Free agent signee Nikolai Zherdev did not arrive in the United States in time to make it to the veterans' informal skate yesterday. Zherdev has had visa issues entering the country from Russia . . . Mike Richards is not yet back in the Philadelphia area. Richards, Scott Hartnell and Chris Pronger (knee) were the only other veterans not on the ice. Pronger, who was at the rink rehabbing, is unlikely to be ready during the preseason . . . Ville Leino (hip) and Blair Betts (shoulder) are both recovering from offseason surgeries and appear to be on-track for a normal training camp.