Nikolai Zherdev will return to the Atlantic Division of the NHL this season, suiting up with the Philadelphia Flyers. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to a one-year contract with right wing Nikolai Zherdev, the club announced on Friday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The deal marks the return of the NHL's former fourth-overall draft pick of 2003 who — after showing flashes of brilliance as well as his share of disinterest in his five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers — bolted to Russia's Kontinental Hockey League last season.
“Nik is a highly-skilled player who, at 25-years-old, we feel will be a good fit to our core of forwards,” Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren said in a release. “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.”
After the Rangers refused to adhere to a salary arbitrator's ruling follwoing the 2008-2009 season that would have seen the right wing net $3.9 million US a season, the enigmatic Ukrainian appeared in 52 games with Atlant-Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League, recording 13 goals and 26 assists
