Nikolai Zherdev Nikolai Olegovich Zherdev ( born November 5 , 1984 ) is a Ukrainian - Russian ice hockey right winger . He is currently an unrestricted free agent . Playing career . Early career . Born in Kiev , Ukrainian SSR , Zherdev began playing hockey at age the age of 4 . 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 . While participating in an overseas peewee tournament in Quebec , Canada , Zherdev ' s team found itself competing against a team from Elektrostal , Russia . The rival team ' s coach , Ravil Iskakhov , 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 . CSKA . 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 of 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 . Following being drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets , Zherdev spent the entire 2002 – 03 season with CSKA , but in a controversial decision , left for the NHL half way through the 2003 – 04 season . He would , however , return to the Russian club during the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , making peace . Columbus Blue Jackets . Zherdev was drafted by Columbus in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft with the 4th overall pick . At the time , Columbus GM Doug MacLean stated that the team had Zherdev ranked # 1 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 , new Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson and coach Ken Hitchcock met Zherdev in a " clean - the - slate " meeting . Zherdev has since rediscovered success on the ice . 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 . New York Rangers . 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 . 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 . He has been rumored to be potentially signing with Atlant Moscow Oblast of the Kontinental Hockey League , of whom he formerly played with in 2006 – 07 . Zherdev was awarded $ 3 . 9 million ( USD ) in arbitration , however , the New York Rangers chose to let Zherdev go . He is now an unrestricted free agent . 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 Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin ) . Zherdev also played at the 2003 U - 20 World Junior Championships , registering only 1 assist in 6 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 .