"Nikita Filatov was buried so deep in Columbus that he will reappear on the other side of

the planet. Yesterday, it became official: Filatov, a gifted former first-round NHL draft pick, was loaned to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League. The first year of his NHL contract has been burned. It will be spent on another continent.

This is a hot topic among Blue Jackets fans, and for many reasons.

Does coach Ken Hitchcock have something against Russian players? That is one theory being espoused -- especially in Russia. First, Sergei Fedorov was picked on, then Nikolai Zherdev was shipped out, and now this.

Does Hitchcock's ego have room for world-class talent? He seems to go out of his way to praise any fourth-liner who will put his face in front of a fist or a puck but is quick to criticize any first-liner who shows any sign of, say, scoring.

Does Hitchcock's plan jibe with general manager Scott Howson's long-term vision? Surely, Howson cannot be happy with this latest twist in the Filatov saga. It is tinged with failure. Was it salvageable?"