from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
Just eight games into the NHL season, it appears that Alexei Kovalev, version 2.0, has surfaced here in La Belle Province. The passionate Montreal fans have embraced the latest version of the misunderstood, enigmatic Russian winger with oodles of talent.
Kovalev found new life in his NHL career when he came here years ago. The fans absolutely loved him. This might be happening all over again with Radulov, who is winning over the folks in these parts not just with his offensive flair but just as much for his dogged determination away from the puck.
"You learn from things you go through," said Radulov. "It's not all about just scoring goals or getting assists. Hockey is about playing both ways. To be a good player, defense, neutral zone, you have to block shots, take a check, whatever helps at that time in a game. The goals and assists will be there if you work hard and do the right job."
And the fans have noticed. "People here see if you're working hard, they will respect that," said Radulov.
One person who would have easily predicted Radulov's early-season success in his return to the NHL after four years back in Russia is his former junior coach in Quebec City.
"I love Alexander Radulov as a person," said Hall of Famer Patrick Roy in French via email Thursday. "He's a dominant player and dedicated and I'm not surprised at all to see his success so far this season.''
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