Zherdev agrees to 1-year deal with the Flyers

After more than 3 days of negotiations and fact checking, the Flyers finally came to terms with free agent winger Nikolai Zherdev to bring him back to the NHL.

Zherdev, 25, inked a 1-year deal worth $2 million.

After playing last season in Russia with Atlant Mystishchi, Zherdev reportedly set his asking price at $4 million, just $100,000 more than a salary arbitrator awarded him last summer. That price was too high for the New York Rangers, who let the then-restricted free agent walk.

Zherdev's signing was hardly surprising since the talks were first reported on Wednesday, but the lower number is a collective sigh of relief for Flyers fans.

"Nik is a highly skilled player, who at 25 years old, we feel will be a good fit to our core of forwards," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Prior to playing last season in Russia, Nik ranked as one of the top young point-producers in the NHL. We are pleased to add him to our team."

Last season, Holmgren plucked Ray Emery out of the same Russian league to be the Flyers' starting goaltender at a bargain price, giving Emery a chance to atone for his personal problems in Ottawa.

Similarly, few have questioned Zherdev's talent but his critics always wonder about his mental approach and consistency. Zherdev has never been willing to contribute defensively or to dig pucks out of the corners. He is a career minus-46.

But he can score. In 2008-09 with the Rangers, Zherdev posted 23 goals and 58 points over 82 games. In five NHL seasons, the former No. 4 overall pick has scored more than 25 goals twice and more than 50 points three times.

The Bruins, Islanders and Devils also made an offer to Zherdev, who was not available for comment yesterday.

While the 6-2 Zherdev beefs up the Flyers at the wing position, his addition leaves question marks elsewhere.

Zherdev's signing officially puts the Flyers $1,422,262 over the NHL's $59.4 million salary cap. The team has 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies under NHL contracts. Teams are allowed to be 10 percent over the cap until the first day of the regular season (Oct. 7) but the Flyers are the only team currently over.

Even if the Flyers waive Riley Cote and Oskars Bartulis and head into next season with 20 players, they will still be more than $300,000 over the cap. Simon Gagne, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell all have no-trade clauses.

One report in Canada this week said the Flyers were waiting to announce Zherdev's signing until they found a trade partner for Gagne and his $5.25 million contract. As of last night, the Flyers had not found a suitor.

Sources told the Daily News last week Gagne agreed to waive his no-trade clause if the right opportunity presented itself but he publicly denied that claim in a French-Canadian television interview this week. Los Angeles, which has reportedly been the team most interested in Gagne, has not been able to nail down a deal with free agent superstar Ilya Kovalchuk.

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers.