"Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said yesterday that he has been committed to playing his young skill players regardless of the price.

"We've got a plan and we're willing to stick with it," Hitchcock said. "And if it costs me my job then it costs me my job, but there is a plan."

The coach and his team have lost 20 of the past 23 games, and questions regarding his future with the organization grow louder with each defeat.

Hitchcock has drawn criticism for his handling of youngsters such as center Derick Brassard, 22, and Nikita Filatov, 19, who returned to Russia in November unhappy with his playing time.

But yesterday Hitchcock defended the way he has played the likes of Brassard and Jake Voracek and the franchise's vision for the future.

"It would be easy to sit out young guys and play stop-gap (players), but we are not doing that," Hitchcock said. "We trust how good these guys are going to be.

"We have gone through growing pains with guys and we are going to stay with that program . . . I really see light at the end of the tunnel. I see where guys like Brassard and Voracek are at and where they were at six weeks ago, and there's a dramatic change.

Hitchcock was asked whether he were concerned about his job security and the increased scrutiny in recent days. He has received votes of confidence from team president Mike Priest and general manager Scott Howson."