Editing Nikolai Zherdev (section)

===Columbus Blue Jackets===
[[Image:Zherdev-columbus.png|thumb|Zherdev with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008]]Zherdev was drafted by Columbus in the [[2003 NHL Entry Draft]] with the fourth overall pick. At the time, Columbus [[general manager]] [[Doug MacLean]] stated that the team had Zherdev ranked number one on their draft list.
The [[2005–06 NHL season]] was a breakout year for Zherdev, who scored 27 goals and notched 27 assists in 73 games. He was the Blue Jackets' most potent offensive threat while [[Rick Nash]] recuperated from injury, and played most of the season on the team's first line.

The [[2006–07 NHL season]] was a low point for Zherdev, as he struggled to score consistently and frequently clashed with the Jackets' coaching staff, leading to repeated rumors that he might be traded before the [[2007–08 NHL season]] began. In response, Blue Jackets General Manager [[Scott Howson]] and then-coach [[Ken Hitchcock]] met Zherdev in a "clean-the-slate" meeting.<ref name="icebreaker">{{cite web |url=http://dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/08/30/jackets30.ART_ART_08-30-07_C1_AV7ON3P.html?sid=101 |title=New GM breaks the ice with Zherdev |accessdate=2008-02-08 |first=Aaron |last=Portzline |date=2007-08-30 |work=[[The Columbus Dispatch|dispatch.com]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004352/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2007/08/30/jackets30.ART_ART_08-30-07_C1_AV7ON3P.html?sid=101 |archivedate=2011-07-16 }}</ref> Following the meeting, Zherdev rediscovered success on the ice.<ref name="goodforwords">{{cite web |url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bluejackets/stories/2007/11/19/jackets_notes19.ART0_ART_11-19-07_C5_E88H7QP.html?sid=101 |title=Jackets notebook: Zherdev too good for words |accessdate=2008-02-08 |first=Tom |last=Reed |date=2007-11-19 |work=[[The Columbus Dispatch|dispatch.com]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523003656/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bluejackets/stories/2007/11/19/jackets_notes19.ART0_ART_11-19-07_C5_E88H7QP.html?sid=101 |archivedate=2011-05-23 }}</ref>

====Contract dispute====
Contract negotiations with Blue Jackets management following the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]] season became acrimonious. Zherdev threatened to remain in Russia for the season unless his demands were met, while Columbus insisted that Zherdev's salary demands were not commensurate with his accomplishments. On September 28, 2006, the parties finally agreed to a $7.5 million, three-year contract.<ref name="3Yr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179131 |title=Blue Jackets re-sign Zherdev |accessdate=2006-09-28 |publisher=[[The Sports Network|TSN.ca]] |year=2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929155318/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=179131 |archivedate=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>