Alexander Radulov
A dazzlingly skilled Russian winger whose mercurial talent and transatlantic career moves defined him as much as his highlight-reel goals.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Russian ice hockey player·Birthday: July 5·Millennials
Biography
Alexander Radulov's hockey journey reads like a continent-hopping saga of raw talent and complicated loyalty. Drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2004, he quickly showed flashes of genius—a powerful skater with sublime hands and a scorer's instinct. But after two promising seasons, he bolted for the KHL, becoming one of the first major NHL talents to defect during the league's rise. This move established a pattern: Radulov played by his own rules. He became a superstar in Russia, winning championships and MVP awards, while his NHL rights remained a tantalizing 'what if.' Brief returns to Nashville and Montreal were electric but often ended in contract disputes or questions about commitment. His most sustained NHL success came in Dallas, where he helped the Stars reach the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. Throughout, Radulov remained a polarizing figure, a player whose undeniable on-ice magic was forever intertwined with the drama of his career choices.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alexander was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexander Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Alexander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Gagarin Cup (KHL championship) twice, with Salavat Yulaev Ufa in 2011 and CSKA Moscow in 2015.
- Awarded the KHL's Most Valuable Player prize (Golden Stick) for the 2010–11 season.
- Represented Russia internationally, winning gold at the 2009 World Championships and two World Championship silver medals.
- Scored 72 points in the 2017-18 NHL season with the Dallas Stars, a career high.
Did You Know?
He and his younger brother, Igor, were drafted by the same NHL team, the Nashville Predators.
He was suspended by the Predators in 2012 for a curfew violation during the NHL playoffs.
He holds the record for most points in a single KHL playoff season, with 26 in 2011.
His father, Valery Radulov, was also a professional hockey player in the Soviet league.
“I play the game my way, with fire and with skill.”
