How will this end ?? Will the mainstream press fuel the fire to the point where we have to trade him ?? Will he be OK playing for the cuse?? IMHO he hasn't shown enough to warrant a NHL roster spot, however there is no denying his talent.. Can we keep him around ?? What is your opinion !!

Hitch is a no BS kind of guy, and since Zherdev was a complete waste of time I doubt Hitch wants anything to do with Filatov at this point, especially considering we seem to have capable replacement talent. I don't think we'll see Filatov in the CBJ uni again.

I agree Hitch is a no BS kind of guy, and he didn't fit.. quite frankly he just isn't NHL ready YET.. but this is a major blow.. The KHL game is not going to help his NHL game a bit.. Now he's going to play big minutes in a lesser league with a completely different style of game and rink size... He will be playing against great players such as Mark Hartigan, Duvie Westcot, Federov and the former Predator Radulov. The reality is that if Filatov really wants to play in the NHL, he will have to play in the AHL and work his way up. He really needs to work on his all-round game in the AHL and play with the guys who will eventually be his teammates, now he's taking a step sideways... His decision to go play in the KHL instead of doing his dues in the AHL is in my opinion a little bit of a middle finger to the Blue Jackets... I am severely doubting if we see him in Columbus again...

I am hoping That the young 19/20 year old just wants to play some more and thinks playing in russia where he will get more ice time. Who intently listened to what Hitch wanted, Will go play the style game Hitch wants all the while getting himself 10-20 lbs. heavier so he can come back next year and be a top line player for the jackets.

If not then oh well, I dont see this team will draft a Russian in early rounds of the draft anytime soon.

the kid was a cancer in the locker room.
bitching , whining , ect.....
see ya.....


he'll grow and when he does, hopefully at wont be at our expense.

Your post "Failure to Launch" is outstanding. I cannot support your thinking enough on this one.

Sad to see re: Filatov, but the errors were plentiful - from interviewing to drafting to development to playing. They should trade his rights while they still have the chance. You think Atlanta might be interested as a means to entice Kovalchuk to stay?

Hey Dark!

I was actually just checking out your blog and your post on the subject and found it outstanding!!

Atlanta is definitely an interesting target. They have some pieces that may interest the Jackets. I'd give my left nut for Bogosian but they'd never part with him. Maybe a guy like Brian Little could be a place to start?

Great thought though.

Love your blog btw and thanks for the link back!

-LTL

LTL wrote:
I'd give my left nut for Bogosian but they'd never part with him.

Not even for a WORLD CLASS talent like Filatov? Give him a good Junior Worlds, and I think that Howson will pretty much be able to name his asking price within the NHL (on the presumption that Filatov agrees to play on the team in question.)

IMHO, I think that if, IF, he comes back to Columbus, I think they'll do one of two things: 1) Send him to Syracuse or 2) He'll play as a scratch for a while.

Off topic, if he could grow a beard too, my girlfriend would be content with him.