Nik Zherdev, we're told, is submitting a bid for $4.5 million in his salary arbitration hearing that is scheduled for Friday. Rangers have not submitted yet their number, but could come in under the Goodbye Guy's $3.25 million qualifier.
So what team is the next to take on the Z project?
He has sick skill with the puck and a wicked shot. He is pretty good in the shoot out too.
But he disappeared down the stretch last season and in the playoffs. Which is pretty much what the CBJ fans warned us he would do.
Wow you one game and than float for three. He's still young. Can he find the maturity to man up every game on another team?
I've always been a fan of Zherdev, and it's a shame the first thing uneducated people do is assume he's KHL-bound simply because he's Russian.
He's immensely talented, and I would take him on the Stars any day, but I don't think they're interested in adding his salary.
Well if he was KHL bound whats stopping him? He has those offers already right?
I will say one thing that irks me is he did next to no interviews for the fans while in NY. Supposedly because he speaks no English. But he's been stateside for years now. You want to be a STAR in N.A. you have to try to connect more with the fan base. Learn the language and win over the fans
If we could find room in the cap to make it work I'd be all for adding Zherdev in Carolina. I think it would be a fairly good environment for him too with Samsonov there to play somewhat of a mentor role for the guy.
Well if he was KHL bound whats stopping him? He has those offers already right?
I will say one thing that irks me is he did next to no interviews for the fans while in NY. Supposedly because he speaks no English. But he's been stateside for years now. You want to be a STAR in N.A. you have to try to connect more with the fan base. Learn the language and win over the fans
I agree.. I feel like he did a good job in NY. But becides getting rid of backman I feel like we got the short end of the stick with that trade that we lost toots.. Also I can't see Z getting paid more then 3.8 mill. Any team that is going to pay him over 4 mill my sympathy goes out to them..
Well if he was KHL bound whats stopping him? He has those offers already right?
Exactly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chariot
I will say one thing that irks me is he did next to no interviews for the fans while in NY. Supposedly because he speaks no English. But he's been stateside for years now. You want to be a STAR in N.A. you have to try to connect more with the fan base. Learn the language and win over the fans
Meh, Malkin's got by with his broken English, and like most Russians would probably much rather give an interview in his mother tongue. I'm thinking it's the same for Zherdev.
If we could find room in the cap to make it work I'd be all for adding Zherdev in Carolina. I think it would be a fairly good environment for him too with Samsonov there to play somewhat of a mentor role for the guy.
Samsonov a mentor? Not the image I keep of him from Montreal. He played like **** for a month, than Carbo sat him to give him a message and he asked for a trade.
He only gave one of those once in Columbus, and other than "Wow Zherdev's actually giving an interview" I don't actually remember anything about it.
I loved it when he did the "Three keys to the game" once and Rimer was just making a huge deal about it, like we should be blessed that Zherdev took the time out of his busy day to give us the keys.
Regardless, I hope he stays in NY because I want to see him with Gaborik when I go to a game in November.
Samsonov a mentor? Not the image I keep of him from Montreal. He played like **** for a month, than Carbo sat him to give him a message and he asked for a trade.
And yet he's been the polar opposite of that in Raleigh. Very down to earth here, good with the fans, willing to play in whatever role the team needs him in. I think getting sent down by Chicago and being picked up on re-entry waivers smacked some sense into him.
Either way, on Zherdev, whoever gets him is getting one hell of a player, I just hope they have some strong leadership on the team.
And yet he's been the polar opposite of that in Raleigh. Very down to earth here, good with the fans, willing to play in whatever role the team needs him in. I think getting sent down by Chicago and being picked up on re-entry waivers smacked some sense into him.
Either way, on Zherdev, whoever gets him is getting one hell of a player, I just hope they have some strong leadership on the team.
Samsonov speaks perfect english. No hint of an accent.
Zherdev has an inflated opinion of what he is worth.
If we could find room in the cap to make it work I'd be all for adding Zherdev in Carolina. I think it would be a fairly good environment for him too with Samsonov there to play somewhat of a mentor role for the guy.
let him go to Ottawa, there he would have a real mentor, a guy who will teach him how to succeed in constantly earning big contracts while putting out an effort only when you want to. Both Habs and Rangers fans can attest to Kovalev's qualifications for this role.
let him go to Ottawa, there he would have a real mentor, a guy who will teach him how to succeed in constantly earning big contracts while putting out an effort only when you want to. Both Habs and Rangers fans can attest to Kovalev's qualifications for this role.
I thought you were referring to Heatley as a mentor.
He's immensely talented, and I would take him on the Stars any day, but I don't think they're interested in adding his salary.
...or a guy with no heart or care for his teamates. The Stars GM is a guy who played with more heart than imaginable would not want anything to do with Zherdev.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveG
If we could find room in the cap to make it work I'd be all for adding Zherdev in Carolina. I think it would be a fairly good environment for him too with Samsonov there to play somewhat of a mentor role for the guy.
Doug Maclean? Is that you? Precisely the reason that idiot traded for Fedorov...a guy to mentor Zherdev. Yeah, that worked.
I find it baffling that people STILL march out the same tired rhetoric about this kid. Two winning coaches want nothing to do with him, yet it is just that 'he didn't fit in their system'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveG
Either way, on Zherdev, whoever gets him is getting one hell of a player, I just hope they have some strong leadership on the team.
One hell of a talent...not player. It takes more than a few toe drags and a couple of nifty passes to make a guy a good player in the NHL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chariot
I'm not sure Id classify him as one hell of a player. Hes a player with a lot of potential that leaves his team kind of frustrated.
Yes.
I honestly don't see him going to a team that has any real potential or are really concentrating on trying to build something. He will be good in a non-traditional market where he can go put up his empty numbers and get a couple more youtube highlight vids made of him before he steps into free agency.
Nikolai Zherdev... Frustrating player. There is a part of me that thinks it is an effort problem, and just not wanting to do the little things. Then there is the part that notices his "hockey sense"is just not all that good. He just does not seem to get the big picture. He is a good skater, and passer, but his shot comes and goes with his game it seems. Towards the stretch last year, he was missing the net Every Night! That being said, he did score 60 points, and on an offense starved team too. I like the flashes of brilliance, and cannot stand the stretches of lackadaisical play... Kovalev-lite
