We will also preview the Winnipeg Jets game that brings back the joyous Claude Noel to the Nationwide Arena where he was interim coach after the firing of Ken Hitchcock who by the way was hired as the new coach of the St. Louis Blue who the Jackets just traded with and ….It’s getting confusing so you need to listen in to get it all straighten out on the soap opera that is “As The Blue Jackets Turn.”

Little of This, Little of That,” will bring in Jeff Little who will give us more Blue Jackets’ perspective and I’m guessing plenty of opinions on the team and their recent moves.

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm as you enjoy your Friday poker night.

Eric Smith
“Fire The Cannon”
Host/Producer

“Fire The Cannon” past guests:

Blue Jackets – General Manager Scott Howson, Asst. GM Chris MacFarland, R.J. Umberger, Derick Brassard, Kristian Huselius, Derek Dorsett, John Moore, Grant Clitsome, Matt Calvert, Ryan Johansen, Will Weber, Cam Atkinson, Allen York, Asst Coach Brad Berry, Asst Coach Dan Hinote, Springfield coach Rob Riley

Former Jackets – Jason Chimera, Clay Wilson, Tom Sestito

Hockey Experts – CBJ radio play-by-play George Matthews, TV play-by-play Jeff Rimer, TV color analyst Bill Davidge, radio color analyst Bob McElligott, Springfield Falcons radio play-by-play Mike Kelly, Greg Wyshynski, Scott Morrison, Andy Strickland, Craig Custance, Tim Sassone, Ft. Wayne Komets play-by-play Bob Chase, Adrian Dater, Patrick O’Neal, Mike Colligan, Tom Reed, Scott Torgerson, Rob Kunz

We will also have Stephen Whyno from the Washington Times who will be able to preview the Capitals, talk about former Blue Jacket Jason Chimera and his strong thoughts on him being a healthy scratch, the return of Alex Ovechkin and much more.

Justin Boggs from ColumbusWired.net is our writer of the week in our “5 in 5″ segment which will answer fans questions about the Blue Jackets.

We’ll also have our prospect of the week award and some “He said, She said.”

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm Wednesday night.
 
Eric Smith
“Fire The Cannon”
Host/Producer

Matt Wagner from The Cannon will have our writer of the week in our “5 in 5″ segment which will answer fans questions about the Blue Jackets.

We’ll also have our prospect of the week award and some “He said, She said.”

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm Wednesday night.

Eric Smith
“Fire The Cannon”
Host/Producer

“Fire The Cannon” past guests:

Blue Jackets – General Manager Scott Howson, Asst. GM Chris MacFarland, R.J. Umberger, Derick Brassard, Kristian Huselius, Derek Dorsett, John Moore, Grant Clitsome, Matt Calvert, Ryan Johansen, Will Weber, Cam Atkinson, Allen York, Asst. Coach Bob Boughner, Asst Coach Brad Berry, Asst Coach Dan Hinote, Springfield coach Rob Riley

Former Jackets – Jason Chimera, Clay Wilson, Tom Sestito

Hockey Experts – CBJ radio play-by-play George Matthews, TV play-by-play Jeff Rimer, TV color analyst Bill Davidge, radio color analyst Bob McElligott, Greg Wyshynski, Scott Morrison, Andy Strickland, Craig Custance, Tim Sassone, Ft. Wayne Komets play-by-play Bob Chase, Adrian Dater, Patrick O’Neal, Mike Colligan, Tom Reed, Scott Torgerson, Rob Kunz

GreenSeatView.com site will have our writer of the week in our ”5 in 5″ segment which will answer fans questions about the Blue Jackets.

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm Thursday night.

Eric Smith
“Fire The Cannon”
Host/Producer

Also, Bart Logan from HockeyBuzz.com will be our writer of the week in our “5 in 5″ segment who will answer questions from the fans.

We will dive head first into the trades that were executed by Columbus GM Scott Howson who sent original Blue Jacket Rusty Klesla to Phoenix for Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto. We also will focus in on the deal that sent fan favorite Tom Sestito to Philadelphia for centers Greg Moore and Michael Chaput.

We’ll also have our ‘Prospect of the Week’ award and review how the new Jackets did in their first outing with the club.

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm Wednesday night.

Eric Smith

The show will also have Matt Goshert, founder of the Arch City Army, will invade the ‘Fire The Cannon’ show. We’ll find out where the idea came from, what he hopes it will grow into and what does the Blue Jackets think of the group.

Also, Jeff Little from TenMinuteMisconduct.com will be our writer of the week in our “5 in 5″ segment which will get the Jackets fanbase up to date on their prospects.

We’ll also have our prospect of the week award and some “He said, She said.”

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm Wednesday night.

Eric Smith

The show will also have Eklund from HockeyBuzz.com who will let us know what the latest and hottest rumors are on the NHL trade front as many teams are not waiting for the trade deadline to make their deals. Are the Blue Jackets going to make a move and what players may be in play.

Also, Jas Chaffin from FireTheCannon.com will be our writer of the week in our “5 in 5″ segment which will get the Jackets fanbase up to date on their prospects.

We will also have the latest on the Derick Brassard and R.J. Umberger injuries, preview the Blackhawks game and as always a look at the standings.

You won’t want to miss this show and it all starts at 7pm Thursday night.

Eric Smith

The last we see of Filatov in a Blue Jackets sweater?

After rumors started circulating yesterday, the Blue Jackets announced this afternoon that winger Nikita Filatov has been loaned to CSKA Moscow for the remainder of the season. The prize Russian prospect will play out the rest of the year in the KHL. While the move may have materialized quickly, the ground works have been set for some time.
It has been reported that Filatov’s development, or lack-there-of, has been a point of contention between general manager Scott Howson and head coach Ken Hitchcock. Filatov was a preseason Calder canidate after he made waves in eight games with the Jackets last season, including a hat trick against Minnesota. Many saw Filatov as the best player not in the NHL last season, but his 2009-2010 has not gone according to plan.
In 13 games with the Jackets this season, Filatov registered two goals on just 11 shots; he had four goals on ten shots last year. The diminutive winger has been a healthy scratch in six games this season, including last night’s shootout victory over Edmonton. In his 13 games, he’s averaged just north of eight minutes of ice time. He has had limited opportunity to crack the top six. Instead spending his limited ice time with the likes of Rick Nash, Jake Voracek, or Antoine Vermette, he has been plying his trade with on lines with Jared Boll, Mike Blunden, and Andrew Murray. Not exactly skill players. That’s what it comes down to.
Hitchcock won’t give youngsters ice time unless they earn it in his eyes. Sure there is always the potential for Filatov to make plays. However, while the potential may be there, the on ice product has been a different story. Filatov has played very poorly away from the puck, and carelessly when he has had it. He turned over the puck three times in one shift late in the second versus Anaheim, in a 2-2 game. That doesn’t cut it on a Hitchcock hockey team.
Is this the best move for Nikita Filatov and the Jackets? Hardly. While little Nikita will assuredly get the ice time on CSKA Moscow, along with the opportunity to play for Russia in the World Junior Championships, Blue Jackets brass cannot be comfortable with the deal. Rumors of a KHL departure began swirling in the off-season, and one has to believe that the Filatov-Hitchcock relationship has been damaged this season. Hopefully it is not irreparable. Scott Howson believes that the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft will be back for training camp next year. Filatov has echoed the sentiment and continues to claim that he wants to play in the NHL. Hey Nikita, you were playing in the NHL.
It’s hard to take one side or another as details are still being revealed. This lone just doesn’t sit comfortably. There is precedent and Filatov will not be the only Jackets prospect playing overseas. Lesser defensive

prospect Andrei Plekhanov is playing the season with Dynamo Moscow. The Blue Jackets have loaned players to European teams before, but with no transfer agreement between the KHL and NHL, it would not take a lot for things to take a turn for the worse.
With the contracts of Fredrick Modin, Raffi Torres, Andrew Murray and Jared Boll all coming off the books at the end of this season, It’s likely Filatov will have a better shot at cracking into the top six next season. He’ll also get the opportunity to grow and add muscle, something Hitchcock would definitely like to see. He’ll be playing in probably the best league talent-wise, outside of the NHL. Despite trying to put a positive spin on it, it’s still hard to stomach the move and this will not be the last we hear of it this season.
Comments welcome.

- Bart Logan
bartftc@gmail.com
Twiter: BartFTC