Flyers talking with Zherdev
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Flyers talking with Zherdev
Russian news services indicate the Flyers and Ukrainian free agent forward Nikolai Zherdev have come to an agreement to bring the skilled but aloof scorer back to the NHL.
As of this posting, the two sides have not been able to nail down an agreement.
But the Flyers and Zherdev’s Russian agent, Igor Popov, have been talking and an offer is pending, a league source has told the Daily News. Both sides appear to be close to a deal.
Zherdev, 25, played last season in Russia with the KHL’s Atlant Mystishchi after the New York Rangers let him walk after winning a $4 million salary award in arbitration last summer.
He was reportedly seeking a long-term deal worth the same amount this summer. Boston, Toronto and Buffalo are the other teams that have reportedly offered Zherdev a contract.
At 6-foot-2, Zherdev would fill in nicely in the Flyers’ depth chart at right wing. Over his last two NHL seasons, Zherdev posted 109 points – 49 of them being goals.
Zherdev was the No. 4 overall pick by Columbus in 2003. Few doubt Zherdev’s talent and skill but almost all of his critics question his work ethic and consistency.
After a 54 point season in 2006-06 – his second in the NHL – Zherdev posted just 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points over 71 games and then nearly doubled that total the following season, his last with the Blue Jackets.
The Rangers acquired him on July 2, 2008 with Dan Fritsche for Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.
Last season, in the comparatively low-scoring Kontinental Hockey League, Zherdev netted 39 points in 52 games.
The signing of Zherdev would mark the official end of the Simon Gagne era in Philadelphia. Last week, Gagne agreed to waive his no-trade clause. Gagne is due $5.25 million next season, his last year under contract with the Flyers. Zherdev's signing would put the Flyers well over next season's $59.4 million salary cap.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).
this guy is no potential 50 goal scorer..or the rangers would not have let him go...
GET A GOALIE!!!!!!!!!! Forget forwards! We NEED a guy who can stop the puck in big games!— ChrisM- WHY??? PLEASE JUST KEEP GAGNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— JesseH
- I'm thinking this sounds like the second coming of Pat Falloon— crkreg
- Zherdev is NOT a 50-goal scorer. Read the story again. "Over his last two NHL seasons, Zherdev posted 109 points – 49 of them being goals." That means he's a 25-goal scorer, and only when he wants to play. Yeah, I'm sure Pittsburgh, Washington and Chicago are shaking in their boots. Where's my #1 goalie??— Homer65
- put this guy with Girioux— sawgrass
- I can't imagine they are realistically thinking of this guy chipping in more than 20 goals, which is about what we could expect from an injury prone Gagne. I think it is alot of wishful thinking. All the talk of needeing a winger and this is what we get.I dont think we should hold out breath for a goalie either.— Chutley26
this guy was an enormous bust in NY, what's different now?— potus- At least with a healthy Gagne, you know what you're getting. A 4th overall pick with talent and zero work ethic sounds very familiar....Pavel Brendl anyone? We all know how that turned out.— Chase44
Comment removed.- GOALTENDING PLEASE— eglftbl1
- @Journey. Not a 50 goal per season man - a 50 goal over two season man.
- ...says all the same people who bashed Homer for the Pronger signing, and trading Upshall...they went to the Finals last year people, on a team that was being billed as "built for the playoffs". Cut the guy some slack and try to enjoy the GAME. FFS, if you people put as much effort into world affairs, well, then we'd just have a more moronic comments on world affairs. Carry on.— th
- Comment removed.
- How was he as bust in NY??? He had the 2nd most pts of his career? If they can turn this move into upgrading the goalie than this is a good move, otherwise it is a waste of time.— therev
