"Nikita Filatov is saying all the right things to the Blue Jackets these days - he's training hard, excited about the club's new coaching staff, and planning to attend training camp in September.

To confirm all of this, Blue Jackets development coach Tyler Wright departed Columbus for Moscow yesterday, where he'll spend five days training, living and talking with the 20-year-old left winger.

"We haven't sat down with Nikita and talked since the World Junior (Championships in early January)," Howson said. "We just wanted Tyler to go over and reach out to him, find out how his training is going, let him know where we stand on him coming to training camp, and relay the expectations of our new coaching staff."

Wright declined to comment yesterday, saying he'd rather wait until after he returns on Sunday.

Howson stressed that there is no reason to doubt that Filatov will be attending training camp, even though he left the Blue Jackets last November to play in Russia on a one-year loan agreement.

"From everything we know," Howson said, "he's excited about coming."

Coach Scott Arniel has promised a clean slate with Filatov, but it remains to be seen where he might fit in the lineup."