Nikolai Zherdev

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Right Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 200
team = New York Rangers
league = NHL
nationality = UKR
nationality_2 = RUS
birth_date = birth date and age|1984|11|5
birth_place = Kiev, Ukrainian SSR
draft = 4th overall
draft_year = 2003
draft_team = Columbus Blue Jackets


career_start = 2003
former_teams = Columbus Blue Jackets|

Nikolai Olegovich Zherdev ( _ru. Николай Олегович Жердев; born November 5, 1984 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union) is a professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Despite being Ukrainian he holds Russian citizenship as well.cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1681517 |title=Zherdev's day off 'intentional' |accessdate=2007-12-02 |author=Jim Kelley |date=2003-12-09 |work=ESPN.com]

Prior to NHL

Originally from Kiev, Ukraine, Zherdev moved to Elektrostal, Russia to join local hockey club, Kristal. Skated for Kristal before moving up to the Russian Super League's (Russia 1) HC CSKA Red Army club. Zherdev spent the entire 2002–03 season with HC CSKA, but left for the NHL half way through the 2003–04 season in a controversial decision, he would however return to the Russian club during the 2004–05 NHL lockout, making peace.

NHL career

Zherdev was drafted by Columbus in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft with the 4th overall pick. At the time, Columbus GM Doug MacLean stated that the team had Zherdev ranked #1 on their draft list.

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, new Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson and coach Ken Hitchcock met Zherdev in a "clean-the-slate" meeting.cite web |url=http://dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/08/30/jackets30.ART_ART_08-30-07_C1_AV7ON3P.html?sid=101 |title=New GM breaks the ice with Zherdev |accessdate=2008-02-08 |author=Aaron Portzline |date=2007-08-30 |work=dispatch.com] Zherdev has since rediscovered success on the ice.cite web |url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bluejackets/stories/2007/11/19/jackets_notes19.ART0_ART_11-19-07_C5_E88H7QP.html?sid=101 |title=Jackets notebook: Zherdev too good for words |accessdate=2008-02-08 |author=Tom Reed |date=2007-11-19 |work=dispatch.com]

On July 2, 2008, Zherdev was traded by the Blue Jackets along with Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman.Cite web|url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242289|title=Columbus send Zherdev to the Rangers |accessdate=2008-07-02|publisher=TSN.ca|year=2008]

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.Cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179131|title=Blue Jackets re-sign Zherdev|accessdate=2006-09-28|publisher=TSN.ca|year=2006]

International play

Nikolai Zherdev represented Russia at the 2002 U-18 World Junior Championships, helping his 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 Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin).

Zherdev also played at the 2003 U-20 World Junior Championships, registering only 1 assist in 6 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.

Career statistics

Awards & achievements

*2003-04: Played in the NHL YoungStars Game

References

External links

*nhlprofile|8470597
*hockeydb|70844
*eurohockey|36323
* [http://www.russianprospects.com/public/profile.php?player_id=38 RussianProspects.com Nikolai Zherdev Player Profile]