I, like many CBJ fans, was shocked that Filatov was a healthy scratch last night.  The kid just came off his best game and to me, was the best offensive player in the 1st period against Phoenix.  His reward?  A handful of shifts the remaining two periods and a healthy scratch last night.

By this time last year both Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek were seeing regular shifts.

Here's Brassard's ice time at games 10, 11 & 12 last year:

16:33
12:10
17:02

Here's Voracek's:

16:23
14:27
12:18

Now here's Filatov's:

9:51
8:43
Healthy Scratch

All players develop differently but these are all elite blue chip talents.  Both of these guys didn't look much better or worse last season than Filatov at the same stage this season.  Some were better and further along in areas than others and vice versa but all can play at this level.

It's time to take the kid gloves off here and start asking some real questions.

I don't want to hear this kid isn't playing well enough to take a regular shift because that's crap.  This team is 1-4-1 over their past 6 -- ain't nobody playing well enough to take a regular shift with that kind of record.

I also don't want to hear the games are "too rich" or "competitive level too high".  That's bullsh** and everyone knows it.  How can a player get better if he doesn't experience these games and grow in them?

I'm also done with the spin from Hitch and co about getting pushed out of games because of penalties or that the team is deeper.

I want some real answers as to why he isn't playing.

He's either good enough to play or he isn't.  If he is then play him.  If he isn't then send him some place where he can bake and get good enough to be played.

The coaches either trust him or they don't.  Again if they don't then get him out of there.  This up and down yo-yo treatment isn't doing anyone any good.  You killing the kid's confidence and your killing his trade value.

There has to be more to this story... more going on behind the scenes that we as fans just aren't privy too.  It's the only explanation.

The organization of course would never air any dirty laundry if some exists but there are just too many moving parts here that just don't add up.  The clear double standard (has Juice for instance played any better than Filatov?), the benching even if he's playing well, the treatment of Brass and Jake last year compared to Filatov this year, the call up late last year so he could "experience the playoffs" from the press box, the tough love, the head scratching healthy scratches....  

Is the kid showing up late for practices?  Is he staying out too late painting the town?  Is he not taking any of this seriously? Did he bad mouth Hitch?  Did he break a law?  Bad attitude?  Bad teammate?

Who knows but something has to be going on off the ice here because I have eyes and just haven't seen this horrible play to warrant this yo-yo treatment.  Sure he's made his share of rookie mistakes but you know what... he's a rookie! I've seen veterans out there make a whole lot more than this kid.

Maybe it's the just the conspiracy theorist in me.

Regardless we are 12 games into this season and things don't appear to be getting better for the young Russian... In fact they appear to be getting worse.

The organization needs to figure out what to do with him because at this point it's becoming nothing but a distraction for a team that doesn't need distracted.

-LTL

Comments (3)

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written by Jacket61, October 31, 2009

Was wondering the same as you about last night. Was sitting down by Jason last night (Penguin Game and loved his heckling) and heard him telling a guy that he saw him at the R Bar at closing time. Not always big an rumors I hear, but thought I would pass it on.

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written by dcorson17, October 31, 2009

Completely agree. Keeping the fans in the dark is never the way to handle a situation.

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written by Mase1, November 01, 2009

LTL: As always, you've nailed it. What, is Hitch pulling a Branch Rickey move (a little baseball reference, fo ya and, in essensce, "hiding" Filatov? To that, I say, "STUPID!"

What, you don't think Niki's name wasn't thrown out there by the Brian Burke's and Brian Murray's, during trade talks?

Much as I admire Hitch's knowledge and judgement, this treatment makes NO SENSE. I believe your
conspiracy theory (Filatov, off-ice), holds a lot of weight...