Larry Brooks, of the New York Post, reports that the Rangers may be done with Nikolai Zherdev because he filed for arbitration.

As it was, there was debate within the organization whether to qualify Zherdev at the required $3.25 million price tag after his uneven season that frustrated both Tom Renney and John Tortorella.

Now, with Zherdev seeking a contract believed in the neighborhood of $4.5M, there’s little doubt the Blueshirts would walk away from an arbitration award that’s even a nickel more than $3.25M, and thus make the 24-year-old winger an unrestricted free agent.

$4.5 million! Are you kidding Zherdev and company? That is crazy.

The filing by Zherdev, who came to New York last summer from Columbus with Dan Fritsche in exchange for Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman, in effect gives the Rangers an additional $3.25M of cap space with which to shop for a top-six forward on the free-agent and trade markets as the parties await the hearing that has not yet been scheduled.

It might open a second look at Heatley, though the Blueshirts have no more intention now than they did last week of surrendering prime young assets in order to get him. Plus, Heatley’s sense of entitlement as framed by agent J.P. Barry in a recent interview with Canada’s Sun Media seems excessive enough to scare anyone and everyone away.

If they do walk away, it doesn’t just give them extra room to shop for a forward, it gives them more cap flexibility. That is something the Rangers could take into the season and make a move from there. As for Heatley, I think this dream needs to stop. The Rangers brought in Marian Gaborik and while Heatley would be a ncie addition, they already filled the number one winger spot and it wouldn’t help the team at this point to start trading more pieces away when pieces need to be added.

The Rangers have held conversations with Dallas regarding Brad Richards, who has two years remaining on a contract carrying an annual $7.8M cap hit, and with San Jose concerning Patrick Marleau, who has one year to go at $6.3M on his deal, but there’s no indication at this time that either player is on his way to Broadway.

There’s also interest in 34-year-old Montreal free agent Saku Koivu and in 39-year-old Dallas free agent defenseman and power-play point specialist Sergei Zubov as the Rangers look to bolster a roster that is not especially imposing.

Brad Ruchards and Patrick Marleau, welcome to being linked to the Rangers all season long. Its good to have you. And as for Koivu and Zubov, is that interest from you Larry or from the Rangers.