Nikolai Zherdev

Nikolai Zherdev is a Russian winger on the Philadelphia Flyers.

Zherdev was originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4th overall, in 2003. He played 2 seasons with CSKA Moscow before coming to the NHL in 2003. He scored 34 goals in 57 games his rookie season, before returning to Moscow during the lockout. He returned to Columbus in 2006, and set career highs with 35 assists and 61 points in ’07-08. He was traded to New York during the 2008 offseason. In 2008-09, he tied for the team lead in points with Scott Gomez, scoring 58. A contract dispute in 2009 led to him spending the 2009-10 season in Russia with Atlant Moscow Oblast, where he scored 13 goals and 39 points in 52 games. He returned to the NHL in 2010, signing a one year deal with the Flyers worth $2 million.

Zherdev has won a gold medal with Russia at the 2003 World Juniors, as well as a silver medal at the 2002 U-18 Championships.