Mykola Olehovych "Nikolai" Zherdev ({{langx|uk|Микола Олегович Жердев}}; born November 5, 1984) is a Ukrainian-Russian{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=1681517 |title=Zherdev's day off 'intentional' |access-date=2007-12-02 |first=Jim |last=Kelley |date=2003-12-09 |work=ESPN.com}}{{cite web| url = http://www.beyondtheblueshirts.com/2009/03/nikolai-zherdev-if-youre-not-making-mistakes-youre-not-playing/ | title = Interview with Zherdev | publisher = beyondtheblueshirts.com | date = 2009-03-14 | accessdate = 2009-03-14}} professional ice hockey right winger who is currently playing for the Alleghe Hockey of the Italian Hockey League.

He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

=Early career=

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Zherdev began playing hockey at the age of four.[https://archive.today/20120526092635/http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?article_id=118 Russian prospects] He began his training with the Sokil Kyiv junior hockey affiliate. Due to complications with organizing a team for his age group, he was pushed to play a year ahead with the 1983 born players; a group which included fellow future Ukrainian NHLer Anton Babchuk.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} Zherdev played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his youth team from Kyiv.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-02-12}} While playing in the tournament, Zherdev's team found itself competing against a team from Elektrostal, Russia. The rival team's coach, Ravil Iskhakov, took note of both Zherdev and Babchuk, and invited the pair to further their development with the Elemash Elektrostal hockey club of the Russian Major League, to which they accepted together.{{Cite web |url=http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?article_id=117 |title=Russian Hockey NHL Prospects | Nikolai Zherdev: To CSKA fans – Thank You for your support! (January 12th, 2003) (RussianProspects.com - Best Source for Russian Hockey News and Features of NHL players and prospects) |access-date=2009-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018212005/http://www.russianprospects.com/public/article.php?article_id=117 |archive-date=2007-10-18 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} The desire to play at a higher level came at a price: his nationality. In order to play in Russia, he would be forced to apply for Russian citizenship.{{cite web |url=http://hcsokol.kiev.ua/article_3473.html |title=ХК Сокол |access-date=2009-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012182556/http://hcsokol.kiev.ua/article_3473.html |archive-date=2009-10-12|df=mdy-all}}

=CSKA Moscow=

As his game progressed and professional teams began to take notice, Elektrostal received offers from the likes of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Ak Bars Kazan, and CSKA Moscow for Zherdev's services. He would accept an invitation for Elektrostal to loan him to the latter team, CSKA, citing a desire to train under esteemed coach Viktor Tikhonov.

Zherdev spent the entire 2002–03 season with CSKA. He left for the NHL halfway through the 2003–04 season. He would, however, return to the Russian club during the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

=Columbus Blue Jackets=

Image:Zherdev-columbus.pngZherdev was drafted by Columbus in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft with the fourth overall pick. At the time, Columbus general manager Doug MacLean stated that the team had Zherdev ranked number one on their draft list.

The 2005–06 NHL season was a breakout year for Zherdev, who scored 27 goals and notched 27 assists in 73 games. He was the Blue Jackets' most potent offensive threat while Rick Nash recuperated from injury, and played most of the season on the team's first line.

The 2006–07 NHL season was a low point for Zherdev, as he struggled to score consistently and frequently clashed with the Jackets' coaching staff, leading to repeated rumors that he might be traded before the 2007–08 NHL season began. In response, Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson and then-coach Ken Hitchcock met Zherdev in a "clean-the-slate" meeting.{{cite web |url=http://dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/08/30/jackets30.ART_ART_08-30-07_C1_AV7ON3P.html?sid=101 |title=New GM breaks the ice with Zherdev |accessdate=2008-02-08 |first=Aaron |last=Portzline |date=2007-08-30 |work=dispatch.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004352/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/08/30/jackets30.ART_ART_08-30-07_C1_AV7ON3P.html?sid=101 |archivedate=2011-07-16 }} Following the meeting, Zherdev rediscovered success on the ice.{{cite web |url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bluejackets/stories/2007/11/19/jackets_notes19.ART0_ART_11-19-07_C5_E88H7QP.html?sid=101 |title=Jackets notebook: Zherdev too good for words |accessdate=2008-02-08 |first=Tom |last=Reed |date=2007-11-19 |work=dispatch.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523003656/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bluejackets/stories/2007/11/19/jackets_notes19.ART0_ART_11-19-07_C5_E88H7QP.html?sid=101 |archivedate=2011-05-23 }}

==Contract dispute==

Contract negotiations with Blue Jackets management following the 2005–06 season became acrimonious. Zherdev threatened to remain in Russia for the season unless his demands were met, while Columbus insisted that Zherdev's salary demands were not commensurate with his accomplishments. On September 28, 2006, the parties finally agreed to a $7.5 million, three-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179131 |title=Blue Jackets re-sign Zherdev |accessdate=2006-09-28 |publisher=TSN.ca |year=2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929155318/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179131 |archivedate=September 29, 2007 }}

=New York Rangers=

Image:ZherdevRangers2009.jpg

On July 2, 2008, Zherdev was traded by the Blue Jackets along with Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for defencemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Bäckman.{{Cite web|url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242289|title=Columbus send Zherdev to the Rangers |accessdate=2008-07-02|publisher=TSN.ca|year=2008}} In his first season with the Rangers, Zherdev tied for the team lead in points with Scott Gomez, scoring 58 points.

As a restricted free agent, Zherdev was tendered a qualifying offer of $3.25 million by the Rangers before the start of the 2009 free agency period so the team could retain his rights as the two sides negotiate.{{cite news| url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/06282009/sports/rangers/offer_for_zherdev__antropov_likely_out_176500.htm | title=Offer for Zherdev, Antropov likely out | publisher=New York Post | last=Brooks | first=Larry | date=2009-06-28 | accessdate=2009-06-30}} Zherdev was awarded $3.9 million (USD) in arbitration, however, the New York Rangers chose to let Zherdev go.

=KHL=

The aforementioned walkaway made Zherdev an unrestricted free agent. Zherdev signed on September 15, 2009, a one-year contract for Atlant Moscow Oblast.{{Cite web|url=http://atlant-mo.ru/news/comments/1253/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201144548/http://atlant-mo.ru/news/comments/1253/|url-status=dead|title=НИКОЛАЙ ЖЕРДЕВ ВЕРНУЛСЯ В МЫТИЩИ|archive-date=February 1, 2010|language=ru}}

=NHL return=

On July 9, 2010, Zherdev signed a one-year deal for $2 million with the Philadelphia Flyers, setting up his return to the NHL.{{cite web | url = http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534123 | title = Flyers sign right wing Zherdev | publisher = Philadelphia Flyers | date = 2010-07-09 | accessdate = 2010-07-11}} This NHL stint would last 56 games through one season as Zherdev did not garner the trust of Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette due to what the coach saw as lackadaisical effort and selfish play. For the majority of the season, Zherdev received limited ice time while playing the fourth line with very offensively limited linemates and rarely saw any power play time. Despite the lack of opportunities, Zherdev would manage a productive 16 goals, which included his 100th NHL goal. After the season the Flyers did not attempt to sign him to a contract extension.

=Back to KHL=

Following the 2010–11 season, Zherdev returned to Atlant Moscow Oblast. In the 2012–13, he was announced as the team Captain. He played in 39 games registering an impressive 37 points before he was traded to Ak Bars Kazan on January 15, 2013, to complete the season.

{{MedalTableTop|name = |Nikolai Zherdev Finland-Russia IHWC 2012 Simifinal 19.05.2012.JPG|250px|Zherdev representing Russia in 2012}}

{{MedalCountry| {{flagicon|Russia}} Russia }}

After signing a one-year deal with HC Lev Praha in July 2013, Zherdev celebrated at the Barvikha Luxury Village hotel in Moscow where things turned violent, according to a Russian news report.{{Cite news |author=QMI Agency |date=August 2, 2013 |title=Nikolai Zherdev brawls, crashes Bentley: Report |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/2013/08/01/21017371.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130802185447/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/2013/08/01/21017371.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 2, 2013 |publisher=Québecor Média |accessdate=August 2, 2013}} Zherdev allegedly initiated a bar brawl at the hotel before crashing his Bentley Continental GT, which was later vandalized by locals who were outraged with his behaviour and scratched the words "scum", "bastard", and others into the vehicle's paint with nails.{{Cite news |author=LifeNews.ru |date=August 2, 2013 |title=Hockey player Zherdev broke Bentley, noting the contract |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.ca&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://lifenews.ru/news/117082 |publisher=LifeNews.ru |accessdate=August 2, 2013|author-link=LifeNews }} Damage to the vehicle was allegedly valued at $30,000. Barvikha Luxury Village hotel staff also claimed Zherdev spent nights there with various women, prompting his wife, Eugenia, to file for divorce. Zherdev also lost his passport as a result of the incident, meaning that he could not fly to his new team's training camp in Finland.{{Cite news |author=SovSport.ru |date=August 2, 2013 |title=Athletic Director "Leo": The contract with Zherdev are not going to dissolve |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sovsport.ru%2Fnews%2Ftext-item%2F629273&act=url |publisher=SovSport.ru |accessdate=August 2, 2013}}

He was released from his contract with Lev and on September 24, 2013, he was signed to a one-year contract with HC Spartak Moscow.{{cite web | url = http://www.spartak.ru/press/news/item11533/ | title = Nikolay Zherdev - new Spartak acquisition | publisher = HC Spartak Moscow | date = 2013-09-24 | accessdate = 2013-09-25 | language = Russian | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20130928054812/http://www.spartak.ru/press/news/item11533/ | archivedate = 2013-09-28 }} After failing to score a goal in 16 games with the club, he was released by the team in mid-November before accepting a short-term deal with HC Severstal.

On July 14, 2014, Zherdev continued his journeyman career, in agreeing to a one-year contract with HC Dynamo Moscow for the 2014–15 season.{{cite web| url = http://rsport.ru/hockey/20140714/758075171.html | title = Жердев заключил контракт с "Динамо" на один год - агент хоккеиста | trans-title = Zherdev signed a one-year contract with Dynamo - hockey player's agent | publisher = rusport.ru | date = 2014-07-14 | accessdate = 2014-07-14 | language = Russian}}

In August 2017, Zherdev signed a one-year contract with Russian KHL team Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.{{Cite web |last=Спорт |first=РИА Новости |date=2018-01-09 |title=Рижское "Динамо" рассталось с Николаем Жердевым |url=https://rsport.ria.ru/20180109/1130956672.html |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=РИА Новости Спорт |language=ru}} He played two games for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk before leaving the team for Latvian KHL team Dinamo Riga. In January 2018, the contract was terminated by mutual agreement.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-14 |title=Рижское "Динамо" расторгло контракт с форвардом Жердевым - Газета.Ru {{!}} Новости |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/sport/news/2018/01/09/n_11027786.shtml |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Газета.Ru |language=ru}}

Zherdev did not play during the 2018–19 season. In the 2019–20 season, Zherdev played for HC Ryazan of the VHL. In October 2019, the contract was terminated by mutual agreement.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-16 |title=Николай Жердев: с "Рязанью" не срослось, ищу новый клуб |url=https://mosregtoday.ru/news/culture/nikolay-zherdev-s-ryazan-yu-ne-sroslos-ischu-novyy-klub/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Подмосковье Сегодня - Mosregtoday |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-14 |title=Чемпион мира по хоккею Жердев рассказал о проблемах с алкоголем - Газета.Ru {{!}} Новости |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/sport/news/2020/06/22/n_14578891.shtml |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Газета.Ru |language=ru}} Zherdev did not play during the 2020–21 season.

For the 2021–22 season, Zherdev signed a one-year contract with the Bratislava Capitals of the ICE Hockey League.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=36-летний Жердев возобновил карьеру, подписав контракт с "Братислава Кэпиталз" |url=https://gorobzor.ru/novosti-sporta/hokkey/58647-36-letniy-zherdev-vozobnovil-kareru-podpisav-kontrakt-s-bratislava-kepitalz |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=GOROBZOR.RU |language=ru-RU}} After the successive deaths of a Bratislava player Boris Sádecký and the team's vice president, the club dissolved and did not play for the remainder of the season.{{Cite news |last=Панышев |first=Павел |date=2022-01-08 |title=Жердев — о "Братиславе": после второй смерти было сказано окончательно: "Всё, стоп" |url=https://www.championat.com/hockey/news-4568947-zherdev-o-bratislave-posle-vtoroj-smerti-bylo-skazano-okonchatelno-vsyo-stop.html |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=Чемпионат |language=ru}} Zherdev then moved to Merano of the Alps Hockey League; his departure from the team was announced in July 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-03 |title=Николай Жердев покинул итальянский "Мерано" |url=https://www.sport-express.ru/hockey/europe/news/nikolay-zherdev-pokinul-italyanskiy-merano-1945392/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=sport-express.ru |language=ru}} Zherdev began the 2022–23 season playing for Yunost Minsk of the Belarusian Extraleague.{{Cite web |title=Николай Жердев перешел в "Динамо-Молодечно" |url=https://hockey.by/news/sobytie/news206578.html |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=hockey.by |language=ru}} In October 2022, Zherdev moved to Dinamo-Molodechno, also of the Belarusian Extraleague. Dinamo-Molodechno terminated his contract in March 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Громил отель, буянил в Барвихе, кидал ЦСКА. История главного дебошира российского хоккея |url=https://www.sport-express.ru/hockey/khl/reviews/nikolay-zherdev-istoriya-glavnogo-deboshira-rossiyskogo-hokkeya-2067197/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=sport-express.ru |language=ru}} For the 2023–24 season, Zherdev signed to Alleghe Hockey of the Italian Hockey League.{{Cite web |last=Панченко |first=Антон |title=Николай Жердев продолжит карьеру во втором дивизионе чемпионата Италии |url=https://www.championat.com/hockey/news-5223407-nikolaj-zherdev-prodolzhit-kareru-vo-vtorom-divizione-chempionata-italii.html |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www.championat.com |language=ru}}

International play

Nikolai Zherdev represented Russia at the 2002 U-18 World Junior Championships, helping that country to a silver medal. He finished the tournament with 6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points in 8 games (third best on his team, behind only Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin).

Zherdev also played at the 2003 U-20 World Junior Championships, registering only one assist in six games, playing a minor role in Russia's quest for the gold medal.

He was named captain of Team Russia for the 2004 World Juniors, but did not play after departing for the NHL.

Personal life

Zherdev is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, and can speak limited English.{{cite web |date=2013-01-02 |title=Zherdev shows his diversity |url=http://www.atlant-mo.ru/news/press/20100720071412.html |accessdate=2013-01-02 |publisher=atlant-mo.ru}} In 2023 he married Maria Kirilenko.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=FIORI D'ARANCIO IN RIVA AL LAGO TRA STECCHE E PUCK - Radio Più |url=https://www.radiopiu.net/wordpress/fiori-darancio-in-riva-al-lago-tra-stecche-e-puck/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |language=it-IT}} In November 2024, the couple had a daughter.

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
1999–2000 \| Elemash–2 Elektrostal \| RUS.3 \| 21	10	7	17	26 \| 7	0	0	0	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2000–01 \| Elemash Elektrostal \| RUS.2 \| 18	6	8	14	12 \| —	—	—	—	—
2001–02 \| Elemash–2 Elektrostal \| RUS.3 \| 1	1	0	1	4 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2001–02 \| Elemash Elektrostal \| RUS.2 \| 53	13	15	28	62 \| —	—	—	—	—
2002–03 \| CSKA Moscow \| RSL \| 44	12	12	24	34 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2003–04 \| CSKA Moscow \| RSL \| 20	2	2	4	14 \| —	—	—	—	—
2003–04 \| Columbus Blue Jackets \| NHL \| 57	13	21	34	54 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2004–05 \| CSKA Moscow \| RSL \| 51	19	21	40	62 \| —	—	—	—	—
2005–06 \| Columbus Blue Jackets \| NHL \| 73	27	27	54	50 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2005–06 \| Syracuse Crunch \| AHL \| 2	1	0	1	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2006–07 \| Khimik Moscow Oblast \| RSL \| 8	2	4	6	10 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2006–07 \| Columbus Blue Jackets \| NHL \| 71	10	22	32	26 \| —	—	—	—	—
2007–08 \| Columbus Blue Jackets \| NHL \| 82	26	35	61	34 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2008–09 \| New York Rangers \| NHL \| 82	23	35	58	39 \| 7	0	0	0	2
2009–10 \| Atlant Moscow Oblast \| KHL \| 52	13	26	39	79 \| 4	0	1	1	4
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| Philadelphia Flyers \| NHL \| 56	16	6	22	22 \| 8	1	2	3	2
2011–12 \| Atlant Moscow Oblast \| KHL \| 35	9	16	29	60 \| 4	0	1	1	4
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13 \| Atlant Moscow Oblast \| KHL \| 39	13	24	37	20 \| —	—	—	—	—
2012–13 \| Ak Bars Kazan \| KHL \| 11	2	4	6	9 \| 18	2	6	8	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2013–14 \| Spartak Moscow \| KHL \| 16	0	7	7	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
2013–14 \| Severstal Cherepovets \| KHL \| 17	3	3	6	26 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15 \| Dynamo Moscow \| KHL \| 47	6	16	22	38 \| 2	0	1	1	2
2015–16 \| HC Sochi \| KHL \| 26	3	4	7	12 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2015–16 \| Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod \| KHL \| 23	4	10	14	8 \| 11	3	2	5	20
2016–17 \| Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod \| KHL \| 54	8	21	29	24 \| 3	0	0	0	0
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2017–18 \| Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk \| KHL \| 2	0	1	1	6 \| —	—	—	—	—
2017–18 \| Dinamo Riga \| KHL \| 18	3	2	5	4 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2018–19 \| Did not play \|				\|
2019–20 \| HC Ryazan \| VHL \| 9	0	2	2	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2020–21 \| Did not play \|				\|
2021–22 \| Bratislava Capitals \| ICEHL \| 12	1	6	7	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| RSL totals ! 123!!35!!39!!74!!120 ! —!!—!!—!!—!!—
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 421!!115!!146!!261!!225 ! 15!!1!!2!!3!!4
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| KHL totals ! 358!!71!!142!!213!!302 ! 50!!8!!11!!19!!56