CBJSlash
Registered User
Let's give Zherdev a season that he isn't being hunted by the Russian Mob before we start discounting this one trick pony.
Ruutu is a fine player I've always regretted the Jackets not taking him, but Zherdev IMO Zherdev has more offensive talent than Nash, who has more than Ruutu, so by the transitive property Zherdev > Ruutu.
Zherdev only played half a season, with no camp, no home, as a runaway, on smaller ice, in a new system, with a new language, against superior players and by the end of the season didn't look out of place (Some games the most dominant player on the ice ie. 3/21/04 against the Canucks, 2 goals and assist in final 12 minutes to win 5-4). Give him 2 years and compare 2007 Zherdev to 2005 Ruutu, IMO the only fair way to compare. Ruutu is fine, but Zherdev will make people laugh at that comparison.
Ruutu is a fine player I've always regretted the Jackets not taking him, but Zherdev IMO Zherdev has more offensive talent than Nash, who has more than Ruutu, so by the transitive property Zherdev > Ruutu.
Zherdev only played half a season, with no camp, no home, as a runaway, on smaller ice, in a new system, with a new language, against superior players and by the end of the season didn't look out of place (Some games the most dominant player on the ice ie. 3/21/04 against the Canucks, 2 goals and assist in final 12 minutes to win 5-4). Give him 2 years and compare 2007 Zherdev to 2005 Ruutu, IMO the only fair way to compare. Ruutu is fine, but Zherdev will make people laugh at that comparison.