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Posts Tagged Nikita Filatov

Hitchcock Fired

Feb 3

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Ken Hitchcock has been fired today by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ken Hitchcock has been fired today by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Today the Columbus Blue Jackets have relieved Head Coach Ken Hitchcock and appointed Assistant Coach Claude Noel as interim head coach.

The move comes as no surprise as the Blue Jackets have been struggling and currently sit in 14th place within the Western Conference. The team who made their playoff debut last year is now no where near contention to make the playoffs again. In the last 10 games the team went 4-6-0, and like their overall season, they fall under .500 for wins.

Unfortunately, the team really has no players that they could move before the trade deadline, but perhaps that goes to show the lack of stars on the team. It would be nice if they could get Ilya Kovalchuk who is expected to be moved within a few days, but that seems as possible as the club to turn this season around and make the playoffs.

Perhaps now young star Nikita Filatov will be happy as he may receive more ice time. Nonetheless, the Blue Jackets should recognize this season is over. Work hard on improving for next year and try work the draft in their favor for next season.

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Filatov Unhappy in Columbus

Jan 9

Posted by EB in News, Soap Box | 1 Comment

Nikita Filatov is unhappy with Head coach Ken Hitchcock.

Nikita Filatov is unhappy with Head Coach Ken Hitchcock.

Columbus Blue Jackes 2008 NHL Entry Draft prospect Nikita Filatov expressed is unhappiness with the organization. The 19 year old signed a three year deal with the organization, has specifically pointed out head coach Ken Hitchcock. Either changes need to be made, or he plans on not coming back.

Hmm…

The team will most likely not make the playoffs. Also, head coach Ken Hitchcock will likely be removed before the season is out. But who does this 19 year old kid think he is?

The Western Conference is by the far the dominant league. Take the teams 45 points, 13th division standing and 8 points put of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, they would be in 11th place and only 3 points out of the playoffs. Also, last season was the teams first ever playoff appearance. So can you really blame Coach Hitchcock?

Filatov is a 19 year old who if he has such a problem, can go play in the KHL on his home soil. He would make more money, no doubt about it. But there is a reason players want to play in the NHL. Let the boy learn the hard way, let him understand he is not the voice of the team and he needs to learn the ropes before demanding such things.

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Columbus Blue Jackets

Sep 27

Posted by Eddie in Season Previews | No Comments

Both Rick Nash (L) and Steve Mason will need to continue the career seasons each had in 2009 to keep Columbus a playoff contender.

Both Rick Nash (L) and Steve Mason need to continue career seasons each had in 2009 to keep Columbus a playoff contender.

Making progress is what the Blue Jackets did last season, and will be looking forward to do this season. It took them their 10th season in the NHL to make the playoffs. Their playoff run was short-lived as they took on the Detroit Red Wings and got swept in four games.

Columbus also made progress as it re-signed captain and superstar Rick Nash to an eight-year, 62.4 Million contract extension that will keep him in Ohio until 2017-18. It’s considered a major accomplishment as Nash had his pick in where he wanted to go.

Expectations are high from not only the fan base in central Ohio, but within the organization as well. They can only make more progress this season by not only making the playoffs, but winning a couple games and even winning a series.

The Blue Jackets do have the pieces to contend in the difficult Western Conference. The Blue Jackets also enter the season with their top-six forwards set in place. In addition to Nash, they have Kristian Huselius and Derick Brassard on the top line. It’s going to be interesting to see a healthy Brassard as he missed the last 50 games due to injury. The second line will feature R.J. Umberger, Antoine Vermette, and Jakub Voracek. A rookie last season, Voracek had a quiet but respectable season as he recorded 38 points. Look for top prospect Nikita Filatov and new addition Sami Pahlsson to make significant contributions to the third and fourth lines.

On defense, there may not be any big names you have heard before other than Mike Commodore, but management stayed the course during the trade deadline and the off-season. The unit is mostly a stay-at-home unit who isn’t overly aggressive on offense. They are missing a player who is multi-dimensional and with $7 Million of cap space left going into the season, they have the ability to make a move if they are in contention for the playoffs around the deadline. Having someone who can quarterback a power play is crucial for them as they were last in the NHL on the power play at 12.7 percent.

Columbus did find a gem in goal with Steve Mason. A player who didn’t play a full season because of injury, Mason was the reason the team made the playoffs. Winning the Calder Trophy as top rookie, Mason led the league in shutouts with 10 in only 61 games. It will be interesting to see how this season will be for him. Can he continue the hot streak or suffer the sophomore slump? To aid Mason, the team signed veteran Mathieu Garon as backup.

The outlook for Columbus is pretty good. The re-signing of Nash did create a buzz around the city and did sell a few more season tickets, but they need to continue to make progress to have Columbus become a free-agent destination. In the division, they will be more competitive. It won’t be the match ups against Detroit and Chicago that will determine its fate, but it will be how they play against Nashville and St. Louis as both teams got better in the off season while Columbus stayed the course. Will it pay off with a playoff appearance? Only time will tell.

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