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Nikita Filatov News & Rumors

Filatov's rights sent to Binghamton
December 18
Ottawa Sun
 
"The never-ending Nikita Filatov saga has taken another bizarre twist. The Senators winger, who asked to be allowed to return to Russia if he wasn't going to play with Ottawa and got his wish, couldn't come to a contract agreement with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. As a result, Senators GM Bryan Murray moved Filatov's rights to Binghamton Saturday."
Filatov 'gamble not over yet' for Sens
December 13
Ottawa Sun
 
"If Nikita Filatov really does have a desire to get back to the NHL next season, it will either be as a Senator or to a team that is generally managed by a Bryan Murray trading partner. Upon announcing that he is allowing the 21-year-old Russian's return to the KHL's CSKA Moscow, Murray said he would make a qualifying offer to Filatov when he becomes a restricted free agent in July. "We won't retain his rights if we don't," said Murray. "I'm saying today we will retain his rights."
Filatov off to Russia instead of Bingo
December 12
Ottawa Sun
 
"Nikita Filatov is heading back to Russia. The Senators have given the 21-year-old winger permission to return to the KHL's CSKA Moscow. Filatov, who had one assist in nine games for Ottawa, was reluctant to spend part of the season in Binghamton. As a healthy scratch the last five games, he could no doubt see a demotion in the cards. The Senators will retain the rights of the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft by making Filatov a qualifying offer when he becomes a restricted free agent in July."
Kuba out, Filatov likely back for Sens
December 1
Ottawa Sun
 
"Senators winger Nikita Filatov was fortunate to escape serious injury when he was accidentally kicked in the face by Winnipeg's Eric Fehr Tuesday night. As it turns out, he does not have a broken nose, as the team reported following the game, and should be in the lineup when the Senators take on the Dallas Stars Thursday night at Reunion Arena. It appears the Senators will not be so lucky with regards to defenceman Filip Kuba, who suffered an "upper-body" when he was rammed into the boards and did not return. Coach Paul MacLean says Kuba's particiaption against the Stars is "doubtful." Kuba, who had a terrible season in 2010-11, has been a key member of the team's penalty kill and solid"
Filatov needs to suck it up
November 20
Ottawa Sun
 columnist Jason York
"When the news came out that Nikita Filatov was unhappy to be playing for the Senators' farm team in Binghamton, I was surprised. And when there were further rumours of Filatov wanting to play in the Kontinental Hockey League instead of working on his game and showing some character to get back to the NHL, I was disappointed, then a little ticked off. First things first. Nobody is happy to be in the minors. If you are, there's something wrong with you. Every player wants to be in the NHL. I played in the minors for three years before I became a full-time NHLer and I played with and against many players who put in their time, worked hard and didn't complain, at least not to the media, that"
Filatov wants out; Sens say not so fast
November 17
Ottawa Sun
 
"Nikita Filatov wants to take the money and run ... all the way back to Moscow. Senators GM Bryan Murray confirmed Wednesday the 21-year-old prospect isn't happy playing with the club's AHL affiliate in Binghamton and asked for his release, so he can suit up for the Central Red Army in the KHL. In a meeting last Sunday, when the Baby Sens were at Scotiabank Place for a game, Murray told Filatov he won't be going anywhere soon and that he might to wait until the end of November before making a decision. "He has some concern about being in Binghamton. He wants to be in the NHL," Murray said at Rexall Place as the Senators geared up to face the Oilers on Thursday. "There are some options for"
Sens unsure what they have in Filatov
September 18
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Nikita Filatov's name alone inspires a fair degree of intrigue. The movie Nikita, later adapted to a TV series, was centred around a rogue assassin trying to shut down a secret United States agency. Then there was Elton John's 1985 Cold War-themed hit Nikita, looking at the life of former Soviet Union boss Nikita Khrushchev. So, perhaps it's only fitting that Nikita Filatov is offering up a mysterious thriller of his own at the Ottawa Senators training camp. Will he finally showcase the skill that led the Columbus Blue Jackets to select the slick Russian sixth overall in the 2008 draft? Could he possibly find a home on left-wing alongside Jason Spezza? Or, will Filatov be the same player"
Sens will give Filatov big chance
September 18
Ottawa Sun
 
"It didn't take long for new coach Paul MacLean to start experimenting. As Team Boschman skated on to the ice for the first session of Senators camp Saturday at the Bell Sensplex, veteran centre Jason Spezza had Bobby Butler and newcomer Nikita Filatov on the wings as the 2011-12 team officially started to take shape. While it's going to be a while before any decisions are made, the trio has a chance to start the season together if they show they've got chemistry during the exhibition games that start Monday against the Leafs in Toronto. Though Spezza has had success in the past with Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson, MacLean said last week he doesn't want to start camp with that line"
Russian Filatov arrives in Ottawa for development camp
June 30
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Nikita Filatov had been awake for only a few moments before he turned on his computer and discovered that he had been traded to the Ottawa Senators. So he was initially surprised. But he was also excited because the trade represented a chance for him to jump-start his career, which, since he was drafted in 2008, has been one of unfulfilled expectations. "It's a new opportunity for me," he said Wednesday morning, during a break at the Senators development camp. It was his first meeting with the Ottawa media since the Saturday deal at the NHL entry draft."
Senators bet on new coach's ability to get more out of enigmatic Filatov
June 26
Ottawa Citizen
 
"It could be one of the shrewdest moves of Bryan Murray's career, the acquisition of a top-six forward and left winger for Jason Spezza for next to nothing, a mere third-round draft pick. Or it could be the repetition of a mistake the Columbus Blue Jackets made in 2008, when they couldn't resist the promise of offensive talent and made Nikita Filatov the sixth pick overall in the National Hockey League draft. Whatever it turns out to be, Murray's acquisition of the Russian left-winger, a problem for the Blue Jackets since they drafted him, is a gamble. What a way for new head coach Paul MacLean to start his career in Ottawa: with a player who might not be coachable. After all, Filatov was"
Blue Jackets trade Nikita Filatov to Senators for draft pick
June 26
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets' inability to land many elite players with their first-round draft picks has crippled the organization in its first decade. One hole was patched, the Jackets hope, by Thursday's trade for center Jeff Carter from Philadelphia. But the club's draft woes were illustrated again yesterday during the second day of the NHL draft in the Xcel Energy Center. Left winger Nikita Filatov, the No.6 overall selection in 2008, was traded to the Ottawa Senators for a third-round pick (No.66). Filatov had requested a trade 10 days ago, Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said, but he could have saved his agent the phone call - Howson said he planned to trade him anyway. "It was just"
Sens trade third-round pick for Nikita Filatov
June 25
Ottawa Citizen
 
"The Senators might have found their top six forward. In a surprise move, the Senators traded their third-round pick, 66th overall, for wayward Russian forward Nikita Filatov. Filatov was the top-ranked European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and was selected sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Before he was drafted, he played for CSKA Moscow in their minor and junior hockey systems. He has played two seasons in North America, splitting time between the Blue Jackets and their previous AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch."
Blue Jackets send Filatov to Senators
June 25
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have traded much-maligned winger Nikita Filatov to Ottawa for a third-round pick (No. 66) in today's NHL entry draft. It brings an end to a turbulent relationship between Filatov and the Jackets, who chose him sixth overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft."
Senators acquire Filatov from Blue Jackets for 3rd round pick
June 25
TSN.ca
 
"The Ottawa Senators acquired Nikita Filatov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a third round pick in this year's Entry Draft on Saturday."
Offense from Filatov still missing in AHL
January 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It has been roughly three weeks since the Blue Jackets sent winger Nikita Filatov to minor-league Springfield with the hope that he would rediscover his offensive touch. They're still waiting. In eight games with the Falcons, Filatov has one goal, three assists, a plus-2 rating and just 14 shots on goal. "(Filatov is) not dominating games at that level like you'd maybe like to see, but he's still a young player who's getting acclimated," said Blue Jackets assistant general manager Chris MacFarland, who keeps a close eye on the Falcons. "His attitude has been fine. His work ethic has been fine." Because of injuries, Springfield has dressed 11 forwards on some nights, forcing coach Rob Riley"
Filatov Sent To Minors
December 11
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have assigned left winger Nikita Filatov to minor-league Springfield, The Dispatch has learned. Winger Tom Sestito will be recalled and is expected to dress against the New York Rangers on Saturday. Filatov's U.S. agent, Don Meehan, told The Dispatch that Filatov will report to Springfield and play for the Falcons. He would not make any further comment. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson said he's been considering a demotion for Filatov for at least the last week. Despite playing in 23 games -- many of them on the Jackets' No. 2 line -- Filatov has no goals and seven assists. Even on the power play, Filatov has failed to be a dangerous player, and seems to be shying away from"
Filatov, without a goal, remains an enigma
November 28
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel has demonstrated considerable patience with Nikita Filatov. He has probably shown more restraint than some fantasy league owners with the second-line winger, who trails the knuckle-busting likes of Darcy Hordichuk and Derek Boogaard in goal scoring. On the ice, statistics alone don't determine a player's value. It's why Arniel rarely mentions them in discussions with Filatov. But with the season at the quarter pole and Filatov without a goal, his lack of production is becoming hard to ignore. On Friday, Arniel benched Filatov, who appeared nervous and bereft of confidence in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. As the Central Division rivals meet again"
Slump weighs on Filatov
November 10
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Nikita Filatov appreciates that his coaches are happier with his competitive level. The Blue Jackets winger is glad teammates recognize his willingness to block a key shot as he did last week in a 3-0 win against Montreal. But Filatov knows the Jackets didn't use the No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft to develop a 185-pound, shot-blocking grinder. "For forwards and especially guys like me, I have to start scoring goals," Filatov said. The 20-year-old forward has two assists and no goals heading into tonight's game against the St. Louis Blues. Nobody in the organization is saying publicly that Filatov needs to produce. That's because nobody has to. He understands the Jackets are"
Filatov out of coach's doghouse
November 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Nikita Filatov's exile to the Blue Jackets' fourth line lasted five games. The left winger arrived at Nationwide Arena yesterday to learn that he's back in good graces with coach Scott Arniel and back among the club's top two lines. Filatov will open on the No. 2 line with center Antoine Vermette and right winger R.J. Umberger tonight when the Blue Jackets play the Montreal Canadiens in Nationwide. He's also back on the power play, likely joining the second unit. "It feels really good," Filatov said. "I think the way back was way faster than I expected. "I have to play my game, show what the coach expects from me. Obviously I have to finally score a goal, and play good to help other guys"
Filatov shows improvement
October 29
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Nikita Filatov's minutes have been down, but his chin has remained up. That's one difference from a season ago when the Blue Jackets left winger found himself in a similar situation and couldn't hide his frustration and disappointment. He's taking a different approach to dealing with adversity, and last night he was rewarded for his effort. Coach Scott Arniel used the 20-year-old in the third period and the shootout, where he scored the clinching goal in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Nationwide Arena. Captain Rick Nash and Filatov scored for the Jackets in the shootout. Filatov beat Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk with a backhanded shot that he put just under the cross bar - the"
Filatov looks too much like Zherdev II
October 26
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"Nikolai Zherdev last month changed his first name to "Nikolay" to match his passport. Reportedly, the change was precipitated when he had trouble cashing a check. The bank didn't know who he was. Who does? Zherdev, of the Philadelphia Flyers, last night returned to Nationwide Arena, his one-time home. He has returned as a visitor before, of course. He came back in October 2008 as a New York Ranger and pinned three points on his old club. Yesterday morning, he smiled at the memory. Last night, he sat a few stick-lengths away from Nikita Filatov, and their proximity was a source of intrigue. They are linked in many ways. In Columbus, their ties bind. Zherdev and Filatov are friends and"
Filatov understands why he got benched
October 22
Columbus Dispatch
 
"On a night best remembered for empty seats, Nikita Filatov made news for taking a seat. The Blue Jackets left winger was benched for the final 13 minutes of the club's 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Coach Scott Arniel did not like Filatov's competitive level and removed him from the struggling second line. It's the first bit of adversity the 20-year-old has confronted since returning from Russia. Yesterday, he accepted responsibility for his poor game and said he appreciated the constructive criticism from his new coach. "I made a couple of mistakes. I didn't get the puck out of the zone, had a stupid (delay-of-game) penalty," Filatov said. "Of course, I was pretty"
Filatov returns after shaky departure
August 4
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets left winger Nikita Filatov has never arrived in central Ohio this far ahead of training camp, but he has never had so much to prove, either. General manager Scott Howson said Filatov was to land in Columbus last night, giving him six weeks to meet new faces, mend old fences and gear up for the start of camp Sept. 17. "It's a great step for him to take," Howson said. "We've talked about him coming over early in prior seasons, and he has, but never this early." It's unclear when Filatov will set foot in Nationwide Arena - it could be as soon as today, Howson said - but lots of folks will be waiting to greet him. Coach Scott Arniel said he has played phone tag with Filatov but"
Filatov geared up for return
July 15
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets development coach Tyler Wright has returned from Russia with good news regarding Nikita Filatov. Filatov, considered the top prospect outside the NHL by The Hockey News only one year ago, is working out daily, excited to return to the NHL this season, and planning to arrive in Columbus in early or mid-August, about a month ahead of the Blue Jackets' training camp. That was the messaged delivered from Wright to general manager Scott Howson, who has decreed that all public comments by the organization regarding Filatov will run through him. "The trip went very well," Howson said. "Tyler worked out with him, saw him working out and had lots of conversations with Nikita. "Tyler"
Jackets send Wright to Russia to meet with Filatov
July 7
Columbus Dispatch
 
"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"
Filatov: I'm Coming Back to Columbus
April 24
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets left winger Nikita Filatov has told The Dispatch this morning via text message that he plans to return to Columbus in the fall for training camp. "Yes, I'm sure I'll come for training camp," Filatov said. Many have wondered if the Blue Jackets' coaching change -- Ken Hitchcock was fired on Feb. 3 -- would make it more likely that Filatov returns. Filatov said otherwise, even though he headed back to Russia in November after failing to gain the trust of Hitchcock. The Blue Jackets have yet to name Hitchcock's permanent replacement. "The coaching change doesn't mean much for me," Filatov said. "Anyway, I was going to be back. When I left (in November), I said I was coming back,"
Season over, but Filatov's still in Russia
March 21
Columbus Dispatch
 
"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"
Hitchcock to go with youth
January 5
Columbus Dispatch
 
"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"
Filatov's departure hardly a surprise
November 19
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Center Derick Brassard had known for weeks that Nikita Filatov was unhappy with his role on the Blue Jackets and wanted to return to Russia. At first, Brassard tried persuading his friend to give the situation more time. Injuries were inevitable, he told Filatov, and ice time and opportunities would increase. But within the past week, Brassard's message changed as he realized Filatov was intent on going home. "I told him if you do it, do it with class," Brassard said. "Don't go away saying anything that will make people mad at you. I think he handled it well." Yesterday, Filatov flew home. The Blue Jackets agreed to loan him to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League for the remainder"
Filatov's return uncertain
November 18
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets are about to take a leap of faith with prized prospect Nikita Filatov. The organization's decision to allow Filatov, 19, to return to his former Russian club for one season comes with a written contract, but no guarantees. The Jackets yesterday announced they had agreed to loan the winger to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League (KHL). With no player transfer agreement in place between the NHL and KHL, however, Filatov can remain in Russia as long as he desires. In essence, the Jackets have a handshake deal with Filatov, CSKA and its coach-general manager Sergei Nemchinov. "All we have given him is the right to stay for this season," Blue Jackets general manager"
Back to Russia, for now
November 18
Columbus Dispatch
 
"When the Blue Jackets depart today for a season-high five-game trip that begins Thursday at Dallas, rookie left winger Nikita Filatov will be headed, in so many ways, in the opposite direction. Unable to gain the trust of coach Ken Hitchcock and earn significant ice time, Filatov began pushing this month for a return to his native Russia, where he can play more and be a goal-scoring star. The Blue Jackets granted Filatov's wish yesterday, agreeing to loan him to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League for the remainder of the season. Filatov and the Blue Jackets say that he will return to Columbus next September for training camp, but there are no guarantees. "It has been frustrating"
A tale of two NHL youngsters, Filatov and Schenn
November 18
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"Nikita Filatov, once viewed as exceptional, is now the exception. Precedent, of course, is always worth a headline, and in this case, the unusual decision Tuesday of the Columbus Blue Jackets to loan the 19-year-old Filatov to CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League as a means of furthering his hockey development was certainly noteworthy. It's happened to other top Russian picks, but only when they have essentially failed as prospects. In Filatov's case, the Blue Jackets still very much believe that one day he'll be a 30- or 40-goal scorer in the world's best league, and that he still wants to be an NHL player."
Filatov to Moscow, this loan has high rate of interest
November 18
Columbus Dispatch
 
"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"
Filatov leaving Blue Jackets
November 17
Columbus Dispatch
 
"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"
Filatov might leave team this week, sources say
November 17
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets rookie forward Nikita Filatov, who has struggled to remain in coach Ken Hitchcock's lineup, might be headed back to Russia, perhaps as soon as this week, according to sources within and beyond the NHL. Jackets general manager Scott Howson would not comment on a potential agreement allowing the 19-year-old Filatov to return to his former club team, CSKA Moscow. Nothing has been finalized, however, and Filatov and the Blue Jackets are expected to talk again today about the possibility of staying in Columbus. At least one teammate has encouraged Filatov to give the situation more time before making a decision, a source said. Neither Filatov, a healthy scratch last night against"
Filatov gets time, shows progress
November 5
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets rookie Nikita Filatov was disappointed with the chance he failed to convert last night. In the context of his development, however, the winger was pleased with the opportunities he received. Filatov, who failed on a shootout attempt, played a season-high 11 minutes, 33 seconds in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Coach Ken Hitchcock, missing two key forwards, had enough faith in Filatov to play him in the final three minutes of a tie game. "It's a sign of trust," Filatov said. "I'm not usually on the ice in the final five or six minutes of a period." Filatov, who had not played 10 minutes in a game this season, bounced around the third and fourth lines because an upper-body"
Blue Jackets support Filatov as he bides his time
October 10
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Amid the chaos of Thursday's 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard tried to be a calming influence. Each time Brassard returned to the bench, he sat next to rookie winger Nikita Filatov. Locating Filatov wasn't difficult, as he barely moved, drawing only eight shifts. "It's hard when you see a guy go through it, when he's not playing much," Brassard said. "I know, because I've been there, and so have most of the guys in this dressing room. "Nikita, in his head, feels like he can score a goal in every game, so when his ice time drops, you know he's thinking about it, how he can earn the coach's trust, and how he can help his team win the game." Filatov's ice"
Don't read much into bogus Filatov tweets
October 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets rookie Nikita Filatov said he does not tweet, has not tweeted and won't be tweeting anytime soon. His online impersonator, however, was singing like a bird yesterday. A person on the social networking site alleging to be Filatov apologized to the player and the organization for any trouble his Twitter posts had caused. The apology was made on the bogus account, which had 396 followers. The "phony" Filatov exposed his prank less than a day after writing he was receiving a large contract offer from Russia's Continental Hockey League. The Jackets contacted Twitter yesterday to inform the site of the fraudulent activity. "I had no idea about this site," Filatov said, laughing. "I"
Filatov's honest, talented -- and he'll be a Jacket
September 12
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"It is possible that Nikita Filatov will be playing in Magnitogorsk, Moscow, or some other city in Russia's Continental Hockey League this season. It is equally possible that Rick Nash will be wearing a Maple Leafs jersey. Filatov arrived in Columbus on Wednesday night. Today, he will have his physical, the first official task of Blue Jackets training camp. He will be watched closely because he is 19 years old, arguably the most talented player in the team's stable -- and unafraid to speak his mind. Last month, Filatov caused a stir on two sides of the globe when he told a Russian journalist that he has interest in the Continental Hockey League, or KHL. Filatov said he had been approached"