ZHERDEV WINS ARBITRATION ! WHAT WILL THE RANGERS DO NOW?

As  of this morning , Nikolai Zherdev has won his arbitration hearing and was granted 3.9 million dollars for the 2009/2010 season. 

I for one, hope the New York Rangers do the right thing and sign him.  We will find out today or no later then tomorrow  exactly what the Rangers will do.

There has been a lot of controversy on this issue . Does  he deserve the raise or does he not? Is the talented winger worth  3.9 million a year or should the Rangers just let him go?

I personally feel that this is a no brainer. After several years of having scoring issues. The Rangers have a player that is for the most part, a guarantee to put at least 25 goals in the net.  Which is what they need ,  goal scorers!

Other then Marion Gaborik , the Rangers have no other serious scoring threat other then Nikolai Zherdev.  

Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins average just around 20 goals a year.  But neither of the two have the agility as Zherdev or move and pass the puck with dead on accuracy as Nikolai.

Ryan Callahan had a great season  last year.  Definitely better then most people thought he would have.  Registering 22 goals with 18 assists , he will be an important part of this Ranger team this upcoming season. 

If you add Chris Drury and if the Rangers agree and sigh Zherdev . the Rangers will have six players that they can rely on  to score 20 plus goals this season.  That combined is a threat in its self.

I am more worried if the Rangers  have the size and toughness to play Tortorellas’ style of play , then I am anything else.  

With six solid forwards.  This team should be able to put up plenty of  goals.  How they play and coaches decisions will be a major factor.  If the physical approach fails, will Tortorella  make the adjustment to capitalize on his players abilities and change his style of play. Or will he be hard headed and force the physical play upon them?  

Some say Zherdev is inconsistent. Well there was not one player on the Rangers roster last year that was not inconsistent. They had scoring issues all season.

It took Chris Drury eleven games to score his first goal last year.  He was by far more inconsistent then any player on the team last year.  But for some reason , no one is mentioning him. For trades or anything else.  What did Drury do in the playoffs? He had one goal.  Zherdev had an assist.

I can’t help but laugh when I hear people putting Zherdev down and praising other players.  We are talking about the New York Rangers here. They had an explosive fluke of a start last season that dismantled the second month into the season.  The team as a whole, stunk up the Garden.  Not just one player.

As the rest of the team fizzled out in December. In those twelve games played , Zherdev had tweleve points. Other then  King Hank,  there was not one player that played any better then Zherdev through out the whole month.  

People want to say well he phased out at the end of the season.  No, he did not!  The last 19 games he tallied 13 points.  Maybe not  the greatest. But by no means was he not in it and doing his part .  For anyone to say any different , they just don’t know what they are talking about.  

I do not just here or read  what someone  says and jump on the band wagon with them.  The stats do not lie.  Nothing beats the facts of watching the games and seeing his play for your self. If anyone was to take a close look at exactly who he was lined up with. No one can deny he didn’t do  the  best he can with who he was playing with. 

Maybe I wrong on what I see when I watch Zherdev play. Or maybe I am the only one who really studies every  game, coaches decisions and examines the line ups the way i do.  Either  way.  I rather have a guy with Nikolai Zherdev’s  talent and ability then let him go and wish I had him later on.

If there is an issue with him. It will be up to the coach , the captain and Zherdev  to fix it and get it right.  He has to much to just give up on him after one year.   

When you look at what the Rangers are paying Redden and Drury. How can you deny Zherdev when he is so much better then both of them. If you look at it from that perspective. He deserves the raise. The  Rangers have no one to blame but them selves. Over paying players on a consistant basis opens the doors for others. 

At least now they are getting a young , very talented player , with the abillty to be a great hockey player.  If the Rangers sign him. It will be up to Zherdev to make his mark and show he deserves his pay or be another statistic of over paid Ranger players!