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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.”

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Nikolai Zherdev was drafted fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. 

After a tumultuous four-year relationship with Columbus, spanning 283 games, Zherdev was traded by the Blue Jackets with Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for defencemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Bäckman on July 2, 2008. He totaled 76 goals and 181 points in a Columbus uniform. 

He would play one season for the New York Rangers and had 58 points. After being tendered an offer by the Rangers, Zherdev was awarded $3.9 million in arbitration, however, the Rangers chose to let Zherdev walk. 

He returned to the KHL for one season before returning to play for the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2010-11 season. He would play in 56 games and total 22 points for Philly. 

Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette scratched him a lot during that season for lazy play, which led to Zherdev being unhappy once again. 

The Flyers chose not to bring him back, so he returned to Russia, where he remained for the rest of his career.  

Nikolai Zherdev had the talent and potential to be a generational player for the Blue Jackets. When the CBJ drafted him, all anyone could talk about was how great he and Nash, and Rusty Klesla would be together. Tack on Gilbert Brule, and the Jackets were going to be a great team. 

Sadly, that didn't happen, obviously, and the Jackets were forced to trade him to New York. 

If there's a silver lining in the Zherdev story, it's that he didn't work out anywhere he went, which has to make it seem a little better for people who follow the team. 

What's your favorite Nikolai Zherdev moment? Was it any of his highlight reel goals? 

Let us know what you think below.

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Don Waddell Appears On Radio Interview; Addresses Carter Hart GM Don Waddell appeared on Sportsnet 650 this morning on the Halford & Brough in the Morning show in Vancouver. 

Report: Blue Jackets' Voronkov Linked To 2 New York-Based Teams The Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Dmitri Voronkov has been subject to trade rumours since the NHL Draft. Just hours before the draft started, the Blue Jackets were trying to work on a trade with the New York Islanders for Noah Dobson and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/elliotte-friedman-reveals-potential-offer-to-islanders-for-noah-dobson" target="_blank">Voronkov's name was involved</a> in that trade.