I was wondering what Cool-Aid Peter Laviolette may have consumed all those summer weeks in the Tammpa area with his family.
Wondering because he is so "excited" about Nikolai Zherdev and doesn't seem to have a single, concern about where this guy's head might be on or off the ice.
“I look forward to him getting here and working with him,” Laviolette told me. “It’s a great opportunity for the Flyers to pick up a guy like him. It’s a great signing by Paul Holmgren. And a great opportunity for Zherdev.”
Look, I was willing to give Ray Emery a second chance. And were it not for a debilitating hip injury, I think Emery might have been the success story of the 2009-10 season in the entire NHL. We'll never know.
But just as with Emery, I don't give carte blanche to Zherdev coming into Philly and not having concerns. That's wearing blinders.
The Flyers have not proven to me in several light years that they are capable of having a Russian player stand alone on their team (yeah, he's Ukraine, but he spent so much time in Russia, he's Russian at this point), without a support system.
Zherdev is the one guy in the NHL who needs just that.
Paul Holmgren told me today he talked to Zherdev about the very question I raised: does he need another Russian in the room?
Holmgren said he was satisfied the current "support" system is in lace on the Flyers to help Zherdev because Zherdev assured him it was not necessary. Which is why Ruslan Fedotenko is not here. I think the Flyers should have gone after Feds once they signed Zherdev. I mean, Feds only has 2 Stanley Cups in which he was a key contributor, right?
Anyway, the last happy Russian Flyer? D. Yushkevich? I rest my case w/that.
I hope I'm wrong.
Laviolette seemed ecstatic over Zherdev. We'll see...
BTW: The Flyers have lines prepared going into camp and you can see them on CSNPhilly.com ... Also, an update on contract negotiations w/J. Carter and C. Giroux...
Here's my story on CSNPhilly.com:
click here 
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»