Alexander Radulov has refused to say whether he will stay with Salavat Yulaev Ufa after the team crashed out of the KHL playoffs, fueling speculation he may return to the NHL.
Radulov still has a year to run on a contract with the Nashville Predators, where he has been suspended without pay since leaving for his native Russia in 2008.
"No comment," Radulov told the Salavat Yulaev website Friday when asked whether he would stay with the team.
The Moscow-born wing would be able to rejoin the Predators mid-season as he is already contracted, and would become a restricted free agent in the summer by playing until the end of the season for the Nashville team.
Since Radulov left, the Predators have consistently said that they would welcome his return.
Following the Ufa team's 4-2 series defeat in the Eastern Conference playoff quarterfinals, Radulov said he was unsure why Salavat Yulaev were unable to progress further.
"It's not nice, of course, but life goes on," he said.
"The team was also good this season. Something, somewhere wasn't enough.
There were a lot of injuries."
"But I wouldn't like to make excuses now. It's our fault."
Radulov was named KHL regular season MVP in 2010-11, when Salavat Yulaev won the Gagarin Cup, and has notched up 102 goals and 197 assists in 257 appearances in the KHL.
