08-09 Recap: Nikolai Zherdev
Name: Nikolai Zherdev #13
Born: Nov 05 ’84 (Age 24)
Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 203
How Acquired: Acquired by the New York Rangers along with Dan Fritsche for Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman.
Contract For Next Year: Restricted Free Agent
08-09 Salary: 3.25 million
08-09 Regular Stats: 25 goals and 35 assist in 82 games.
08-09 Playoff Stats: Zero points in seven games.
Career Stats: 99 goals and 140 assists in 365 games.
Thoughts: Nikolai Zherdev is one of those players that makes you want to bang your head against the wall. He is immensly talented and seems like he can do anything he wants on the ice but doesn’t. I thought the Rangers stole Zherdev from the Blue Jackets for Fedor Tyutin last summer but in the end it seems like Columbus got the better end as Toots is a big part of that team and Zherdev may not be back next season. I don’t think he entirely fits into John Tortorella’s way of playing and when it comes down to it I think that Zherdev will end up in the KHL over in Russia. Luckily the Rangers hold his right’s so that he can be traded if they so choose but it may be to much of a risk to give up on a 24 year old with all the talent in the world.
Check out this poll on Zherdev and whether or not you would bring him back for next season.
