A Possible Zherdev Trade

1. As you said, Zherdev may be a perfect fit for the Capitals. I don’t think it would be smart to make a trade with the Capitals that would make them a tougher team to beat in the playoffs.

2. Zherdev can still score goals for the Flyers. He has 8 goals and I am not ready to write him off for the year.

After acquiring Denis Hamel, another mostly-career AHLer in his early 30s to help stabilize the offense, and Dan Jancevski, a 29 year old most-career AHLer on D, why do we another early 30s mostly-career AHLer on the forward lines? Yes, Adirondack needs offensive help now, but we also need legit prospects who might make it to the NHL someday to restock our system and help with the salary cap down the line.

Z is a rental anyway, and while he may be stubborn and difficult when it comes to playing the system, I’m willing to give him a little bit more time. If this continues, try to get rid of him a few weeks before the trade deadline. But I want to get something of value back, not a guy who can only help the Phantoms but never legitimately play for the Flyers.

To begin, the capitals do not need a winger. They need a second line center. Does Zherdev fit that category at all? No. Why would they want to add another winger? He also would not fit where you say he would because Laich and Semin are not natural centers at all. If they were, their 2C problem would be solved already and Zherdev certainly isn’t filling it.

Next, we do not need/want Aucoin at all. He would just be adding another mismatched puzzle piece to the dismal phantoms. If anything, they need young prospects, not old players that will never make it to the nhl.

I just cannot understand how getting rid of Zherdev is a #1, #2, or #3 solution. He has 8 goals and 9 points in only 26 games played. That’s projected to 25.2 goals on the year assuming he doesn’t keep hitting the post. So why would that be an easy solution at all.

Further, when someone gets hurt in the top-9, who do we have to move up there right now? I know, I know: Zherdev, Carcillo, and Wellwood in that order. Out of those three, who is actually a top-9 player? I know again: Zherdev. An injury is going to happen, what don’t people realize about that?

Continuing, Zherdev makes 2 million dollars. That is cheap. He is worth more and arbitration said so with the Rangers. We got him cheap and he is a great player to have especially when we’re trying to ice the best team possible. People also have this grand idea of stocking the farm at his disposal because other teams will want him for a cup run. WE want him for a cup run. We would never get equal value in a trade so why do people fail to see our playoff run? It does not make any sense at all to get rid of him.

Again,
Who has contributed the least to this team?
Walker.

How much does Walker make?
1.7million.

Regarding capspace, in your eyes someone who will contribute 20+ goals but makes 300k more is the better move than someone who has done literally and absolutely nothing. That’s nonsensical.

Zherdev’s got a bargain contract. If we trade him we trade him because he doesn’t fit in our system but we acknowledge that in another system he could become a big point scorer. We trade him acknowledging that on a points/$ basis he could be amazing for the team we trade him for. Hence we don’t just trade him in a salary dump that does nothing. I would only trade Z to a team out West looking to add that last bit of depth scoring for a 1st rounder or top notch prospect.

This move would give the Flyers cap and roster space. With Zherdev gone, the Flyers would have room to insert Dan Carcillo into the line-up full time.

I’m down with that.

1. This is a bad idea because like many above have said the Caps do not need Z and he can score with the Flyers. The Caps need a center not a winger.
2. If they trade him they need to get someone who can play in the NHL and score too. I propose someone like the Sharks for Logan Couture or Patrick Marleau. Maybe to the Oilers for Magnus Paanjavari. Keep them in the NHL too.

The Caps pick we would recieve would suck because they will probably have the 28th- 30th pick late rounds.

With those picks we can only hope we draft someone that could be a Zetterberg or like Bobs.
Those chances happening for the Flyers is zero-to-none.

I would not move Zherdev until the trade deadline. He is not a cog on the team, but he could become valuable if a key forward is hurt. He is merely a cheap luxury for the Flyers. I do not see him being moved.

I would love to here the arguments from people who said this trade would be good….

I think that we should hold onto Z until the trade deadline. If he has produced consistently, the team feels that he is not a key part of the line-up, and a Western Conference team is interested in him, I say trade him. Trading him now is not the answer. Retaining Z in case the injury bug bites is a good option, and who knows, maybe he just needs half a season to adjust back to the North American style of the game. If he figures himself out and finds consistency, he could have a break-out second half. Maybe a WC team will put an offer on the table the Flyers can’t refuse. Then again, it’s unlikely that would happen.

Just a few answers to ome critisim. For one, Brooks Laich IS a natural center. Although he is not a finess one he is a solid 2n line one. Two, I’m not saying “trade Zherdev at all costs”. In my opinion, Zherdev is getting the shit end of the stick here and I would like to see him get more top-nine minutes. All I’m saying is that he’s kind of a waste on the fourth line. I didn’t know Aucoin was that old so that is my bad. I just gave the Bears’ roster a quick look and saw Aucoin who was having a good season. I don’t expect the Caps to trade a promising player for a rental.