Player Projection: Nikolai Zherdev
NHLHS Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent David Strehle takes a look at Philly’s top candidate to have a breakout season in 2010-11, newcomer Nikolai Zherdev.
With youngsters like James van Riemsdyk and Claude Giroux and playoff upstart Ville Leino, the Philadelphia Flyers do not have a shortage of players that could possibly have a breakout season in 2010-11.
But perhaps the player that appears to have the best chance of scoring the biggest breakout season is free agent acquisition Nikolai Zherdev.
While the 25-year-old winger has already had NHL seasons of 27 and 26 goals, it is the general opinion of the hockey world that Zherdev has only scratched the surface of his immense potential.
Drafted fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Zherdev’s work ethic and desire have been questioned over the course of his five NHL seasons.
Fears of GMs were so strong that after his contract expired with the New York Rangers following the 2008-09 campaign, he fielded no legitimate NHL offers for last season. And this after maybe his most complete year, as he finished with a plus rating (+6) for the first time in his career.
After Zherdev played for Mytishchi Atlant of the Kontinental Hockey League in 2009-10, Philly GM Paul Holmgren rolled the dice and inked the 6′ 2″, 203 pound right winger to a one-year deal.
And it just might be a perfect fit.
The Orange-and-Black are loaded with defensive-minded forwards, so if Zherdev decides to take the occasional offensive gamble, it shouldn’t hurt the team in their own end.
With the opportunity to play with the likes of centers Mike Richards, Giroux, Danny Briere and Jeff Carter, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Zherdev could top the 30-goal plateau. Especially with the likelihood that he may see extensive time on the Flyers top power play unit.
Projection: 35 goals, 35 assists, 70 points
David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia
[...] Taking Gagne’s spot, Zherdev may be just what the team has been lacking. Gagne is a great, two-way forward, always defensively responsible. But he fits the same mold as most of the Philly forwards. Zherdev, in his first year back from the KHL, has the game-breaking speed and offensive talent that has been lacking. With the continued building of the team’s defense and the forwards responsibility in their own end, Zherdev will have the ability to take the occasional offensive gamble. Already having seasons of 27 and 26 goals in the NHL, Zherdev may be in the perfect situation to experience a breakout year. [...]