Photo: Avangard Omsk

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.

Photo: HK Atlant

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.”

Russian web site Sports Planet is reporting that unrestricted free agent Nikolai Zherdev has signed with the Moscow-area club Atlant of the KHL.  At the moment, however, it’s nothing more than another unsubstantiated rumor, as there has been no confirmation of the signing on Atlant’s web site.

The Sports Planet article cites no source, and seems to weigh the fact that Zherdev has been seen at Atlant’s home arena while the team is away on a road trip as evidence in favor of their report.  But Zherdev has been spotted at the arena numerous times in the past month as he prepares for the upcoming season.

The Sports Planet article also suggests that the presence of Zherdev’s former junior coach, Ravil Iskhakov, on the Atlant staff was influential in the signing.

This is not the first “Zherdev to Atlant” rumor that’s surfaced this off-season.  Earlier in the summer Iskhakov went on record saying Zherdev might begin preparing for the season with Atlant — as he did in 2006 when contract negotiations with Columbus dragged out.

Zherdev has gone on record numerous times this summer saying he wants to continue his career in the NHL and most recently was hopeful a deal could be worked out with the Atlanta Thrashers.  However, that deal appears to have stalled as the Thrashers are said to be waiting to see how top prospect Evander Kane performs in training camp before handing Zherdev his potential roster spot.

Just yesterday, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that Zherdev’s agent contacted New York Rangers General Manager Glen Sather to offer his client’s services for the original $3.25m qualifying offer he and his client refused earlier this summer.  According to Brooks, his offer was refused.

Atlant isn’t one of the KHL’s deep pocket teams, so it’s unlikely they’d be able to pay Zherdev anywhere near the $3.9m he was awarded by an arbitrator this summer.  For now, it would appear Atlant will remain Zherdev’s fall-back option, a last resort should a deal with an NHL club fail to materialize.  I’m not sure he’s at that point just yet, regardless of Sports Planets report.