Flyers Bring Zherdev Back to NHL
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed former New York Ranger Nikolai Zherdev to a one year contract. Zherdev formally of the New York Rangers left the National Hockey League last season after the Rangers refused to match a salary given by an arbitrator. Zherdev played last season with the Kontinental Hockey League in Moscow.
Zherdev showed talent from a young age and it came as no surprise that he was scouted at age 14 by Russian Major League side Elektrostal. In order to play for Elektrostal, the Ukrainian born Zherdev was forced to adopt Russian citizenship. The move paid off, as shortly into his professional career he was loaned out to CSKA Moscow to play under Viktor Tikhonov. Here Zherdev was able to improve his game, so much so that he was drafted fourth overall in the 2003 National Hockey League entry draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After being drafted Zherdev returned to CSKA only to leave half way through the season to join the Blue Jackets. Zherdev had a breakout season in 2005-06. With star winger Rick Nash out due to injury, Zherdev took the spot light scoring 27 goals and tallying 27 assists in just 73 games. The following season would be far more disappointing, as the winger struggled with consistency throughout the season and finished with only 32 points.
In 2005-06 Zherdev was involved in his first contract dispute, asking for a great deal more than the blue Jackets were willing to give him, he threatened to stay in Russia for the entire season. Finally the two sides agreed on a $5.7 million three-year deal. His soft season in 2006-07 and an average season the following year, led to his trade to the New York Rangers in 2008.
Playing a full season in New York, Zherdev put up decent numbers. He took the Rangers to arbitration that summer and was awarded $3.9 million, however the Rangers chose not to retain the winger. This decision made Zherdev a free agent and he chose to sign a one-year contract with KHL team Atlant Moscow Oblast. Zherdev posted strong numbers in the KHL, finishing the year with 39 points. The positive year sparked the Flyers to sign the 25 year old to his current one-year contract.
Flyer Perspective
Zherdev brings another offensive scoring threat to an already deep flyers offense. However, the signing of Zherdev looks to be a move made to give general manger Mike Holmgren room to make some more off-season deals. The Flyers are known to be for looking for a new home for winger Simone Gange. The signing of Zherdev gives Holmgren the freedom to move Gange, while owning a top six forward to take his place. The Flyers are still in desperate need of a goaltender and the thought is that Gange could be moved in order to procure one. Although Zherdev is not as time tested as Gange he supplies the Flyers with a cheaper substitute to put with the already highly talented crop of wingers wearing Flyers uniforms.
Is This a Smart Move?
With Nikolai Zherdev you just never know what you are going to get. The Kiev native is known to be difficult, and some nights seems to be elsewhere on the ice. For a hard nosed team like the Philadelphia Flyers this simply will not be acceptable. The hope is that a dressing room led by Chris Pronger and Mike Richard may be able to do something to straighten him out. For Zherdev this is a great move. He gets to have another crack at an NHL career while not having to be worried about being tied down by a long term contract. The only question is whether or not he will be able to keep up after a year in the less demanding KHL.
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