Philadelphia Flyers Sign Nikolai Zherdev, Do Buffalo Sabres A Favor

Previous reports hinted that the Buffalo Sabres were one of the teams in the hunt for Nikolai Zherdev's rights as the Ukrainian was seeking a way back into the National Hockey League. The Philadelphia Flyers ended the speculation by signing the winger to a safe one-year contract worth only $2 million. Bringing the best out of former Detroit Red Wings forward Ville Leino in the postseason may have inspired general manager Paul Holmgren to attempt a project with Zherdev.

"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 statement. "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."

Trickling with offensive potential, the number of hockey players who have the talent to replicate his ability with a puck can be counted on a single hand. The Columbus Blue Jackets' fourth overall selection in 2003 can basically do anything on the attack and needs extra coverage to be shut down. But Zherdev doesn't always treat the games seriously enough and lays back casually, which is what drives coaches to their boiling point. With a market as unforgiving as Philadelphia's, players feel extra motivation from the audience and Zherdev could certainly use a wake-up call on the days he's unattached to the action.

Before hightailing it to Russia for extra dollars that the New York Rangers wouldn't offer, he scored over 20 goals and 50 points in three of his latest four seasons. While those are enlightening numbers for an inconsistent individual, his ten goals and 32 points in 2007 are the obvious risk because he can hit rock bottom again. Zherdev didn't bond with the coaching staff very much that year and it showed in his performances.

He owns the natural gifts to be a top-ten offensive star in this league, but mentally he hasn't looked mature enough for it. If Zherdev can coast through many matches and still lead his team in scoring as he did in his lone campaign with the Rangers, the possibilities would be endless for him if he came to compete every night.

Darcy Regier's interest in Zherdev is befuddling because of the responses he's received in adding offense from the outside such as Dainius Zubrus, Steve Bernier and Raffi Torres. They were failed experiments and Philadelphia's acquisition of Zherdev saved him from possibly the most painful of intentions. This doesn't mean that the Flyers cannot turn him into a success story as they did with Leino, but enigmas have a tendency of faltering as soon as everything strikes one as trusted. Putting up with head cases is a task nobody desires.

Lindy Ruff and the Buffalo Sabres have been there, done that.