As the 2015-16 season came to a close for the Colorado Avalanche (perhaps even prior to that), it looked like it was almost a forgone conclusion that forward Alexander Radulov would be suiting up for the burgundy and blue next season. Heck, even goaltender Semyon Varlamov seemed to think it would happen.

Now, more teams are seemingly getting into the mix for Radulov’s services, blurring a once-clear picture. Then, on Friday, TSN’s Darren Dreger may have shattered that picture completely when he touched on Radulov’s rumored asking price.

“A number of teams are interested in Alex Radulov no question about that,” Dreger said on Insider Trading. “… but a couple of sources have indicated he wants two years at $7.5 million per.”

Man, that’s a tough pill to swallow. Last week, we estimated that Radulov’s NHL value per season was between $4.25-5.25 million. These numbers were reaffirmed yesterday, when it was asserted that the Red Wings value him at between $4-5 million per season. For an NHL team to kick in an additional $2.25 million minimum per campaign, would be illogical at best.

If that is truly the amount that Radulov wants, the Avalanche shouldn’t just walk away, they should run.

That is not to say that Radulov isn’t a talented player. He is. He might be the most talented player not currently in the NHL. That said, considering how his last two NHL stints ended, he is not worth the risk that comes with such a big commitment.

Radulov’s attitude seemed to be the problem with the Nashville Predators, culminating in his being suspended for a playoff game for missing curfew. With Patrick Roy (his former Juniors coach) in place, Colorado is confident that they can keep him in line. They very well might be able to, but it is far from a sure thing.

There is also the question of how his production in the KHL will translate back to the NHL game. In the KHL, he is the elite of the elite, having won the league scoring title on three occasions (he finished second last year). During his time in the NHL, he was a good point producer (.66 points per game), but wasn’t elite. There’s no guarantee that his production will improve this time around, and $7.5 million is a lot to commit to anything less than elite production.

For the Red Wings (who have recently emerged as a top contender for Radulov), the issue doesn’t just lie in cost, but also in term; as they seem hesitant to offer more than a one-year, “show me” deal. Personally, I wouldn’t have an issue signing him for two, even three years. For me, it just boils down to dollars and cents. The dollar figure simply has to make sense.

Then again, the $7.5 million per season asking price could be nothing more than hullabaloo. According to Igor Eronko of Sports-Express, money is not that big of a factor for Radulov, as his priorities are winning and family comfort.

No matter what, Radulov will need to take a pay cut if he wants to return to the NHL (he made $9.2 million per season in the KHL). If the two aforementioned factors are truly as important to him as implied, then heading to Colorado for a reunion with Roy could make sense. If the desired dollar amount is accurate however, I suggest the Avalanche look elsewhere to improve their club this offseason.