The curious case of Nik Zherdev
Daily News Flyers blog
The curious case of Nik Zherdev
Back on July 9, when the Flyers officially inked Nik Zherdev to a one-year deal, if you could flash forward to December – what would you have expected?
Let’s take a deeper look at his stats:
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
P
|
+/-
|
PPG
|
GWG
|
Shots
|
Sh%
|
TOI
|
Hits
|
BkS
|
GvA
|
TkA
|
|
30
|
11
|
2
|
13
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+5
|
0
|
0
|
73
|
15.1
|
12:04
|
18
|
5
|
9
|
9
|
Where does Zherdev rank on the Flyers in these stats?
Goals: tied for 4th
Shots: 6th
Shooting percentage: tied for 3rd
Time on ice: 4th least
Blocked shots: 2nd worst
Takeaways: 6th worst
Giveaways: 7th
There are a couple ways to look at Zherdev – with the glass half-full and the glass half-empty.
Glass half-full:
- Supremely talented goal-scorer
- Played with the 4th line for the bulk of the season
- Has seen little power play time
- Can be one of the Flyers’ top players when he is motivated
Glass half-empty:
- Doesn’t hanker to play defense
- Not physical
- Only at his best with talented players
- Inconsistent from shift to shift, game to game
- Can be invisible when not motivated
For the most part, though, Zherdev has been exactly as advertised in his previous stints in the NHL. This afternoon, Zherdev will remain in the lineup, on the Flyers’ hottest line with James van Riemsdyk and Jeff Carter for a change.
Zherdev enters today’s game having scored in back-to-back games (since his most recent healthy scratch last Saturday) for the first time all season.
And despite his drawbacks, Zherdev is on pace for a career-high with 27 goals. That’s pretty impressive considering his lack of a regular shift with talented players. The Flyers are one of only a handful of teams in the NHL with 5 players in double-digit goal scoring in mid-December.
He has been a healthy scratch for 3 games this year – and not for drawing the ire of coach Peter Laviolette, but rather because the Flyers may have the deepest crop of forwards in the NHL.
“I think he’s played [two] good games,” Laviolette said. “He came back much stronger [after sitting] than he played before.”
Laviolette has a penchant for players who play a north-south style of game on the ice, rather than an east-west game that can sometimes get you into trouble with too much fancy play. Zherdev has had to fine-tune his game to those standards, which are certainly much different than on the Olympic-sized ice in Russia’s KHL, where he spent last season.
Entering training camp, Laviolette often singled out Zherdev as the newcomer he was most excited to work with this season.
So, is this where Laviolette thought Zherdev would be at this point?
“I’m not sure I know the answer to that since I never had him and I don’t know him that well,” Laviolette said. “He has been stronger on the puck, with a little more of a ‘north’ mentality. He is trying to be physical.”
Now, just 8 games away from the halfway point in this marathon season, it’s hard to say that Zherdev has been a disappointment this season – given all that he’s had to put up with. Besides, a 27-goal season will cost you about $2 million in today’s NHL.
At the same time, Zherdev has shown the flashes of brilliance that made him the No. 4 overall pick way back in 2003. Even at 26, Zherdev remains a work in progress – but one that could pay dividends later in the season when teams hone in their focus on Mike Richards, Danny Briere, Claude Giroux and Carter.
For now, he has been who we thought he would be. And more here than anywhere else, where he would be counted on to be the main point producers, that may be just fine.
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He is still a one-and-done Flyer. He won't be back next season, especially with Leino's contract still to be determined. I'd much rather retain Leino over Zherdev. I may even attempt to deal Zherdev now just to get something in return for next year.— UncleEddie- Little early to deal him now, but I agree that if it comes down to it, you keep Leino and move Zherdev — DrM
- Low risk high reward, Zherdev was a good pickup. Is it a total given he's a one year player? Let the season play out, that was a big goal he scored against the Penguins.— MD20202020
- I think the Flyers are seeing who has the better year and playoff between Zheredev and Leino and then will decide which one to sign.— Fabulous
- Pull your heads out of the snow guys. Zherdev is an excellent player with the skills we need. He is our Marion Hossa. Laviolette needs to start giving him the respect he deserves. I see Carter and Richards take a lot of shifts off. Maybe support the guy like he does the others and he might get some loyalty back. You have to use some sugar now and then, not all tough love on thuis guy. If he can't coach this guy it's his fault. If we want a cup we need players like Nik.— dahlster
- A lot of these same critiques and praises can be leveled at Leino: not physical, terrible in the defensive zone, only good with talented players around him...— Ckott
- At almost the halfway point of the season, he has been exactly as advertised, but I think that he is adjusting well to the Flyers and may an exciting player as we close in on the playoffs. I fact, he may be the type of player who will thrive in the spotlight and we won't see his true value until the playoffs. As for his being a one year player, I think he will need to fit an entire season under his belt before next season is considered.— argus
- I have to admit that, while at the Flyers-Pens game on Tuesday night, I shouted pass when Zherdev skated into the zone to eventually score that huge goal. Zherdev is set to have a decently productive year, but the fact remains that, when he doesn't have the puck, he is slow, lazy, and aloof, and utterly unaccountable on defense. I will take his 20+ goals this year and happily say goodbye.— bpkrier
- Since the Flyers acquired him, I've been hoping that he'd get in a groove with a good line around him and be able to re-dedicate himself within a "team" concept. So far, I'm not sure if he has, but I think by playing with JVR and Carter he now has no excuse. I can see a player like Zherdev getting frustrated playing on a 4th line but he seems to have taken his medicine for his inconsistent play and now has a chance to shine with the right people around him. I hope Lavvy gives him more than 1 or 2 more games to evaluate his performance, rather than dump back to 4th line oblivion if he has a few bad shifts. I think the more confidence he gets the better he'll be, but with that said it will really be up to Zherdev....— phillyflyer70
Comment removed.- Zherdev just needs to be used correctly. In tight checking games vs teams like Pittsburgh and Montreal his presence paid off handsomely with key goals. He'll continue to give the Flyers those key goals as long as he gets ice time. Lavvy, in this case you'll get more with honey than with vinegar. Play him and cut back on the Jody Shelley minutes.— bradco
- Was Gagne a good defensive forward?-NO, not until the last 2 seasons! This guy has talent you dont find everyday. Those that say one and done are idiots. Work in progress. Gagne had 10 years to get it!
— NYPHILLYPHAN - Comment removed.
- If he ends up with 25 goals during the regular season, I will be happy. In the playoffs he will be a double-edged sword. Teams will focus more on Carter/Giroux/etc, which will free him up to make plays, but his give-aways can be AWFUL and in the playoffs that type of thing can kill you.— DrM
- I cant believe some of the people on here who defend Zherdev and act like he is a godsend. My goodness, in a league where people will give a chance to a guy almost at will if he has talent....and last year NOBODY wanted this guy(or were willing to pay him anything much) so he played in the KHL. He has great talent for goal scoring, but he is soft, lazy, and yes...he is just the type guy who is the recipe for a playoff bust big time. Zherdev fits the bill and the stereotype of the 'typical' lazy russian player. Leino did fine in the playoffs last year. Briere is like Pronger. He knows when to turn it on when it matters, and Briere will play some D in the playoffs, as his ranking near the top of the plus/minus leaders in last years postseason attests to. Check out Zherdevs postseason career stats, and he has shown he is still the same player. I just dont see it changing. He is what he is.....and well see that in the postseaosn I hate to say, unless Laavy sits him.— Big D phillies fan
