"Nikita Filatov could have been on a plane from Russia to Columbus last Sunday, free to return to the Blue Jackets to finish the 2009-10 NHL season after his CSKA Moscow club was swept out of the Continental Hockey League playoffs. But Filatov remains in Russia. He has no travel plans, not to central Ohio, anyway.

Will he ever be on his way to Columbus?

The Blue Jackets have stayed in contact with Filatov the last few months, mostly through Russian scout Artem Telepin. But neither general manager Scott Howson nor anybody from the team's hockey operations department has had any discussions with Filatov about finishing what he started in Columbus this season. He played 13 games with the Blue Jackets and was scratched in six others before returning to Russia in November.

The relationship between Filatov and the Blue Jackets has not devolved into a Cold War, but clearly it's turned chilly.

The Blue Jackets were reluctant to rush Filatov back to Columbus when his Russian season ended, worried that bringing him back into the dressing room would send a poor message to the veteran players who are trying to take ownership of the room."