Similar to what was expected, Nik Zherdev was awarded $3.9 million in arbitration this weekend and the Rangers now have until tomorrow to make a decision.
Of course, this is not cut and dry. The Rangers have options that include signing him, sign-and-trade, let him go, or perhaps let him become a UFA and then sign him to another contract.
Not 100% sure on the last part, but I don't see why they couldn't.
However, it appears that the Rangers have stood firm on their offer of $3.25 million and they are more likely not to have Zherdev return for the upcoming season.
The enigmatic winger exhibited his gifted offensive talents throughout much of last season, but the coaching change really hampered him and he became nothing more than another body occasionally on the ice.
While his salary is cheaper than Nik Antropov received in Atlanta, it is still much higher than a Ryan Callahan, whose work ethic far exceeds Zherdev's.
What may serve the Rangers best is to thoroughly explore the sign-and-trade option.
Unless the Rangers were looking to sign Alex Tanguay with the money they'd save on Zherdev, it would be wise to revisit the Dany Heatley scenario.
We have speculated this for quite some time as a potential possibility and while it may be a stretch, it does seem plausible.
By the way of salary, the Rangers could package Zherdev with a player like Michal Rozsival and prospects and end up with more cap space than they started with.
Take that money and sign a player like Marc-Andre Bergeron and that would be a much quicker roster than last season.
So now we wait and continue to speculate until the decision comes down in less than 24 hours.
Let's debate: should the Rangers sign Zherdev, sign-and-trade, or let him walk?
For my money, I'd take a 50-goal scorer with attitude over a 30-goal one...
Let him walk...the money could be much better spent elsewhere.
Posted by: Nick | August 03, 2009 at 09:38 PM
Try the sign and trade... Don't think he'll fit here next season so try to get something in return
Posted by: JohnOC | August 04, 2009 at 12:20 AM
def sign and trade for heater...no brainer...hes not worth 3.9 mil but as trade bait, id give it to him and kick him over to ott send redden instead of rosie...do either of them have no trade clauses?
Posted by: WILL | August 04, 2009 at 01:13 AM
Sign and Trade sounds nice, but why would any other team trade for him at that amount?
Posted by: Dave | August 04, 2009 at 08:36 AM
look at this Blue Shirt Bulletin has free comments again. Does Dubi still run this????
anyways Heatley is not happening, Zherdev wont demand much of a return but Toronto can use him, has the cap room and has a surplus of d-men.
Zherdev straight up for Exelby would be amazing for us...
Posted by: oleosmirf | August 04, 2009 at 09:16 AM
He's not worth the money since he makes way more than Calli and plays half as hard. If they can save some cap space by doing the sign and trade thing. Then I say let him go and see whos out there. I would love to have Heatley who has much more talent than Zer.
Posted by: Eric | August 04, 2009 at 09:20 AM
Sign and trade for anyone or anything you can get... I doubt we can get Exelby, so take Ian White, or draft picks, or prospects, or a coupon for a free ice cream cone... something.
Posted by: The Nick | August 04, 2009 at 10:23 AM
hahaha yea ice cream would be better than nothing but unfortunately it looks like we're getting nothing, I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY! Could he have wanted a no trade clause? Why would Sather just let him walk???? I agree that he's not worth 3.9 but someone will be willing to pay him that for 1 year via trade! look at redden, he bamboozled Sather for 8 mil this year...how do you get nothing in return and Columbus keeps Tutyn...its not right...sorry I'm a long time Rangers fan but I'd be nice to have some kind of explanation.
Posted by: WILL | August 04, 2009 at 02:32 PM