For any fans thinking that Nikolai Zherdev might be a fit with the Edmonton Oilers because the New York Rangers don't want him, forget it.

ARTICLE TOOLS

• Printer friendly
• E-mail

Font:

• *
• *
• *
• *

He's a square peg in a round hole.

While Zherdev might be intriguing on the wing because the Oilers have pulled out of the Dany Heatley trade with the Ottawa Senators, sources say Edmonton Oilers associate coach Tom Renney hasn't enthusiastically gone to bat for the enigmatic Ukrainian-born forward.

Renney is a players' coach, but his patience was stretched on Zherdev, a 24-year-old former first-round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, when Renney was the Rangers head coach.

An NHL arbitrator just awarded Zherdev a one-year, $3.9-million contract (he was looking for $4.75 million and the Rangers were offering less than $3.2 million), even though he slumped in the last few months of the regular season. He had no points in the Rangers' seven-game playoff loss to the Washington Capitals in Round 1, as well.

The Rangers, who gave up Fedor Tyutin to get Zherdev from Columbus in July 2008, are prepared to walk away from that arbitration award because they've signed Ales Kotalik to take his place. But they are trying to trade the winger before he becomes an unrestricted free-agent this morning.

The Oilers, who need a top six forward but struck out on Heatley, who may wind up in San Jose instead in a trade, could sign Zherdev or trade a forward to clear up some money. But, even if he was second to Nik Antropov on the Rangers with 58 points last season, they don't want him. He's got wonderful one-on-one skills but plays when the spirit moves him. He's also minus-46(plus-minus rating) in his five NHL seasons.

One team that is interested in Zherdev is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leafs GM Brian Burke and Rangers'GM Glen Sather are buddies and co-own the junior Chilliwack Bruins. Toronto might be willing to give up defenceman Ian White or winger Lee Stempniak in a trade for Zherdev.

jmatheson@thejournal.canwest.com