Flyers sign Nikolai "The Engima" Zherdev to 1 year contract

[Drew]

ZHERDEV A FLYER

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The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed 6’2’’, 203-pound free agent right wing Nikolai Zherdev (NIH-koh-ligh ZHAIR-dehv) to a one-year contract, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

“Nik is a highly-skilled player who, at 25-years-old, we feel will be a good fit to our core of forwards,” said Holmgren. “Prior to playing last season in Russia, Nik ranked as one of the top young point-producers in the NHL. We are pleased to add him to our team.”

Zherdev, 25, appeared in 52 games with Atlant-Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League in 2009-10 where he recorded 39 points (13G,26A) and 79 penalty minutes during the regular season. He led the team in penalty minutes (79), while also finishing second on the team in assists (26) and third in points (39) this past season.

In 2008-09, his last season in the National Hockey League, he recorded 58 points (23G,35A) and 39 penalty minutes and appeared in all 82 regular season games with the New York Rangers. He led all Rangers in goals (23) and tied for the team lead in points (58), while finishing second on the club in assists (35).

Over parts of five seasons in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2003-04 to 2007-08) and Rangers (2008-09), Zherdev has compiled 239 career points (99G,140A) and 203 penalty minutes in 365 regular season games. He has also appeared in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games, going scoreless.

A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Zherdev was selected by the Blue Jackets as the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

[Kopicz24]

There are 2 problems with this move, and I'm sure EVERYONE else with half a brain agrees on the 2 points...

1. He's been known to be lazy in the past. So bringing him to a team that also has CLEARLY displayed that they are also very very lazy doesn't exactly fit well. Carter, Hartnell, and so on all just glide around out there and it'll probably just rub right off on to Nik here, and its not like our Captain will have much to do towards straightening him out cause well, he only shows up 40% of the time himself, and 35% of that time is Playoff Hockey soooooo... Good Luck Pete!

2. Means the end of Gagne... We've all basically knew it was coming, as fucking retarded as it is, considering the 'logic' in moving Carter instead but it is what it is at this point. I know Homer isn't dumb enough (knock on wood) to just waive Gags like 'all these rumors' say he will, but if he does, this could very well be the end of me as a Philadelphia Flyers fan, and I'm not even kidding. How fucking dumb does one have to be to do something like that? (but thats another topic for another time)



Overall I do like giving Nik a shot, its basically Emery Part 2. Low Risk, High Reward! 2 Mil feels a little steep for something like that but its not 'terrible' either so we'll just have to wait and see

[Hextall_Fan88]

I think it's a good signing because it's only for 1 year, at quite a low cost. Nik will be looking to impress so he can get more money in free agency, most likely with a different team than the Flyers. He will probably pick up 60-70 points if he sees playing time with Giroux...

[Kop]

Not a bad move, with the cap space as the only issue. I still dont see everyones argument with the Gags vs. Carter thing, If you think logically as a GM. Sure Gagne is amazing. But, he's aging, makes buko bucks, and if Im not mistaken is the last link to the Lindros era. While the guy is a staple in Philly, Homer is looking at Carters age as his winning feature. Carts is still young and when he actually gets his feet moving and plays a heads up game, well, then Carts > Gagne. Someone just needs to light a nuke under Carter. Carter is more of a long term option as opposed to Gags who probably only got a few decent years left in the tank. Hate me for saying it guys, gotta think long term feasibility. I love Gags as much as the rest of Philly, but Homer is thinking about the future, and you have to give him that (wether or not he's doing it responsibly.)

[Andy]

With our salary cap issues, I don't see how anyone can see this has a low risk move. 2 million dollars is a lot for a guy who may or may not be worth it.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Kop

Not a bad move, with the cap space as the only issue. I still dont see everyones argument with the Gags vs. Carter thing, If you think logically as a GM. Sure Gagne is amazing. But, he's aging, makes buko bucks, and if Im not mistaken is the last link to the Lindros era. While the guy is a staple in Philly, Homer is looking at Carters age as his winning feature. Carts is still young and when he actually gets his feet moving and plays a heads up game, well, then Carts > Gagne. Someone just needs to light a nuke under Carter. Carter is more of a long term option as opposed to Gags who probably only got a few decent years left in the tank. Hate me for saying it guys, gotta think long term feasibility. I love Gags as much as the rest of Philly, but Homer is thinking about the future, and you have to give him that (wether or not he's doing it responsibly.)

All of that is certainly understood, but they might not get more than a late draft pick in return for Gagne. I'm being sarcastic, of course, but the point of shedding Gagne's salary is so we can fit the others under the cap. If they were going to move Carter, we'd be able to get so much in return for him.

[Kop]

I do understand that. But arent there better salaries to drop other than Gags? Or for that matter, did we need to sign so many douches for so much?

Hartnell's 4.2 M?
Meszaros' 4 M?
Shelly's 1.1 M?
O'Donnell's 1 M?
Coburn's 3.2 M?
Cote's .5 M

These seem to be wasteful spending. ESPECIALLY Hartnell and Shelly. This was just like impulse shopping at the mall. You paid wayyyyy to much for shit you dont need. I dont know what Homer is trying to prove here. We are currently significantly over cap. Why do we need any of these guys? What we needed was an upgrade in the crease and maybe one more stud D-man and/or a scoring winger. The rest of this is worse than putting mayo on your french fries (sorry Wes, but you Canadians are strange). There were so many available options that creeped by plain as day that we let go like Newark Airport employees and Arabs. Waiving/Trading Gags or Carter is NOT the answer. There is so much dead wood on this team its not even funny.

I still cant figure out Jody Shelly. Is this becuase the Rangers got Booooooogard? So we see the Rangers 6 times this season, what about the rest of the 80 games? Do we scratch him and sit on his salary and rotate? Homer is mismanaging his money worse than GM did.

[Drew]

Much like KOP said, this is an easy solution boys. Trim the deadwood or re-structure the overpaid or waive them. We're exactly 1.4m over the cap right now with Gagne on the roster. I would waive Carcillo (especially after his retarded arbitration act) and re-structure Hartnell's ridiculous contract.

[Kop]

And I didnt even mention Carcillo or Powe....

[Andy]

Well, contracts can't be restructured, so that option is thrown out the window.

I personally don't believe that Hartnell's contract is all that ludicrous. If he's going to play next season like he played in the playoffs, I think he's worth every penny. If his personal problems are really what did have such a negative affect on his game this season, then fine. It's over and done with, but the way he bounced back and became the player that he was in the playoffs was simply impressive to me. He seemed to cut down on the stupid penalties and was able to actually keep the puck on his stick. Hartnell isn't a stupid player when it comes to being in position and knowing what to do, but sometimes his skills don't reflect his thoughts. I think he turned it around, though and was much more valuable than faggot Jeff Carter was.

If Coburn plays the way he played for the majority of the playoffs, then his deal is acceptable. He wasn't an acceptable loss and that's why Homer did what he had to do to lock him up. Granted, I think he could have gotten him to bite on a high 2 million dollar contract, but it's whatever at this point.

We're definitely overpaying Meszaros and looking at the other guys who signed with other teams on July 1st, we definitely could have gotten a better bang for our buck.

Jody Shelley's contract is absolutely ridiculous and you all know how I feel about that already. Fuck him.

Personal bias aside, I just don't think that trading/waiving Gagne is the right thing to do at this point in time when you have a guy like Jeff Carter, who we obviously can't get to start working his ass off. There is going to be a team out there who is willing to overpay for Jeff Carter, much like we tend to overpay for old veterans. I guarantee it.

[Hextall_Fan88]

Makes much more sense, as Kop has already stated, to trade Gagne, than to trade Carter, who is signed for a few more years. Gagne will be looking for a 4-5 million range, long term deal in the offseason next year, and with all the unrestricted and restricted free agents this team will look to re-sign, like Giroux, maybe Leino or Zherdev, etc.. it doesn't make sense to have him around, unless he takes a sizeable pay cut, which he won't. Carter is 5 or 6 years younger, and has more potential, believe it or not. Once he gets his head out of his ass and starts playing like he has a pair, then he will be a 40-50 goal scorer. Gagne's best years are unfortunately behind him, and he's too injury prone to be counted on...

If they trade Carter for draft picks, then we will see him score 50 goals next season with a different team, guaranteed.

Trade Gagne for picks/and/or prospect. Re-sign Powe, drop Carcillo, re-sign Asham, and make an offer to Turco for a 2 year deal, worth 2-2.5 million per. As much as everyone might think Leighton is ready to be a #1, I'm still not convinced, and we need a veteran goalie who can step in if need be. Backlund or Boucher are not the answer...
Then you drop Cote on waivers, and send Bartulis to the Phantoms. That gives you quite a bit of cap room going into the season, and allows you to make a few changes, if they are desired. If not, you have room for upcoming free agency to re-sign Giroux etc...

[Andy]

I stopped taking you seriously when you said we should sign Marty Turco.

[Hextall_Fan88]

And I'll lose sleep because of that Andy

Say what you want, but Turco at 2 million per would be a bargain, especially since you are practically relying on an unproven Leighton to get play 70+ games. What other goalies are there? Trading for Bernier or Enroth would mean us getting raped in the deal. Turco's agent already said publically that Marty might need to accept a 1-2 year deal for 2 million per to prove that he is worth more. There isn't really any other team that needs goaltending...

[Drew]

I hate Turco. He already turned us down, why pursue that old man? And I thought we already axed Cote?

[Hextall_Fan88]

Originally Posted by Drew

I hate Turco. He already turned us down, why pursue that old man? And I thought we already axed Cote?

That's not true.. just a rumour floating around that he got offered a deal, where in fact he didn't.

[Andy]

I'll remember this thread if we sign Turco and he starts giving up softies and you start blowing up the shout box, asking for a real goalie.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Hextall_Fan88

That's not true.. just a rumour floating around that he got offered a deal, where in fact he didn't.

e5?

[MikeyB99]

As much as Carter pisses me off more so then any other player on this roster, If I had to keep him or Gagne at this stretch, It would be probably Carter. The kind of issues Carter has can be fixed if he's willing to listen, and smarten up. The kind of talent and size he has CAN'T be taught. I know how everyone says he's lazy, but it really has a lot to do with that fact that he's such a good fluid skater it appears like he's not skating hard, as where a guy like Richy is has a choppier skating style where he's moving his legs a lot harder to keep up. If Carter learns to play with more patience, with a combination of his size, speed and shot... He WILL be virtually unstoppable. Its just a question if he'll grow up a little bit, and learn to have composer with the puck. As much as I wanna see Gagne stay here, he just doesn't have the numbers anymore, and is gonna start getting buried on the 3rd line at a 5mil cap hit. People in this town seem to fall in love the "person over the player". If moving someone will benefit your team I think you have to do it. When Gagne's contract is up he could always return at a lower price. I do understand both arguments though. I just think as much as Carter is a dip shit mentally, I don't wanna give up on his "upside" just yet.

[10000marbles]

Originally Posted by Kop

Not a bad move, with the cap space as the only issue. I still dont see everyones argument with the Gags vs. Carter thing, If you think logically as a GM. Sure Gagne is amazing. But, he's aging, makes buko bucks, and if Im not mistaken is the last link to the Lindros era. While the guy is a staple in Philly, Homer is looking at Carters age as his winning feature. Carts is still young and when he actually gets his feet moving and plays a heads up game, well, then Carts > Gagne. Someone just needs to light a nuke under Carter. Carter is more of a long term option as opposed to Gags who probably only got a few decent years left in the tank. Hate me for saying it guys, gotta think long term feasibility. I love Gags as much as the rest of Philly, but Homer is thinking about the future, and you have to give him that (wether or not he's doing it responsibly.)

thank you for actually thinking like a GM instead of a fan

[Drew]

Gagne on Zherdev signing:

"It's certainly disappointing. I signed a 5yr contract & wanted to honor it to the very end. Flyers have asked me to waive my NTC, but I'm not prepared to do that just yet. We'll see in next couple days. I've been aware about our salary cap problems. If this didn't happen this year, it would've happened the next."