- Nikolay Zherdev
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Nikolay Zherdev
Николай Жердев
Born November 5, 1984
Kiev, Ukrainian SSR,
Soviet UnionHeight 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb) Position Right wing Shoots Right KHL team
Former teamsAtlant Moscow Oblast
CSKA Moscow (RSL)
Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Khimik Moscow Oblast (RSL)
New York Rangers (NHL)
Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)National team 
RussiaNHL Draft 4th overall, 2003
Columbus Blue JacketsPlaying career 2002–present Mykola Olehovych "Nikolay" Zherdev (Ukrainian: Микола Олегович Жердев; born November 5, 1984) is a Ukrainian-Russian[1][2] professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for Atlant Moscow Oblast of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.
Contents
Playing career
Early career
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Zherdev began playing hockey at the age of four.[3] He began his training with the Sokil Kyiv junior hockey affiliate. Due to complications with organizing a team for his age group, he was pushed to play a year ahead with the 1983 born players; a group which included fellow future Ukrainian NHLer Anton Babchuk. While participating in an overseas peewee tournament in Quebec, Canada, Zherdev's team found itself competing against a team from Elektrostal, Russia. The rival team's coach, Ravil Iskhakov, took note of both Zherdev and Babchuk, and invited the pair to further their development with the Elemash Elektrostal hockey club of the Russian Major League, to which they accepted together.[4] The desire to play at a higher level came at a price: his nationality. In order to play in Russia, he would be forced to apply for Russian citizenship.[5]
CSKA Moscow
As his game progressed and professional teams began to take notice, Elektrostal received offers from the likes of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Ak Bars Kazan, and CSKA Moscow for Zherdev's services. He would accept an invitation for Elektrostal to loan him to the latter team, CSKA, citing a desire to train under esteemed coach Viktor Tikhonov.
Following being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Zherdev spent the entire 2002–03 season with CSKA, but in a controversial decision, he left for the NHL half way through the 2003–04 season. He would, however, return to the Russian club during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, making peace.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Zherdev was drafted by Columbus in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft with the fourth overall pick. At the time, Columbus general manager Doug MacLean stated that the team had Zherdev ranked number one on their draft list.
Zherdev with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008
The 2005–06 NHL season was a breakout year for Zherdev, who scored 27 goals and notched 27 assists in 73 games. He was the Blue Jackets' most potent offensive threat while Rick Nash recuperated from injury, and played most of the season on the team's first line.
The 2006–07 NHL season was a low point for Zherdev, as he struggled to score consistently and frequently clashed with the Jackets' coaching staff, leading to repeated rumors that he might be traded before the 2007–08 NHL season began. In response, Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson and then-coach Ken Hitchcock met Zherdev in a "clean-the-slate" meeting.[6] Following the meeting, Zherdev rediscovered success on the ice.[7]
Contract dispute
Contract negotiations with Blue Jackets management following the 2005–06 season became acrimonious. Zherdev threatened to remain in Russia for the season unless his demands were met, while Columbus insisted that Zherdev's salary demands were not commensurate with his accomplishments. On September 28, 2006, the parties finally agreed to a $7.5 million, three-year contract.[8]
New York Rangers
Zherdev with the Rangers in 2009On July 2, 2008, Zherdev was traded by the Blue Jackets along with Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for defencemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Bäckman.[9] In his first season with the Rangers, Zherdev tied for the team lead in points with Scott Gomez, scoring 58 points.
As a restricted free agent, Zherdev was tendered a qualifying offer of $3.25 million by the Rangers before the start of the 2009 free agency period so the team could retain his rights as the two sides negotiate.[10] He has been rumored to be potentially signing with Atlant Moscow Oblast of the Kontinental Hockey League, of whom he formerly played with in 2006–07.[11] Zherdev was awarded $3.9 million (USD) in arbitration, however, the New York Rangers chose to let Zherdev go.
Return to Russia
The aforementioned walkaway made Zherdev an unrestricted free agent. Zherdev signed on September 15, 2009 a one-year contract for Atlant Moscow Oblast.[12]
Philadelphia Flyers
On July 9, 2010, Zherdev signed a one-year deal for $2 million with the Philadelphia Flyers, setting up his return to the NHL.[13] With the Flyers, Zherdev scored his one hundredth career goal. He was known in Philadelphia for his disagreements with head coach Peter Laviolette, and his lack of effort. When put on waivers, no one claimed him, and when returning to the Flyers, putting up a few points, and notably scoring the game winning goal in Game 2 against the Buffalo Sabres, in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Back to Atlant
Following the 2010-11 season, Zheredev returned to Atlant Moscow Oblast.
International play
Medal record Competitor for RussiaMen's ice hockey World Championships Gold 2009 Switzerland Ice hockey World Junior Championships Gold 2003 Canada Ice hockey World Under-18 Championships Silver 2002 Slovakia Ice hockey Nikolai Zherdev represented Russia at the 2002 U-18 World Junior Championships, helping that country to a silver medal. He finished the tournament with 6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points in 8 games (third best on his team, behind only Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin).
Zherdev also played at the 2003 U-20 World Junior Championships, registering only one assist in six games, playing a minor role in Russia's quest for the gold medal.
He was named captain of Team Russia for the 2004 World Juniors, but did not play after departing for the NHL.
Awards and achievements
- 2003–04: Played in the NHL YoungStars Game
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A P +/- PIM GP G A P +/- PIM 1999–00 Elemash-2 Elektrostal RUS-3 21 10 7 17 — 26 7 0 0 0 0 0 2000–01 Elemash Elektrostal RUS-2 18 6 8 14 -5 12 — — — — — — 2001–02 Elemash-2 Elektrostal RUS-3 1 1 0 1 — 4 — — — — — — 2001–02 Elemash Elektrostal RUS-2 53 13 15 28 -6 62 — — — — — — 2002–03 CSKA Moscow RSL 44 12 12 24 6 34 — — — — — — 2003–04 CSKA Moscow RSL 20 2 2 4 -1 14 — — — — — — 2003–04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 57 13 21 34 -11 54 — — — — — — 2004–05 CSKA Moscow RSL 51 19 21 40 17 62 — — — — — — 2005–06 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 73 27 27 54 -13 50 — — — — — — 2005–06 Syracuse Crunch AHL 2 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — — — 2006–07 Khimik Moscow Oblast RSL 8 2 4 6 3 10 — — — — — — 2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 71 10 22 32 -19 26 — — — — — — 2007–08 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 26 35 61 -9 34 — — — — — — 2008–09 New York Rangers NHL 82 23 35 58 6 39 7 0 0 0 -3 2 2009–10 Atlant Moscow Oblast KHL 52 13 26 39 2 79 4 0 1 1 — 4 2010–11 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 56 16 6 22 6 22 8 1 2 3 -1 2 NHL totals 421 115 146 261 -40 225 15 1 2 3 -4 4 RSL totals 123 35 39 74 22 120 — — — — — — International
Year Team Event Place GP G A Pts PIM 2002 Russia U18 
8 6 5 11 22 2003 Russia WJC 
6 0 1 1 2 2009 Russia WC 3 0 1 1 0 Junior int'l totals 14 6 6 12 24 Personal
Zherdev is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, and can speak limited English.[14] His family lives in Kiev.
References
- ^ Jim Kelley (2003-12-09). "Zherdev's day off 'intentional'". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1681517. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
- ^ Interview with Zherdev
- ^ http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?article_id=118
- ^ http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?article_id=117
- ^ http://hcsokol.kiev.ua/article_3473.html
- ^ Aaron Portzline (2007-08-30). "New GM breaks the ice with Zherdev". dispatch.com. http://dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/08/30/jackets30.ART_ART_08-30-07_C1_AV7ON3P.html?sid=101. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ Tom Reed (2007-11-19). "Jackets notebook: Zherdev too good for words". dispatch.com. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bluejackets/stories/2007/11/19/jackets_notes19.ART0_ART_11-19-07_C5_E88H7QP.html?sid=101. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ "Blue Jackets re-sign Zherdev". TSN.ca. 2006. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179131. Retrieved 2006-09-28.[dead link]
- ^ "Columbus send Zherdev to the Rangers". TSN.ca. 2008. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242289. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ Brooks, Larry (2009-06-28). "Offer for Zherdev, Antropov likely out". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/seven/06282009/sports/rangers/offer_for_zherdev__antropov_likely_out_176500.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- ^ http://fhr.ru/news/zherdev_mozhet_poyavitsya_v_atlante
- ^ НИКОЛАЙ ЖЕРДЕВ ВЕРНУЛСЯ В МЫТИЩИ
- ^ "Flyers sign right wing Zherdev". Philadelphia Flyers. 2010-07-09. http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534123. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
- ^ http://www.atlant-mo.ru/news/press/20100720071412.html
External links
- Nikolay Zherdev – player profile and career stats at European Hockey.Net
- Nikolay Zherdev's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Nikolay Zherdev at Hockey-Reference.com
- Nikolay Zherdev's NHL player profile
- RussianProspects.com Nikolai Zherdev Player Profile
Preceded by
Rick NashColumbus Blue Jackets first round draft pick
2003Succeeded by
Alexandre PicardCategories:- 1984 births
- Columbus Blue Jackets draft picks
- Columbus Blue Jackets players
- HC Atlant Moscow Oblast players
- HC CSKA Moscow players
- Living people
- National Hockey League first round draft picks
- New York Rangers players
- People from Kiev
- Philadelphia Flyers players
- Russian ice hockey right wingers
- Syracuse Crunch players
- Ukrainian ice hockey players
- Eastern Orthodox Christians
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