Post #470: Zherdev lower body injury, not likely to play January 6th
Hey guys Rangers fan here, I come in peace. I haven't been able to watch any Flyers games so far this year, and was wondering what you all thought about z? I see he has 9 goals and one assist on the season, but was wondering how his play has been? I'm curious if he changed his game since going to the KHL. Has he seemed motivated? Or his usual disappearing reappearing act. Thanks ahead of time guys! And LETS GO RANGERS!
Last edited by MiamiScreamingEagles: 01-05-2011 at 11:15 PM.
I like the way Zherdev's been playing, for the most part. He's got amazing skill, and he takes the body more than I expected. Loved the couple big runs he took at Chara a few games back. He backchecks too, so it seems like he's getting what's expected of him.
He's still finding his way in the deep lineup and in Laviolette's system, but I really like the explosive potential and goal scoring ability he offers. In a tight playoff game, his gamebreaking ability might make a huge difference.
And he's made a lot of great plays, unfinished by his linemates, which accounts for the lack of assists. I'm sure it'll even out over the course of the year.
He does not fit into the group they have. Ironically he is most productive on the 4th line. At this point he should be shopped in a trade, you do not win Stanley Cups with this type of player taking significant minutes and most likely he would disappear due to his inability to play at a high level in tight quarters which the playoffs usually operate under.
He has been alright. His lazy play from before when he played in the NHL is still around. At times he can dazzle you with the puck, but when you want him to make the easy pass in the offensive zone, he tries going around 2-3 players and loses the puck. Over a time, that can get really annoying.
His inconsistently has made Lavy switch him between the 3rd line and 4th line.
H tries to do to much all on his own. He thinks he can beat all five skaters on the other team to often. He likes to do pretty spins but often looses the puck doing so.
I like the way Zherdev's been playing, for the most part. He's got amazing skill, and he takes the body more than I expected. Loved the couple big runs he took at Chara a few games back. He backchecks too, so it seems like he's getting what's expected of him.
He's still finding his way in the deep lineup and in Laviolette's system, but I really like the explosive potential and goal scoring ability he offers. In a tight playoff game, his gamebreaking ability might make a huge difference.
And he's made a lot of great plays, unfinished by his linemates, which accounts for the lack of assists. I'm sure it'll even out over the course of the year.
A couple of things here, watch him play, he is a blueline hanger. He circles the blueline waiting for the outlet, his backchecking is better than I thought, but for significant minutes on a playoff team in a tight game he is riding the bench. Problem with tight playoff games is they are not wide open games unless you are playing the Caps.
They are won by the battles along the boards and in front of the net. It is a tighter checking, more physical type game, thus why players who prefer the wide open style do not fare well in these types of games. Other teams now how to figure you out and apply their theory in game situations.
unreal natural skill, good skater, not afraid to use his size. Just seems to float more often than not and let others do most of the dirty work, he'd rather wait in the open and be fed the puck. Thats one thing I believe Lavy can't stand is his unwillingness to compete! If this guy had the heart of Ritchy or Prongs for eg., he could and would score fifty. It would help to if he kept playing with guys like Carts or Giroux, but he really needs to earn it yet imo.....
H tries to do to much all on his own. He thinks he can beat all five skaters on the other team to often. He likes to do pretty spins but often looses the puck doing so.
I think he's slowly starting to get it. He's been more active in games recently, when it seemed like he spent most of his time waiting to be given the puck earlier in the season.
I may get flamed for this but I really don't like him very much. I've never been a fan of floaters or streaky players and he seems to have some of both. I think he is the kind of guy that if we had a few key injuries and he had quite a bit more playing time I might come around to liking him, but on this team as it stands right now I just can't seem to excited about him. He does 6 or 7 amazing moves in pretty much any 3 game stretch but for the most part seems irrelevant.
He is the kind of guy that strikes me as a liability in the playoffs if he isn't on huge hotstreak at the time. I guess thats not a fair assessment yet but thats how I feel.
I'm not saying he is Pavel Brendl, but there are 10 forwards on this team I like better than him.
What I like:
he can finish
he can dangle
What I don't like:
effort, especially on the backcheck
defensive anything
seems whiny (at least the media makes him out to be but Timmy P seems to hate him so I take it with a grain of salt.)
selfish play
I think he's slowly starting to get it. He's been more active in games recently, when it seemed like he spent most of his time waiting to be given the puck earlier in the season.
Supposedly he is a good passer, I think I have seen it only once though. He also skates around trying to break down the defense BY HIMSELF, which does not help because everyone else is just floating around waiting. As I have said, his best shifts are on the 4th line where he just carries the puck and shoots. Pretty simple to defend in the playoffs.
It sounds like Zherdev of the Rangers and CBJ. The guy has soooooo much skill its ridiculous. But he just doesn't have the compete level. It's sad to, cause like some one stated above, If he could find the will, he could be a 50 goal scorer. I was a big fan of when the Rangers traded for him. But by then end of his time with the Rangers, I was happy to see him go. So sad. Thanks again guys!
He just doesn't have the hockey sense to go along with his talent. I think he's trying hard but isn't getting it.
I think he has a good feel for the game, he just lacks the necessary toughness and mental makeup to become more dynamic. Z is very satisfied with playing a finesse perimeter game, which works alright in European leagues, but it doesn't work here. If you want to be a successful player in NA you need to drive the net and play a North-South style. He just needs some balls.
I think he has a good feel for the game, he just lacks the necessary toughness and mental makeup to become more dynamic. Z is very satisfied with playing a finesse perimeter game, which works alright in European leagues, but it doesn't work here. If you want to be a successful player in NA you need to drive the net and play a North-South style. He just needs some balls.
Supposedly he is a good passer, I think I have seen it only once though. He also skates around trying to break down the defense BY HIMSELF, which does not help because everyone else is just floating around waiting. As I have said, his best shifts are on the 4th line where he just carries the puck and shoots. Pretty simple to defend in the playoffs.
You're right. And you know what's bad about that? It's still an improvement over the beginning of the season.
I am surprised he has not been knocked back to Moscow on that move, guys see it enough and if you timed it right someone could put a shoulder right in his chest and send him right on his rear.
