Start Spreading The News, Z's Leaving Today . . .

My apologies to John Kander and Fred Ebb, the composer and lyricist, respectively, of New York, New York, for taking liberties with their song in the header -- but it was too perfect to pass up.

Anyway, as expected, CBC is reporting here that the Rangers are walking away from the $3.9 million dollar arbitration award handed down to perennially troubled winger Nikolai Zherdev, thereby making Niki an unrestricted free agent. Let the speculation begin!!

Before anybody starts charging off in the wrong direction, Puck-Rakers is already reporting that the Jackets are not interested in staging a reunion with Z.

So, what is next? Here's a hint . . . .

Континентальная хоккейная лига

Stop Me If You Have Heard This One Before . . .

Work has been a nightmare for the past few weeks, so I have been unforgiveably absent from the blogosphere for that period of time.  For better or worse, I am back, and am working on several pieces on the draft, broadcasters, etc.  Watch this space!

Anyway, could not resist the opportunity to point everyone to this piece, written by one of my colleagues over at Inside Hockey, bemoaning the mercurial Nikolai Zherdev, his lack of work ethic, consistency and long term reliability.  He concludes that the Rangers cannot afford to sign Z this summer, and should package him while they can.  

So, does this refrain sound at all familiar to anyone???  All hail, Scott Howson . . . we are not worthy!!!