Fantasy Impact: Montreal Canadiens sign winger Alexander Radulov to a one-year deal worth $5.75 million

The Canadiens get: an elite KHL winger. Elite. But is he elite in the NHL? And are his attitude problems behind him? That's the 5.75 million dollar question. Radulov led the KHL in scoring in three of the last seven seasons and he was second in scoring twice, fourth in scoring once (injured for a chunk of the other year). When he left the NHL he was coming off 58 points in what was his first full NHL season. He has dominated leagues at every level, comparable to Tampa's Nikita Kucherov – QMJHL, AHL, KHL and had started to dominate the NHL. Much like Kucherov, he was held back by an organization and coach that wanted to bring him along slowly – but he was too good to be held back. Despite limited ice time and opportunities, he kept putting up points.

And now the bad. Some of you may recall that he returned to the NHL for Nashville's playoff run in 2012. He posted seven points in nine regular season games and six points in eight playoff games. But he was also suspended by the team for a playoff game because he went out partying with his buddy Andrei Kostitsyn, hitting the clubs past curfew. He has also been, by some perspectives, a prima donna. When he left the NHL it caught everyone off guard as it was in the middle of a signed contract agreement. He also flirted with coming to the NHL on a couple of other occasions before staying in the KHL for huge money.

But those things happened when he was younger. He left mid-contract when he was 22. He partied with Kostitsyn past curfew when he was 26. Today he's 30 (well, in four days actually) and he has a baby boy. Those of you in your 30s and 40s who had a child when you were 29 or older – were you crazier at 26 than you were a year after you became a father/mother?

Fantasy Players Impacted: a centerman is going to really surge here and my guess is that it will be Alex Galchenyuk. But it could also be Thomas Plekanec. I would be surprised if it was David Desharnais. It's the wingers who will suffer here (if their name isn't Max Pacioretty). Mainly Daniel Carr, who I thought made a nice splash last season. But other youngsters such as Sven Andrighetto and Michael McCarron as well.

Radulov's value obviously rises – from zero to something significantly higher. The key here is health. I don't think attitude will be an issue (I'm in the minority, I know), but if he gets hurt and misses 25 games he may never get back on track as the team formulates a system without him. Especially if the injury happens early. But he stays healthy, watch out: I'm pretty confident he will do well.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order: 

1. Radulov

2. Galchenyuk (stats, linemates, game logs here)

3. Plekanec (stats, linemates, game logs here)

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order: 

1. Carr (fantasy scouting analysis here)

2. Andreghetto (fantasy scouting analysis here)