"I'm starting to wonder if somebody slapped a bunch of "Kick Me" signs on the backs of the Predators when they weren't looking.

Last summer, the franchise was on the auction block. A couple of months ago, word surfaced that a prominent co-owner is a bankrupt fraud.

And now the Preds are in an international tug-o-war for their best young forward, Alexander Radulov. A-Rad apparently is under contract with both the Predators and a team in his native Russia.

If possession is nine-tenths of international law, this doesn't look good for the Preds. Radulov's skates are stuck in Russian ice. He doesn't seem inclined to leave.

This is a blast from the past. There's something remarkably Cold War-ish about it. If Tom Clancy wrote sports books, this would be right up his alley.

The clock is ticking. With each passing day, it appears less likely that Radulov will be back in the NHL.

Frankly, the Preds can't win in this one. Even if Radulov is forced to return to Nashville, he's damaged goods. If his heart is in Russia, what good is it to have him in Nashville?

The hits keep comingThis is a major hit for a team that already has overcome so much. At age 22, Radulov is a gifted scorer whose best hockey is ahead of him. He figured to be a player the Preds would build their team around for the next several seasons.

And now - nyet. Most likely, Salavat Yulaev Ufa will build its team around him for the next several seasons.

Maybe the Preds should have seen this coming. On a team with some odd personalities, Radulov stands out. Some of his teammates called him Borat, a reference to Sacha Baron Cohen's film character who blurts out outrageous socio-cultural views.

With Radulov, something always seemed to be lost in translation. While he compiled 58 points last season, his biggest impact came in Game 3 of the playoff series with Detroit. After Jason Arnott scored the go-ahead goal late in the game, Radulov celebrated by slamming him into the boards.

Arnott later was diagnosed with a concussion. He missed two playoff games and the Preds were toast.

Fair compensation?Now, four months later, Radulov has blindsided the Preds again.

If he winds up staying and playing in Russia, the Preds should be compensated in some fashion. And I'm not talking about a case of Stoli.

The Preds spent the No. 15 pick of the 2004 draft on him. They brought him up through their farm system. They were careful not to push him to the NHL too quickly.

Their reward: Radulov has made himself into an international hockey incident."