It would appear that Nikolai Zherdev and Eric Reitz didn’t enjoy their (very) brief time as teammates on the New York Rangers last season. The two current-KHLers met up during a game between Atlant Mystishchi and Sibir Novosibirsk on Wednesday, and after Zherdev whacked Sibir’s goaltender Alexander Fomichev — who dove backwards as if shot — the pair came to blows. As you might expect, Reitz (#37 white) got the upper hand in the fight in terms of quality and quantity of punches thrown, but Zherdev (#13 blue) held his own before eventually dumping the more skilled scrapper to the ice.
Both players finished with an assist in the game, which Atlant won by the score of 4-2. Reitz also earned 14 minutes in penalties (2+2+10) for his actions, while Zherdev got away with just four (2+2).
Jaromir Jagr kicked off his second season in Siberia with four points in his first three games to earn forward of the week honors in the KHL for last week. Jagr picked up a hat trick against Dinamo Riga on Monday and added an assist on Wednesday against Dynamo Minsk, finishing the week a +2.
Yaroslavl Lokomotiv’s Alexander Guskov (2 assists, +5) was named top defenseman for the week, Ilya Proskuryakov of Metallurg Magnitogorsk (.987 save percentage, two shutouts) got the nod as best goaltender, and Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk’s Nikolai Belov (1 goal, +5) earned top rookie honors.
In other KHL news, Anton Babchuk participated in his first practice with Avangard on Monday, and the defenseman made an early impression by shattering the glass behind the net with his booming slapshot.
And speaking of good first impressions: former Ranger Nikolai Zherdev made one of his own in Mytischi, scoring in his first game with his new teammates on Atlant. Zherdev scored an insurance goal to make 3-1 with a little over a minute to play in what would eventually be a 4-1 victory over Amur.
After a summer of rumor, speculation, and false reports, former New York Rangers forward Nikolai Zherdev has officially signed with Atlant of the KHL. The deal was announced at a press conference at Mystishchi Arena today, where Zherdev, Atlant’s General Director Andrei Verevko, and Sports Director Ravil Ishakov took part in the ceremonial contract signing. Afterwards, Zherdev spoke to the media:
I’ve come to Mystishchi gladly. I’ve returned to the club that I played for three years ago when it was still referred to as “Khimik”. I know many in this group. I’ve been friends with the teeam captain, Sergei Mozyakin, for a long time. Moreover, the club’s Sports Director, Ravil Iskhakov, who trained me as a hockey player, played no small role in my signing. It’ll be nice for me to play for Atlant. I hope that I can take part in the first home game against Amur, on Monday, September 21st. I’ve started to miss hockey and very much want to get on the ice. To be honest, I’m tired of training, I really want to play!
I’ll say honestly that I wasn’t able to conclude a contract in the NHL and as a result I made the decision to spend the current season in Russia. It’s not ruled out that in a year it will be possible for me to return to the NHL. I don’t rule out thoughts about it, anyway. But, the option that I will once again play next season with Moscow-area Atlant is quite possible.
The terms of Zherdev’s one year agreement were not disclosed, but Iskhakov, who coached Zherdev as a junior, revealled that the 24-year old forward has not become the team’s highest-paid player, noting the relatively modest sum will not further stress the club’s already difficult financial situation. Verevko echoed the Iskhakov’s words, saying: “The management of the club is touched by Nikolai Zherdev’s relationship toward our group,” adding “Nikolai has made human relationships, not the sum on the contract, the main thing.”
