As of now Rangers right wing Nikolai Zherdev is still a restricted free agent. But after his recent arbitration hearing, that could change by Tuesday.
Zherdev was awarded a $3.9 million salary for the 2009-10 season by an arbitrator on Sunday, giving the Rangers until Tuesday at noon to decide if they want to accept that salary. If the Rangers choose not to, Zherdev would become an unrestricted free agent. However, the Rangers could accept the deal and then trade Zherdev as well.
In his first season with the Rangers in 2008-09, Zherdev scored 23 goals and added 35 assists to tie Scott Gomez for the team lead in points with 58. He also tallied 39 penalty minutes, but failed to record a point in the Rangers' seven postseason games.
