"Rookie left winger Nikita Filatov is leaving the Blue Jackets to return to his native Russia, The Dispatch has learned.
The Blue Jackets today reached a one-year loan agreement with CSKA-Moscow of the Contental Hockey League. Filatov will play his first game in Russia on Saturday.
"Everybody had high expectations for him," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said. "I still have high expectations for him.
"It's just not happening as soon as we'd hoped, but that's OK, too."
The Blue Jackets have been assured that Filatov will return to Columbus next fall for training camp, Howson said. They own Filatov's NHL rights through at least the 2016-17 season.
Many expected Filatov, 19, to challenge for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given each season to the NHL's top rookie.
But he has found it difficult to earn the trust of Hitchcock, who has earned a reputation during his long coaching career of making life difficult for young players.
In 19 games this season, Filatov was a healthy scratch six times, including yesterday's 3-2 shootout win over Edmonton. When he has dressed, Filatov has averaged 8 minutes, 7 seconds of ice time, ahead of only fourth-liners Jared Boll and Mike Blunden."
