Zherdev question from a noob

Let’s just say that this is one of the mysteries that many of us have been pondering for much of the season.

Some of this goes back to the early portion of the season. I think it’s fair to say that Zherdev believes he should be a top 6 forward. In coming to the team as a hired gun, fresh off a year in the KHL, he aspired to be an integral part of the top 9 forwards and he looked to be all that, leading the team in goals in the pre-season. When that didn’t translate into the same sort of early season production, Lavvy did a lot of line mixing, and the Flyers started off the season as one of the most penalized teams in the NHL, which meant a lot of special teams play. Zherdev was not on either the PK or the PP, so he missed a lot of shifts purely because Lavvy was leaning on the LBH line coming out of those situations. As Zherdev started to pick up steam and score goals, we can only surmise that he began to feel frustrated at his limited ice time.

He then made an ill advised complaint about his situation directly to the GM, Paul Holmgren, and shortly thereafter, he experienced his first scratching.

Despite protestations on both sides to the contrary, it appears from the outside that this is a case of Lavvy smacking down a player who he felt questioned his authority. None of use are privvy to what goes on in the locker room, or what specifically is said on the bench, but it does seem strange that there were no discussions or specific incidents that could be pointed to to explain what is going on. Lavvy is one of those coaches who really gets involved in the flow of the game, and it’s conceivable that Zherdev hasn’t played the role that Lavvy wants him to at times during the season, but I think many of use look at this situation as enacting the old “Scorpion and the Frog” parable, where Lavvy (and the Flyers) are like the Frog who suddenly protest when “stung” by the Scorpion they agree to carry on their back. With that said, I don’t think it’s as simple as that either, because it’s been clear from the outset that Zherdev has a lot at stake in terms of his personal reputation and career aspirations. After weeks in the press box, with no end in sight, Zherdev went to his agent and actually asked him to have the team waive him, which they did. It was no doubt a huge wake up call to find that there were no takers for his services, just as it has probably been a wake up call for the coaching staff which has lead us to the surprising situation where we now find him not only reinserted next to Giroux, but playing PP minutes as we head into the last few critical games of the season.

Much has been made about Zherdev’s suppossed lack of defense and backchecking, but there’s been some persuasive number crunching done by people on this site that brings those assertions into question. A lot of times when people have a preconceived notion, that is all they are able to see. People who already believed that Zherdev is a lazy player who doesn’t backcheck or pass and takes shifts off, tend to see what they expect to see, while other people see an entirely different player.

I am not alone in being mystified as to why Zherdev was benched shortly after the Giroux/Carter/Zherdev line was turning in some terrific games and showing great chemistry. I think a lot of it had to do with the Versteeg acquisition which they probably believed was going to be the magic ingredient that would put the team over the top. Certainly on paper it looked like a great move, and I think Versteeg will be a great asset for the team as we enter the playoffs, but it seems as reality has set in, they have realized that Zherdev wasn’t as expendable as perhaps they expected he would be.

We will probably never know until next year, or some time in the future when one of the parties involves opens up. I truly believed that Zherdev would never see another game in a Flyer’s uniform, so I’m as surprised as anyone at the turn of events, but I truly believe that we are going to need his offensive explosiveness and chemistry with Giroux if we’re going to be able to go deep in the playoffs.

I really like seeing the Z-G-C line at work. G’s passing ability with our two best goal scores (Carter lead us in goals and I belive Z have the best G/60 on the team), is really nice to watch (see our 2nd goal against the rangers).

While I agree with a lot of what Driver and Giz have to say, I personally think it has more to do with his practice habits and on-ice decision making. There was one sequence yesterday where he tried to sick handle through the entire Rangers team…….he got as far as the offensive blue line and the puck was stripped which led to a break the other way. Those type of plays will earn you a seat in the press box very quickly. It also seems like when he was younger, he was always the best player on his team and allowed to get by on his natural talent for scoring goals and was never forced to learn to play defense as well. This resulted in lack of a “work ethic” that Lavy demands.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the Flyers resign him after the season, but only if he’s dedicated to getting back to the area early enough to skate with his teammates at their “unofficial practices” before the pre-season begins. Last summer, he had “visa problems” and didn’t arrive until the very beginning of camp. For a player coming to a new team, with language barrier issues and a reputation preceeding him, this was not the ideal situation