As a Ranger fan, I haven't seen any of your games, but I'm really curious as to how Zherdev is fitting in with the Flyers. I always thought he was an incredible talent, but there was some intangible thing missing in his game. And he seems like kind of a headcase. I know its early in the year, but what are your first impressions of the guy?
he's climbing my **** list fast due to his lack of effort/general WTFness. If his style starts racking up points that'll help, but so far i'd rather have gagne back. right now im happier overall with Scott "Gravity" Hartnell than I am with Zherdev. He has maybe 2 shifts a game where he really works his ass off, then seems to disappear.
The style of his play doesn't help when "looking" like he is trying hard either. Carter has a very fluid skating motion, looks like he isn't trying, but he is moving quicker than everyone else on the ice.
The style of his play doesn't help when "looking" like he is trying hard either.
How about we trade you Dupuis for Zherdev then?
Pascal is always trying hard, is solid enough on the PK that you can rest your stars there a little, and gives respectable secondary scoring for a third line checker. You even save yourselves some cap-room.
Trying to replace the hole in the lineup caused by Gagne's trade with Zherdev was...weird, at best. We had a team that really bonded in the playoffs and played their hearts out for each other. Bringing in an enigmatic Euro who doesn't speak English to a team populated almost entirely by Canadians, or at the very least English-speaking non-Canadians, and a guy who has a questionable work ethic wasn't how you replace Gagne.
He will easily be worth his 2M simply because he'll score 20 goals and do some fancy things.
But, obviously, there are large holes to his game but I don't see anything in his performance that was unexpected. He'll likely get better as the season moves on and he gets readjusted to the NA game but he will also never be a complete player.
Much of the team has started off fairly slow and still finding their groove. Only a small handful of players are probably happy with their individual performance so far.
Pretty much like I have said from the beginning, lots of flash but little substance and as his minutes diminish he gets lost and becomes invisible except for a couple "wow's" that make you wonder why the kid does not score more.
I'll give him another 5-10 games before throwing him under the bus. Guy does need a fire lit under his ass. He's clearly skilled but if he doesn't put in some harder efforts and sacrifice, he won't last long.
There are a few other players that I'd be criticizing before Zherdev at the moment. His 1 goal in 5 games and even +/- is by no means stellar but that makes him look like an all-star compared to some other guys.
He plays too much on the perimeter, a lot of east-west, not enough north-south. Also his decision making is off. The skill is certainly there though, Zherdev just needs to play tougher and less fancy, but I feel like people have been saying that since he was drafted and not much has changed, so who knows.
If most Russians are lazy skill players who refuse to play defense or get involved in anything other than flash and dash, well maybe so.
Or maybe if certain hard-working Canadians learn how to stay out of the penalty box for more than 3 consequtive minuts, then certain "lazy" players will get a chance to actualy show you what hockey is.
Your team is painful to watch right now. Zherdev is the least of your problems.
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