Radulov, Sullivan still in limbo

Steve Sullivan wants to start practicing with the team despite continued problems with his back. File

One player is not here and no one knows if he ever will be back. One player is back but no one really knows if he will ever play another game.

There are always questions surrounding the start of a training camp, but the Nashville Predators have two big ones to deal with. Will forward Alexander Radulov return to the team after turning his back on his contract to sign with the Kontinental Hockey League? Will forward Steve Sullivan, who has not played an NHL game since Feb. 2007, be able to play despite his back problems?

The answers to both questions are up in the air.

The Radulov situation was an item of discussion at the NHL Board of Governors meeting in Toronto Tuesday. David Poile, president of hockey operations/general manager for the Predators, has been declining in the past couple of weeks to talk about Radulov. At a news conference on Wednesday he once again addressed the situation.

The NHL has made a formal request to the KHL for binding arbitration. Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, told Poile this morning (Wednesday) the KHL has agreed. Poile has no timetable for when that might happen, and no assurances that the decision would be favorable to the Predators.

“The next step is the details,” Poile said. “Who is the arbitrator? Where is the arbitration? I think we are a long way from getting to an eventual resolution. But both sides are talking.

“This is of interest to us and other 29 NHL teams. Without a transfer agreement, it could be very serious in the long run if there is another league like the KHL that wants to poach our players. This could be very serious in the long run. It could affect World Championships and eventually the Olympics.”

Poile, as well as the Predators coaches and players, are ready to move on this season without Radulov.

“The good news is the team has rallied around this situation,” said Poile. “Nobody is down in the dumps and saying that we can’t compete without him. Radulov is not here. He is not part of our family right now.

“This is the reality of sports. He has made his decision. Our training camp starts Friday and for all intents and purposes we have moved on without Rad. Our game plan is based on not having him this year.”

There are indications that Radulov is not happy in the KHL and wants to return to the NHL. Poile has suspended Radulov indefinitely, but like the father of the prodigal son in the Bible, he is willing to accept Radulov as part of the team again. But before that suspension is lifted, Radulov is going to have to ask for forgiveness.

“Not only was it an immature decision on his part, but it was something that was not right,” said Poile. “It was not an honorable thing to do.

“The timing will be good if he wants to come back and wants to play for the Predators. He has to be apologetic for what took place. Other than that there isn’t a good time for him to come back.”

Meanwhile, Sullivan has informed Poile that he is tired of his rehab routine. He would prefer to practice with the team instead.

“Sully is fed up going to therapy and wants to try to do something different now,” Poile said. “He wants to be treated the same as every other player. He is going to show up every day and do as much as he can do.

“We have to be realistic about his condition and how his back feels. He wants to integrate himself with the team instead of going off somewhere for therapy. Both physically and mentally this is the best thing we can do for Sully at this time. I think it is a shot at trying to get him back.”

Poile admits it will be an adjustment for the team. He can’t go on the ice until he is listed as 100 percent and no one knows when that is going to happen.

“I certainly would not want to be the one to say that Sully will never play again,” Poile said. “This is the most optimistic I have been in the past two years. Sully wants to be a hockey player. He wants to be treated like a hockey player.

“Let’s never say die. Let’s give him hope. If there was one type of player we would like to add to this hockey club it would be the old Sully. Let’s not say hope. Let’s pray for whatever it will take to get him back.”

ORTMEYER OUT: Forward Jed Ortmeyer has recovered from his surgery to repair a torn ACL, but is not cleared to play. Ortmeyer developed a blood clot in July in his left leg.

“When he was with the New York Rangers he developed a clot in his right leg,” Poile said. “This is not good news. He is on blood thinners. The minimum amount of time he is to be on the blood thinners is three months. That would take us to approximately the middle of October.”

The Predators have dealt with similar situations with former players Kimmo Timonen and Tomas Vokoun.

“We all have to realize this is very serious,” Poile said. “We have dealt with this before.

“He has been given the clearance to work out on his own. He will work out every day, but not on the ice with the team. He cannot have any contact at all.”

YONKMAN EXPECTED TO SIGN: Nolan Yonkman is expected to sign with the Predators in the next few days. He is a 6-foot-6 defenseman who played for Milwaukee and had an ACL operation. He will be at training camp, but will not skate. He is expected to be cleared in mid-November.

O’REILLY GETS LATE START: Center Cal O’Reilly, who was expected to get a long look from the coaches during training camp, will get a late start. He fell on his back during workouts last week. He is expected to miss the first couple of weeks of training camp.