Zherdev Gone...

After Nik Zherdev was awarded a $3.9M, one-year contract by an arbitrator, Glen Sather had this to say.

"[He] will score as many goals in 2009-10 in a Rangers uniform as he did in April of 2009 in a Rangers uniform. None."

Okay, that is a fake quote. I admit it. But, true, no?

Imagine Zherdev's last goal as a Ranger wasn't in a late-March shootout loss to an atrocious Atlanta team. Imagine he scored in the stretch-drive to the playoffs. Imagine he at least registered an assist in 7 playoff games. What if he scored when Game 7 was tied 1-1? What if he popped one in with 6 minutes left in the 3rd period in that game, changing the outcome, and the Rangers went on the play the Bruins in Round 2?

I assume if any of those happened, Sather would've atleast given his award a 2nd thought. We can assume that once the award went above, say, $3.5M, Zherdev was history.

All those sites saying "sign & trade" since even before the arbitration hearing? Maybe it was a thought, but it was never feasible. Why would a team, any team, do that, when they can have him for just money a day or two later? Maybe so a different team won't sign him. But I can only see that if this is a Joe Sakic, a Jay Bouwmeester, even a Ryan Callahan. But is any team really that desperate for a sometimes-there-sometimes-not winger who scored 58 points last season?

In all honesty, all Zherdev is is a highly-touted winger from Russia who plays great 20 games out of the year. He has never scored more than 61 points in a season, and 58 represents his second best season ever.

For the record, I completely loved the deal when he came from Columbus. Fedor Tyutin was serviceable but never would live up to his potential. Christian Backman was a bum who I would've been happy if he was given away to a team. So you were saying we got rid of those 2 and got Dan Fritsche and Zherdev? Great.

However, he lost me down the stretch. No points in 7 playoff games, and he wants a raise? Get real. Maybe in non-Salary Cap world, but when better talent is available for cheaper or equal value, Zherdev is entirely expendable. Why waste almost $4M on him when you need someone to pass the puck to Marian Gaborik?

Sather is completely correct in walking away from this contract. Any other GM might be nuts to sign him for so much when he has shown so little. I mean, if Sather thought it was too high... after all, this is the man who thought a 31-year old Wade Redden was worthy of not only $6.5M/year, but a 6-year contract.

Update: 4:52 P.M.: Just my two cents on where I think Zherdev will land, if he does play in the NHL. I'd expect him to go to one of the 4 crappy Southern teams on a one-year deal: Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, or Florida.

Bergenheim Headed For Arbitration

If you're an Islander fan, odds are pretty good that you're happy with the way things have played out since July 1st. You're probably ecstatic over the Mark Streit, and you probably can at least live with the Doug Weight signing. However, a dark shadow is about to come over this whole thing - Sean Bergenheim's arbitration hearing.

Nobody really talks about arbitration and the damage it does, which is a shame. Basically, imagine you and your boss sitting down in front of an independent party to discuss your salary, and imagine the things you'd say about each other with thousands of dollars on the line. Now, multiply that monetary figure by a few hundred, and you've got the arbitration system of professional sports.

When hockey fans think of arbitration, the example everyone thinks of is Tommy Salo, the former Islanders goalie who was so overwhelmed by the criticisms levied against him that he actually cried during his hearing. That's not every case, but the nature of arbitration is not exactly a glamorous one. Last year, Sean Avery had a rather contentious arbitration hearing with the Rangers. You don't think some of that bad blood remained alive as Avery negotiated with other teams just a week ago? The bottom line is, no matter what people say, it gets ugly.

Bergenheim's handlers are saying all the right things, but we must remember that Bergenheim's relationship with the Islanders isn't exactly peachy. Rather than accept a two-way deal heading into the 2006-07 season, Bergenheim bolted, choosing to play in Sweden instead of riding the Port Jefferson Ferry between Long Island and Bridgeport. While everyone bashes Bergenheim for this decision, let's not forget that the Opening Night roster for the 2006-07 season included the likes of Mike York, Chris Simon, and Shawn Bates. Never mind the insult of being offered a two-way deal four years after being a first-round pick, and never mind the fact that Denis Grebeshkov did the exact same thing. Bergenheim took less last year to make peace with the Isles' brass, but nobody has forgotten what's happened.

The good thing is that while Bergenheim is going to arbitration now, the Isles have his rights for the next four years. So the two parties would do well to settle their beefs sooner rather than later. That said, a scandalous arbitration hearing would only make a bad situation worse. What would stop Bergenheim from immediately demanding a trade if he doesn't like what he hears? Just because he's committed to playing for the Islanders in 2008-09 doesn't mean he has to be happy about it.

Ultimately, it comes down to this. If the Islanders really want to do this youth movement correctly - and honestly, we have no proof that they do - Bergenheim is a key to lock up for at least the next couple of years. However, now that they've put matters into the hands of an arbiter, God only knows what will happen next. Whatever happens at arbitration, Garth Snow's next move has to be to work on a deal that will make both parties happy beyond this year. It would be a great sign of faith to the fans, not to mention the Islanders' other young players, that the Islanders know what they're doing. Quite frankly, some of us have our doubts.