From The THN Archive: "The Jackets Fit Stylish Zherdev"

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This article from the THN Archive was written by Aaron Portzline, who still covers this CBJ for The Athletic.

"The Jackets Fit Stylish Zherdev" - April 1, 2008 – Vol. 61, Issue 23 

Last Summer, with training camp still at least a month away, new Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson and coach Ken Hitchcock flew to Ottawa to have lunch with right winger Nikolai Zherdev.

During the course of a 90-minute chat, the sins of Zherdev’s past life with the Jackets were wiped clean, and the one-time malcontent was welcomed back into the fold.

“Forget everything and just start better,” said Zherdev earlier this season. “It was like a whole new beginning. I was really pleased to have (Howson) come meet me there.”

Less than one year into his tenure in Columbus, Howson has already taken to calling it his best move to date. It’s hard to argue. Zherdev was detached and seemingly unreachable last season, dipping from 27 goals in 2005-06 to 10 goals in ’06-07. His off-ice attitude followed a similar downward trajectory, with one teammate calling him a “diva.”

This year, Zherdev had 24 goals and a career-high 57 points in 70 games.

“I wasn’t able to feel my game on the ice (last season),” Zherdev said. “The coach didn’t have enough trust in me. This year, I feel like the coach trusts me, like he wants to put me on the ice. That’s made it a lot better.”

Zherdev is playing three more minutes per game than last season – over 19 a night – and has emerged as one of the Jackets’ most consistent, dangerous forwards. He’s drawing rave reviews off the ice, too.

“As much as it’s his play,” Hitchcock said, “it’s the little things, too.”

Early this season, on a cross-country flight out West, Zherdev asked to join in a players’ card game in the back of the plane.

“I couldn’t believe it at first,” said left winger Jason Chimera. “It’s the kind of stuff Nik never did in the past. “By making the effort, he was showing he wanted to be one of the boys.”

In a win over Carolina on Dec. 29, Zherdev could’ve scored his first career hat trick into an empty net. Instead, he passed to a teammate.

“He’s come a long way,” said new captain Rick Nash. “I think it’s a sign he’s becoming happier in his environment.”

Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.