moonstomper
08-16-2003, 11:21 AM
8/15/2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - The Columbus Blue Jackets locked up their 2003 first-round draft pick Friday, signing right wing Nikolai Zherdev to a multi-year contract.
Terms were not disclosed.
Zherdev, the top-ranked European skater in the draft by NHL Central Scouting, was taken fourth overall by the Blue Jackets. Last season with the Central Army Team in the Russian Elite League, the 18-year-old collected 12 goals and 12 assists in 44 games.
"When we selected Nikolai at this year's draft, I was excited because we got the player who was at the top of our list," Columbus general manager Doug MacLean said. "We're even more thrilled today that we can officially welcome him to the Blue Jackets organization. He is a tremendously skilled, explosive player who, along with Rick Nash and Rostislav Klesla, should give our club three of the most exciting players in the NHL for years to come."
The 6-1 native of the Ukraine helped Russia to the silver medal in the 2002 Under-18 World Championships and recorded five goals and nine points in five games at the 2001 Five Nations Tournament. Zherdev added one assist in six games for Russia at the 2003 World Junior Championships.
So do the same rules apply for him as Staal? Can he be assigned to an AHL team or are they confident hell be with the big club?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - The Columbus Blue Jackets locked up their 2003 first-round draft pick Friday, signing right wing Nikolai Zherdev to a multi-year contract.
Terms were not disclosed.
Zherdev, the top-ranked European skater in the draft by NHL Central Scouting, was taken fourth overall by the Blue Jackets. Last season with the Central Army Team in the Russian Elite League, the 18-year-old collected 12 goals and 12 assists in 44 games.
"When we selected Nikolai at this year's draft, I was excited because we got the player who was at the top of our list," Columbus general manager Doug MacLean said. "We're even more thrilled today that we can officially welcome him to the Blue Jackets organization. He is a tremendously skilled, explosive player who, along with Rick Nash and Rostislav Klesla, should give our club three of the most exciting players in the NHL for years to come."
The 6-1 native of the Ukraine helped Russia to the silver medal in the 2002 Under-18 World Championships and recorded five goals and nine points in five games at the 2001 Five Nations Tournament. Zherdev added one assist in six games for Russia at the 2003 World Junior Championships.
So do the same rules apply for him as Staal? Can he be assigned to an AHL team or are they confident hell be with the big club?