Nikolai Zherdev

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Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
Height
Weight
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg/14 st 4 lb)
NHL Team Columbus Blue Jackets
Nationality Flag of Russia Russia
Born November 5, 1984 (1984-11-05) (age 23),
Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
NHL Draft 4th overall, 2003
Columbus Blue Jackets
Pro career 2003 – present

Nikolai Olegovich Zherdev, (Russian: Николай Олегович Жердев) born November 5, 1984 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, is a professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Despite being Ukrainian he holds Russian citizenship as well.[1]

Contents

[edit] Prior to NHL

Originally from Kiev, Ukraine. 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. 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.[1] Zherdev returned to the Russian club during the lockout, making peace.

[edit] NHL career

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 2005-2006 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 2006-2007 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 2007-2008 season began. In response, new Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson and coach Ken Hitchcock met Zherdev in a "clean-the-slate" meeting.[2] Zherdev has since rediscovered success on the ice.[3]

[edit] Contract dispute

Contract negotiations with Blue Jackets management following the 2006 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 28th, 2006 the parties finally agreed to a three-year contract.[4]

[edit] Awards & achievements

  • 2003-04: Played in the NHL YoungStars Game

[edit] Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A P +/- PIM GP G A P +/- PIM
1999-00 Elektrostal 2 RSL-3 21 10 7 17 -- 26 7 0 0 0 0 0
2000-01 Elektrostal RSL-2 18 5 8 13 -- 12 -- -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 Russia Exhibition RSL 17 10 11 21 -- 17 -- -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Elektrostal RSL-2 53 13 15 28 -- 62 -- -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 Elektrostal 2 RSL-3 1 1 0 1 -- 4 -- -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 WJ18-A RSL 8 6 5 11 -- 22 -- -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 CSKA Moscow RSL 44 12 12 24 -- 34 -- -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 WJC-A RSL 6 0 1 1 -- 2 -- -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 57 13 21 34 -11 54 -- -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 CSKA Moscow RSL 20 2 2 4 -- 14 -- -- -- -- -- --
2004-05 CSKA Moscow RSL 51 19 21 40 -- 62 -- -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Syracuse Crunch AHL 2 1 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 73 27 27 54 -13 50 -- -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 71 10 22 32 -19 26 -- -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Mytischi RSL 8 2 4 6 -- 10 -- -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 82 26 35 61 -9 34 -- -- -- -- -- --
NHL Totals 283 76 105 181 -52 164 -- -- -- -- -- --

[edit] 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 U-20 World Junior Championships, but did not play after departing for the NHL.

He spent the 2004 NHL Lockout playing in the Russian Super League.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jim Kelley (2003-12-09). Zherdev's day off 'intentional'. espn.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  2. ^ Aaron Portzline (2007-08-30). New GM breaks the ice with Zherdev. dispatch.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  3. ^ Tom Reed (2007-11-19). Jackets notebook: Zherdev too good for words. dispatch.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  4. ^ Blue Jackets re-sign Zherdev. TSN.ca (2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-28.

[edit] External links