Alexander Radulov a perfect fit in Montreal

Montreal's July 1 signing of then KHL star Alexander Radulov was met with a degree of skepticism and in some cases outward ridicule.

Despite his obvious scoring prowess as a nearly point-per-game winger through the last four seasons with Moscow, Radulov's off-ice reputation from his time in the NHL with the Nashville Predators preceded him.

Which version of Radulov would Montreal get? There was the hope of a matured power forward with strong work ethic that had been lighting up the KHL. But at one point he was also a disciplinary liability that returned to Russia prior to his entry-level contract expiring and was later suspended for missing curfew in his second NHL stint.

Fortunately, the gamble that general manager Marc Bergevin took is paying off early, with Radulov outperforming the marquee UFA signings of the day. Just a year earlier Bergevin took a similar chance with the decidedly less-skilled Alexander Semin that had disastrous results.

Through 24 games, the 30-year-old Radulov is on pace to have his best NHL season yet. He already has 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) — more than both Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson.

Edmonton's Lucic got one of the largest contracts handed out on July 1 (seven years, $42 million US) and Loui Eriksson came with a similar price tag at six years, $36 million.

Lucic comes close to Radulov with 20 points in 28 games, but he gets a lot more scoring support from the likes of Connor McDavid. Eriksson has been mostly forgettable with only 11 points for the struggling Canucks.

Calculated risk reaps reward

Radulov's one-year, $5.75-million US contract, was a calculated risk meant to bolster Montreal's long-ailing offence, but it brought perhaps unexpected leadership alongside the highlight-reel performances.

"He [Radulov] is still the same player on the ice. He's still dynamic. Dangerous whenever he gets the puck" said Shea Weber, who also played with Radulov in Nashville. "You can definitely tell he's helping some of the younger guys learn from his time that he was over here before."

The energy he brings rivals what departed fan favourite P.K. Subban had in abundance. As the reception Radulov received from fans on Sunday after one of his best performances this season in Los Angeles (one goal, 2 assists) can demonstrate, he's become an integral part of the Canadiens.

"[Radulov] brings a lot of enthusiasm to the team," goalie Carey Price said following the Russian's first multi-point game for the Canadiens against Philadelphia on Oct. 24. "Every day he comes in and just enjoys playing the game… He brings a lot of positive vibes to our locker room."

Turning heads at Bell Centre

Radulov has been brilliant at the Bell Centre, which has undoubtedly fuelled the fanfare. Montreal is 12-1-1 at home and Radulov has recorded at least a point in 10 of those games, including four of his five goals this season and 15 points total. 

That the goals he does score (or set up) are often must-see flashes of skill doesn't hurt his cause either. 

Prior to sustaining a lower-body injury on Sunday, centre Alex Galchenyuk (nine goals, 14 assists) was also flourishing alongside Radulov as the team's leading scorer.

"It's been fun playing with him [Radulov]," Galchenyuk said after Saturday's practice. "It's easy to play with a guy that has a lot of skill and makes plays."

Early signs indicate that the Radulov experiment has been successful, meaning Montreal will have to make a larger commitment if they hope to retain his services. Due to a stipulation in the collective bargaining agreement, one-year UFA contracts cannot be extended prior to Jan. 1, but addressing his future is likely among the team's priorities.