL and posted 23-42-65 totals in 53 games last season. Bergevin is hoping the 30-year-old can find some of the offensive magic he had back in his final season of junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts in 2005-06 when he posted 61-91-152 totals in 62 games and looked like a future NHL star after the Predators selected him in the first round (15th overall) at the 2004 NHL Draft. In 154 career NHL games with Nashville, Radulov had 47-55-102 totals.