Ramblings: More Radulov talk, Kadri suspended, Monday recaps and is there a Sharks goalie controversy?

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Alexander Radulov has reportedly declined a contract renewal and is expected to be seeking a spot with a contending team for the 2016-17 season.

Assuming Radulov returns to a strong team and lands a top-six role, where are we ranking him for next season?

Is he a top-15 right winger?

He'll be 30 years old and eight years removed from significant NHL duty, excluding the 2012 cameo, of course. So while he was a solid scorer in the league and even better in Russia, he's also past his prime.

Plus, there is a risk factor, right?

And who can forget this sterling analysis?

Here is some potential perspective, and hopefully decent analysis with actionable advice.

Radulov is likely worth a middle-round pick, and where he lands determines just how early you should be willing to take the leap of faith. This season, 57 players currently have at least 55 points and 51 have 25 goals. Those seem like obtainable bench marks for Radulov, and just hitting those numbers would make him a potential top-15 right winger with his likely high shot volume and power-play returns.

Phil Kessel, a similar polarizing player with tremendous offensive skill, took plenty of time to finally find his form playing with a new organization this year. Whereas Artemi Panarin seemed to click immediately with the Blackhawks, and he was never the KHL scorer that Radulov has been.

All this is to say, there is no way of knowing how Radulov will re-acclimatize to the league and how valuable a fantasy commodity he'll be without knowing where he'll land. If you're able to add him in a keeper/dynasty league, though, you should. Worry about the where and how later.

Imagine him joining the Capitals, which I would have to think would make sense, for a number of reasons.

This will be fun to follow in the coming weeks and months.

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Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer is not naming the starting goaltender for the playoffs.

“There’s no sense in making any announcements on those type of things. They’re all hypothetical until we get there.”

Sure thing, Pete.

Barring an injury, Martin Jones is the starter, right?

Jones has been a road warrior with 22 wins, a .925 save percentage and 2.20 goals-against average through 32 away starts. And he has an active 20-9-2 run with a .926 save percentage and a 2.02 goals-against average dating back to mid-January.

Sure, James Reimer has been solid (5-2 record, .927 save percentage and 1.85 goals-against average) and may deserve consideration.

But didn't this organization learn anything from the captaincy debacle leading into the 2014-15 season?

Plus, who doesn't want to see Jones face his former team in Round 1?

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I enjoyed Chris Johnson's article on Nazem Kadri following his season-ending, four-game suspension.

Under the microscope is a solid way to describe the attention Kadri receives. His edge has to be similar to what made Chris Pronger, Bobby Clarke and Mark Messier champions.

While Kadri will never achieve stardom to any of their levels, he could be an impact player on an improving team. I trust Mike Babcock's judgement, and he has continually praised the emerging two-way pivot.

Kadri has paid his dues in Toronto on numerous levels, and it could pay off on just as many levels over the next four to five years.

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Jake Allen and David Backes were ruled out for the remainder of the regular season Monday. Whereas Robby Fabbri and Jay Bouwmeester skated hard during practice Monday, but neither suited up for the game.

St. Louis has a daunting first-round matchup against Chicago or Minnesota, and while they're currently rolling, being at full health is an important part of the equation.

It didn't seem to matter Monday, though, and it shouldn't have. What is often most telling about a team's form is its ability to win the games they should win. It would have been easy for St. Louis to lay down in the potential trap game after falling down 2-0 in the first period Monday.

Five-unanswered goals later, and St. Louis is tied atop the Western Conference in points. Although, according to the standings at NHL.com, Dallas owns the tiebreaker.

With a goal, an assist and four shots on net, Vladimir Tarasenko improved to seven goals, nine helpers and 43 shots through his past 13 games. Interestingly, his power-play assist Monday was just his fourth power-play point during the span. For the seasons, Tarasenko has 24 power-play tallies.

Jaden Schwartz has really quieted down of late with just one goal through his past seven games and only 13 shots. Being separated from Tarasenko at even strength doesn't project favorably, either.

In desperate times, Schwartz could be a drop candidate in shallow leagues where games matter. St. Louis has just two more remaining outings, and the Blues face Chicago and Washington.

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Anthony Duclair scored Monday to continue his strong finish. He has 20 goals and 24 assists for the campaign, including three goals, four assists and 16 shots through his past seven games.

As the talent improves in the desert, Duclairs shot at a 30-30 season in the near future improves. He doesn't turn 21 until this summer, either. There is a lot of upside here.

Sticking with talented youngsters, Max Domi failed to find the scoresheet, but he is having a strong finish, as well. The rookie is up to 18 goals and 33 assists for the year and has a goal and five helpers over his past seven games.

In points-only formats, both Duclair and Domi will hold sneaky value next season.

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With his goal Monday, Nick Bjugstad is up to four goals and five assists through his past 12 games. He appears to be finding his form in the top-six role and has an impressive 35 shots during the span, including 14 over the latest two outings.

Florida has Montreal, Ottawa and Carolina left. Grab Bjugstad now.

The Panthers held off a surge from Toronto to post a franchise-best 99 points, and given that favorable closing schedule, they look poised to lock up the second seed in the Eastern Conference and win the Atlantic Division.

With two assists against Toronto, Reilly Smith needs two points over the final three games of the season to match his career-high 51 from the 2013-14 season. There is a lot to like about a secondary scorer who will likely play all but one game over the past three seasons and return 57 goals and 83 assists during the span.

Ice time has also been on Smith's side this season, as he has averaged nearly four minutes more than he did in 2014-15 and three minutes more than last year. As long as he is healthy and doesn't drop down the depth chart, Smith is a safe bet for another 45-plus point season with 20 goals.

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Colin Greening is nothing more than a depth forward on a good team, but was he really not good enough to play for Ottawa?

Through 256 games over six seasons, Greening had a 51.7 CorsiFor percentage, and he entered Monday with a 55.7 percent mark for Toronto through 26 games.

He scored twice in the losing effort Monday, and Greening has a respectable six goals and 13 points through 27 games playing secondary minutes with Toronto.

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The Derek Stepan–Mats Zuccarello–Chris Kreider stack was my go-to unit Monday, and the trio combined for 17.5 points, which went good for over a fantasy point per one hundred dollars at DraftKings. The line stack cost $16,500.

Kreider has four goals and three assists through his past five games with 12 shots and two power-play goals. Stepan has 18 points — six goals — over his past 15 outings, and Zuccarello has returned four goals and two assists through his latest seven games.

Here is the majority of your offense from New York.

Rick Nash has just three goals through 12 games since returning from the bone bruise in his leg. He has played less than a minute of power-play time in consecutive games, too. Put this guy with Eric Staal and make them the shut-down line already.

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The Islanders won a must-win game, and John Tavares registered his second multi-point showing in his past three outings.

Head coach Jack Capuano loaded up Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo on Tavares' flanks, and the trio combined for a goal and five assists.

In my many conversations before and after the Daily Fantasy Hockey Edge podcast with Pete Jensen, the Tavares-Okposo split always seemed not just odd, but unnecessarily forced.

New York has road games against the Capitals and Rangers on deck before home dates with the Sabres and Flyers, and Tavares is seven points shy of 70.

Maybe he has a Jamie Benn-2015 finish to hit the mark.

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I suspected Tampa Bay was squashed without Anton Stralman, but with Steven Stamkos also out, this season isn't going to end well. The depth isn't there, and they likely shouldn't be viewed as a Round 1 favorite.

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Jonathan Quick entered the outing Monday with a 8-7-1 record, a .909 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average over his most recent 16 starts. He allowed three goals on 24 shots in losing fashion, and the Kings have now lost six of their past eight games.

Worse, though, is Los Angeles has lost each of its past five road games, including favorable matchups against the Jets and Canucks. The Kings have also scored just eight goals in those five losses.

It isn't time to hit the panic button, but the run is worrisome, and poolies might want to beware of having too hefty of expectations for Los Angeles, especially if the offense can't find a groove.

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