Let’s backtrack a bit to what predicated the first series of healthy scratches, then to the more confusing second go-around of diminished ice time and healthy scratches.
Hitchcock and Filatov met – for about 10 minutes, right before the 4th game of the season, against the Calgary Flames – at center ice. By the accounts of the local print media, it was quite a scene as Hitchcock, tapping his stick, at times, on the ice, “informed” Filatov as to what’s expected of him, at the NHL level. What follows is what the local print media disclosed on the exchange/session – call it what you may:

Besides letting Filatov know he’d be a healthy scratch for that evening’s game, Hitchcock also emphasized that Filatov needs to be more competitive on the puck. In short, Hitch wants Filatov thinking “quality over quantity.”

But the most interesting element – is that both player and coach conceded that Nikolai Zherdev has been discussed in relation to Filatov’s development. If you recall, the relationship between Hitchcock and Zherdev wasn’t exactly rosy, although Hitchcock and GM Scott Howson did reach out and work with the enigmatic Zherdev, to the point of making him more productive, before trading him in July, 2008, to the New York Rangers.

Filatov seems genuinely receptive to following Hitchcock’s instruction, and has since worked on those recommended areas of improvement, and has demonstrated a willingness to compete on the puck and has generally improved in all facets of the game.
Then, more confusion – Part Deux.

Filatov gets the opportunity to get back into the lineup against the Phoenix Coyotes, on October 28th, this after a series of games in which Filatov was “healthy scratched” – not injured, just benched. Filatov responded by playing, quite easily, his best game of the season. While he didn’t factor into the lone goal of the first period, trust me, he was the most dominant offensive player on the ice for the CBJ.

Then, after logging over 6 minutes of quality ice time, Filatov got to play a whopping 2 shifts, totaling 1 minute and 40 seconds of ice time.

Hitchcock’s explanation for the sudden (ice time) drop? “Well, we were in a lot of special team situations”. Wait, isn’t the power play (PP) one of those special teams situations? The Blue Jackets, after the first period, after leading 1-0, were thoroughly dominated by the ‘Yotes, the rest of the way, losing 4-1. You mean to tell me, when the score was 2-1 and 3-1, and they were on the PP, that Filatov couldn’t have been on the PP unit? Now, remind me, who was on the PP unit when they scored their lone goal? Heck, I’ll answer it, for you – it was Filatov.

Filatov doesn’t see the ice, basically, for the rest of the game, but, more than a few veterans absolutely stunk up the joint. What was their “punishment”? Not only plenty of ice time, the remaining two periods, but, continued high ice time minutes the next few games.

Let me demonstrate this confusion, numerically, by comparing the TOI of Derek Brassard and Jake Voracek, at this time, last season – their first full season’s with the CBJ.

Brassard’s TOI – Games 10 – 12, 2008-2009 season:
16:33
12:10
17:02

Voracek’s TOI – Games 10 – 12, 2009-2009 season:
16:23
14:27
12:18

Filatov’s TOI – Games 10 – 12, 2009-2010 season:
9:51
8:43 (Phoenix game, Oct. 28th, per above)
Healthy Scratch

Now, the Blue Jackets organization reported that Filatov experienced back spasms, for the games in which he was scratched, both against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals; however, the organization also indicated that, even if Filatov was healthy, he would have been healthy scratched, for those games.
Then, still more confusion – Part Trois.

Filatov returned to the lineup against the San Jose Sharks, and logged a season high of 11:33 TOI. This was more due to a rash of injuries to the CBJ forwards than any reward, trust me. And, before you get too excited about that jump in TOI, Filatov then logged 5:48 TOI, last night, against the Thrashers, a team, one would think, given their propensity for full-throttle offensive pressure, would be tailor-made for someone like Filatov.

Last I checked, the San Jose Sharks apply that same kind of offensive pressure, combined with even more grittiness. The reason I mention the Sharks’ grit is the very reason Filatov has been healthy-scratched for the games in which he has been benched.

All players develop differently but Filatov, Brassard and Voracek are all, elite blue chip talents. Both Brassard and Voracek didn’t look much better or worse last season than Filatov did, at the same stage, this season.

Add to this, Ken Hitchcock’s assessment of Filatov’s talents – Hitch has gone on record and likened Filatov to another pretty decent Russian talent – a guy by the name of Pavel Bure, stating that Filatov is the type of player who, in one fail swoop – AKA the wicked wrister – can change the complexion of a game.
Now, I know the team is doing pretty well, leading the Central Division standings, with a 8-5-2 record, but, the team also started 5-1-0, so, the notion that Filatov isn’t playing well enough to take regular shifts and decent TOI, hold little, if any, weight. This team is 3-5-2 over their past ten games – no one, outside of Rick Nash, was playing well enough to log excessive minutes, in comparison to Filatov’s putrid minutes.

Filatov’s either good enough to play in the NHL, or he isn’t – if he is good enough, then play him. If he isn’t good enough to warrant TOI, then send him some place where he can obtain some experience – that plan sure worked for Kris Russell, when they sent him down, early last season, and, upon returning, took his game up a few notches, much closer to the team’s expectations.

The coaches either trust him or they don’t – if they don’t, please then, don’t leave him hanging. This treatment of Filatov isn’t doing anyone any good – the organization is killing his confidence and they’re killing his trade value, if that is, indeed, their possible intention. Last I recall, Filatov’s name was offered by other teams, during trade discussions, this past off-season and during last year’s trade deadline. I also seem to recall Filatov being ranked the no. 1 prospect in the NHL.

Which leads me to believe that there is more to this story…something, off-ice, that is the reason for this confusing, inconsistent, treatment of the budding superstar
Is Filatov showing up late for practices? Is he staying out too late, painting the town (pretty hard to do, BTW, in Columbus, Ohio)? Is he not dedicating himself, seriously, to the NHL? Has he broken any laws? Does he have a bad attitude? Is he a bad teammate? For those last two, all that has been reported is to the contrary, but, it could be spin – I recall the positive spin on Zherdev – a changed man, during his last season, here, only to be later told it hadn’t really improved, all that much. Ask NY Rangers fans – they witnessed his enigmatic ways, first hand.

Although, being a former auditor, I probably have a higher than normal conspiracy quotient, but, something is awry. I have watched Filatov play, every game, this season, and I haven’t seen this horrible play to warrant this inconsistent treatment. Sure, he’s made his share of rookie mistakes, but, last I checked, he’s a rookie!

As mentioned, above, there are veterans, on this team, during the 1-4-1 stretch, play far worse, only to keep logging the TOI. And, as mentioned in a previous article, it seems far too long a leash- status quo – for the veterans, and far too short a leash for this world-class talent. Let the kid play!

As a prologue to this article, Filatov scored the first, game-tying, goal against the Hurricanes, this past Saturday (11/7), and logged significant ice time (9:17 – well, for him, anyway). But, before you get too excited, again, keep in mind that several forwards are still banged up, so, when the troops return, and Filatov starts to incur significant, consistent minutes, I will admit to my error – but, I’m not counting on that happening, although I sure hope I’m proven wrong, to the benefit of Filatov and, ultimately, the organization.

For the uninitiated, who may have just returned from an extended stay on the International Space Station or perhaps awakened from a prolonged coma, Filatov was the Jackets first round pick in the 2008 entry draft. He wowed the locals with 4 goals in 8 games last season, including a home hat trick, before being returned to Syracuse, where he had a solid season. He was recalled as an observer for the stretch run and playoffs, just to experience the escalated intensity level of NHL Playoff hockey.

Big things are expected from the young Filatov, who has yet to see his 20th birthday. He is an enormous offensive talent, both as a pure shooter and passer, but has not previously been called upon to devote a lot of attention to the defensive zone. In the Hitchcock system, that just won’t do. So, while he notched a beautiful one-timer goal on the road in Vancouver, his minutes shrank in Phoenix, and he was a healthy scratch in a home game against Calgary. This has resulted in a rampage of online speculation ranging from assertions that Hitchcock doesn’t like Filatov, to his being sent back to the AHL, to his imminent defection to the KHL (more on this later). Columbus likes nothing better than a good conspiracy, so this story had all of the required elements. The problem is – there is no story!

First, to give the fans their due, they have been somewhat poisoned by the Nikolai Zherdev experience. Zherdev, the first round draft pick in 2003, was the NHL’s version of Manny Ramirez – a world class talent, prone to extended mental vacations, and utterly resistant to coaching. He would flash magnificent displays of ability, only to fade into obscurity, commit breathtaking blunders and deflect any responsibility for his poor play to others. He was sullen, isolationist and made little effort to learn English or become part of the community. Upon arriving in Columbus, GM Scott Howson and Coach Hitchcock quickly assessed the prospects for turning Zherdev around, and shipped him off to the New York Rangers, who learned what Columbus had known all along. New York declined to honor the arbitration award for $3.5 million Zherdev received, and after a brief flirtation with Atlanta, “Z” is now plying his trade in the KHL.

Whatever the temptations might be to compare Filatov with Zherdev, such comparisons are grossly unfair to Filatov. By all accounts, he is an affable, hard working kid and is well-liked in the locker room. Right now, he is learning how to ply his talents within a specific system, and that takes time. His confidence in the offensive zone and the ability to create space are currently tempered by the need to think about his responsibilities. In due course, these will become second nature, and his instincts will again take hold.

This adjustment process should be familiar to Columbus fans. When Hitchcock came on board, there was another offensive star who needed to work on his defensive end coverage and become integrated into Hitchcock’s system, a process that took the better part of a year. Big guy . . .wears #61 . . .yeah, Rick Nash. Like the Nash of old, Filatov likes to hang out in open areas near the top of his defensive zone, ready for a breakout. Hitchock wants his forwards fully engaged – digging pucks off the boards and being instrumental in clearing the zone. He is learning, and had about a ten minute center ice chat with Hitchcock on just that subject this week in practice.

The obsessive micro-focus on Filatov was exacerbated by an interview he gave in Russia, to a Russian journalist, which was translated and reprinted on several internet sites. He acknowledged having had offers from the KHL, but said that his dream was to play in the NHL, just like his hero, Ilya Kovalchuk. While remarking that he would be more inclined to listen to the KHL if things didn’t work out in the NHL, he made it clear that he was prepared to work hard to make his dream come true. This was interpreted as a threat by some of the more conspiracy-inclined members of the fan circles, heightening the paranoia level.

Keep in mind that it was this same group of fans that would scream every time Rick Nash gave an interview in Toronto, praising the city and the Leafs’ franchise, convinced that these were evil omens of his imminent defection. Of course, Nash signed a long term extension within about 72 hours of being eligible to do so, shooting down that theory. The point is that Filatov has a goal to succeed in the NHL, and is willing to work hard to do it. He doesn’t want to aggravate the Russian media, in the same way that Nash was diplomatic in Canada. Filatov has Olympic aspirations at some point, so does not want to be viewed as burning any bridges in his homeland. He also knows that he has a contractual commitment to the Blue Jackets, and has every intention of honoring it.

Howson and Hitccock have an opportunity with Filatov that they did not have with Zherdev – namely the chance to bring him along slowly and properly. Hitchcock is notoriously careful with rookies in what he perceives to be “heavy” games or close situations, and some of the low minute totals this season are attributable to those situations. More importantly, the goals that the club has for Filatov, and that he has for himself, are not goals that will be realized in 5 games, or 10, or 20. It will be a gradual process, where minutes and production move in tandem.

Filatov is going to score a lot of goals, and be a contributor for a long time to come. He is 19, and precisely 5 games into his first season as a full time member of the club. It is time for everybody to take a deep breath and let Filatov and Hitchcock do their work. Patience has it’s rewards.

Although Russian professional hockey dates back to 1946, the KHL was founded in 2008. It is the successor to the RSL, or Russian Super League. The KHL currently has 24 teams, 21 of which are located within the Russian Federation.

There have been talks about expanding the league’s map and adding teams across Europe in order to establish itself as one of the world’s top leagues.

As the list of former NHL players in the KHL grows, which now features familiar names such as Jiri Hudler, Sergei Zubov, Joakim Lindstrom, and Richard Zednik, we are left wondering what type of impact the Russian League could have on the NHL.

One reason that the KHL has been able to woo away NHL free agents is because they have been able to offer tax free, incentive laden contracts worth more than what most NHL teams are willing to pay for a player.

Although the KHL has had some success tapping into the European pool of talent, they have had virtually no success in luring away American and Canadian born players.

The KHL has also had trouble corralling young NHL talent. With a few exceptions, the players that have made the switch overseas have mainly been older, past their prime players such as Fedorov and Zubov.

So unless the KHL can somehow begin luring away North American talent, which is unlikely considering concerns such as playing conditions, medical care, and Russian culture, the chances of the KHL overtaking the NHL as the world’s hockey power seem dim.

The KHL is a growing league which has had some success in acquiring talent, but how long can the KHL last by throwing inflated contracts in the face of washed up NHL players?

The fact of the matter is that the majority of the talent is in the NHL. The NHL is the big dog of professional hockey, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Training camp begins Today!

I wonder. . .do you think he will learn English once he gets back to Russia?? Inquiring minds want to know . . .

До свидания!

Zherdev Update — Lyle Richardson at The Hockey News offers the following update on Z:

Nikolai Zherdev became an unrestricted free agent when the New York Rangers exercised their option to walk away from his one-year, $3.9-million arbitration award, but he will find it difficult to find another NHL suitor. Zherdev has undeniable offensive skills, with 119 points over the past two seasons split between the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, but he’s considered a lazy, one-dimensional player unable to elevate his game in pressure situations. Most reports about him involve clubs that aren’t interested in signing him, including the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild. A report in New York Newsday cited a rumor out of Toronto claiming the Maple Leafs might have interest in Zherdev, but his style of play certainly doesn’t make him a Brian Burke-type player. The Leafs are in the market for more scoring depth, but it’d be shocking if Burke signed Zherdev. Newsday reported Zherdev’s agent has suggested his client could sign with a Kontinental League team if there was nothing available for him in the NHL.

Sounds like a “fool me once, shame on you — fool me twice, shame on me” deal. Thank you, Scott Howson . . .

Another defenseman on the market? Richardson also reports that Hurricanes’ defenseman Anton Babchuck might be available:

Teams interested in a defenseman with offensive skills might want to get in touch with Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford, who recently told the Raleigh News & Observer of his plans to shop Anton Babchuk. A restricted free agent, Babchuk was unable to reach an agreement on a new contract with Rutherford. The defenseman posted good numbers last season with the Hurricanes (16 goals, 35 points, plus-13 in 72 games) and could be a good addition for teams seeking a puck-moving defenseman. Babchuk earned $1 million last season and will undoubtedly try to use his numbers to land something in the neighborhood of $2.5 million. If Rutherford fails to trade him before the start of this season, Babchuk could opt to play in Russia, which he did in 2007-08 during a contract dispute with the Hurricanes.

That is an interesting possibility, given that he is an RFA, depending upon the price. 25 years old, right-handed shot, 6’5″, 212 lbs — rated a top 4 defenseman by THN– sounds plausible. A bit concerned about his departure for KHL in 2007-2008, due to disagreements with Carolina management — don’t want another Zherdev around here. Certainly worth kicking the tires. Scott?

Raising Kane . . . Gotta love Patrick Kane being arrested for assault, robbery and theft of services in a dust up with a cab driver in Buffalo over . . . 20 cents. Hey, Pat — ever heard of tipping??? Smells like maybe an adult beverage or 12 were involved in this one. With the other major leagues getting fairly aggressive in coming down on conduct detrimental to the image of the game, wonder where Bettman will draw the line. Sure, he stepped up on the Sean Avery deal, but in the personal conduct area, that is analagous to letting all the murderers go except Charles Manson. There must be a line that is crossed far short of Avery’s antics. . .

Meanwhile, the waiting game continues, as teams search for the magic formula to clear some cap space and predict what the next few years will hold. Heatley, Marleau, Kessel — the list is pretty long. Likely to be a quiet week this week, but I think things will pick up after that, as we get inside the 30 day mark left before training camp. Fun to watch!

At first glance, this appears to be a very deep draft. Guys that would go in the top ten in a normal year may fall to the second half of the first round because of the plethora of talent. This bodes well for the Jackets since they will be picking outside the top ten for the first time ever.

Here are the Jackets previous first round picks
2000 – 4th, Rusty Klesla, D
2001 – 8th, Pascal Leclaire, G *
2002 – 1st, Rick Nash, W (traded up)
2003 – 4th, Nikolai Zherdev, W *
2004 – 8th, Alexandre Picard, W (traded down)
2005 – 6th, Gilbert Brule, C *
2006 – 6th, Derek Brassard, C
2007 – 7th, Jakub Voracek, W
2008 – 6th, Nkita Filatov, C/W

* No longer with the club.

Now looking ahead to this year, here is The Hockey News’ list of prospects 10-18:

10 – David Runblad (CAN), C
“He sees the ice well both offensively and defensively and he moves the puck well”

11 – Dmitri Kukikov (RUS), D
“Kukilov has proved to be a dynamic offensive defensemen. He scored more than a point per game during the season and was averaging two per game early on in the playoffs”. Also there is no worry about him wanting to return to Russia.

12 – Simon Despres (CAN), D
“On the positive side of the ledger, Despres is a good skater for a big man and plays a steady game. And while he leaves scouts wanting more, he may deliver on his promise.”

13 – O. Ekman-Larsson (SWE), D
“His skating and his offensive instincts are just out of this world.”

14 – Scott Glennie (CAN), C
“He has great hockey sense. He competes hard and has good offensive instincts.”

15 – Jacob Josefson (SWE), C
“He didn’t get a chance to show too much at the WJC, but he has made strides. He’s a smart offensive Swedish player and pretty good at both ends of the ice.”

16 – Zack Kassian (CAN), RW
“A lot of observers are throwing Milan Lucic’s name around when they speak of Zach Kassian, right down to the fact Kassian’s point and penalty minute totals this season are almost identical to Lucic’s in his draft year.”

17 – Ryan Ellis (CAN), D
“He looks like he’d be able to play the game sitting in a rocking chair. He’s so calm that he almost looks bored out there. He always has the puck and nobody is able to get it away from him.”

18 – John Moore (USA), D
“His skill level is off the charts in the USHL, but it’s his skating ability that will give him the best chance to play in the NHL.”

Three big areas the CBJ will need to address this offseason include the power play, the center position, and finding a scoring defenseman.

The Jackets power play ranked dead last in the league last year so that will obviously be an area of need going into next season. Expect the team to look for a proven forward who has the ability to create chances and throw the puck at the net on the pp. Some possible UFAs (unrestricted free agents) the Jackets could be interested in include Francois Beauchemin, Jaroslav Spacek, Jordan Leopold, Sergei Zubov, Johnny Oduya, or Mattias Ohlund.

Another concern heading into next season is the center position. With only Vermette and Brassard guaranteed back next year, the Jackets will most likely need to find a reliable centerman to run the 3rd or 4th line. The team will likely look to re-sign Malhotra but don’t be surprised to see them part ways with Peca and or Williams.

Also on the wish list is a scoring defenseman who can get pucks to the net and create opportunities from the point, especially on the pp.

Expect most of these areas to be addressed through UFAs but it is possible we could see some draft day trades again like we did last year in attempt to fill the holes.