Nikita Filatov loaned to CSKA Moscow of KHL

by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 12, 2011 12:16 PM EST in Ottawa Senators breaking news

OTTAWA, CANADA - NOVEMBER 4: Nikita Filatov #21 of the Ottawa Senators prepares for a faceoff against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game at Scotiabank Place on November 4, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

Many are reporting that, for the second time in three seasons, left winger Nikita Filatov has been loaned from his NHL team in order to join CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League (KHL). His NHL rights remain with the Ottawa Senators.

The sixth-overall draft pick from the 2008 NHL Entry Draft was acquired by the Senators from the Columbus Blue Jackets this off-season, but played just nine games (and a combined 88 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time) with Ottawa over the course of several call-ups, notching one assist in that time. He also played 15 games with the AHL's Binghamton Senators, netting 12 points (7G, 5A) over those matches.

During Filatov's most recent assignment to the Binghamton Senators, rumours came out that the 21-year-old wanted to return to Russia to play for CSKA. Shortly after the rumours came up, Ottawa re-called Filatov and played him in three more NHL games (although he didn't play much in one of those due to a skate to the face), but was scratched for five straight games after those ones. He's now been loaned to CSKA to play in the KHL.

This was similar in some ways to Filatov's 2009-10 season, in which he was regularly a healthy scratch in the first portion of the Blue Jackets' season, before requesting (and being granted) a transfer back to the KHL.

Filatov's future in the NHL is very much unclear at this moment. Although it's hard to blame him for choosing the relative comfort of his hometown team over the Binghamton Senators, few NHL teams will be eager to extend an opportunity to a 22-year-old who's already left North America twice in his short pro career.

If Filatov does return to the NHL, though, the Senators still retain his rights. Senators GM thinks that Filatov can become an NHL player, but he needs to get stronger. He's also said he plans on tendering a qualifying offer to the pending restricted free agent, so Filatov's rights will remain with the Senators past this season.

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Earlier comments...

Are available here, on the FanShot initially announcing the move.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 12, 2011 12:24 PM EST reply actions

It's unfortunate this is the result...

but I love that BM is trying to hold on to his rights.

by Pmoron on Dec 12, 2011 12:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Filly does Moscow

I wonder how soon will he start crying that he wants back to NHL… He was promissed too much by scouts, GMs and media, so he was never able to come to terms with reality – he needed to spend time in AHL. Hope he makes it back in the end, be it Ottawa or other teams in NHL, only this time Filly should come back as a man, not as a boy.

I know that, that doesn't matter, I know you Mr. Rainey, that's what matters. You stole my story.

by TaBu on Dec 12, 2011 12:54 PM EST reply actions

He was crying?

Please provide evidence.

by pmedow on Dec 12, 2011 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

Like this?

by The Tif on Dec 12, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

Haha. Give that man a Daytime Emmy!

by Pmoron on Dec 12, 2011 1:20 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Good-bye

Travis Yost of Hockeybuzz http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=40473 says that Filatov was mistreated by Sens management. POOR FILATOV, just gets mistreated everywhere he goes.

This could have something to do with what he brings personality-wise. He got his shot and did nothing with it except inspire management to leave him in the Press Box.

Filatov was a long shot, and the long shot missed the net by a wide margin, and thank God cost us only a 3rd rounder and alot of heartache. He’s better off back home in Russia.

by Marvellous on Dec 12, 2011 12:55 PM EST reply actions

I'm not ready to dump on Filatov,

but to suggest management is to blame is ridiculous.

by Pmoron on Dec 12, 2011 12:57 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yep

this is the second franchise where Filatov hasn’t been able to make the big club. There are reasons for that.

Ottawa’s not adverse to playing young players in the NHL when they deserve it, and at this point of his career, Filatov hasn’t shown he deserves it.

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by DarrenM on Dec 12, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

"Of Hockeybuzz" is the same as "my imagination"

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 12, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Yeah

Yeah, Hockeybuzz isn’t exactly an authority… after 100 “imaginative” rumours that didn’t come true, Eklund finally got one right with Kaberle.

by Marvellous on Dec 12, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

Ha ha

“Loaned”.

At my old company we called it “got quit”.

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 12, 2011 1:53 PM EST reply actions

It didn't work out

It was never in the best interest of anyone employed by the Sens to really tell the whole truth about Filatov, because they don’t want to ruin the “value of the asset”.

The last flexing of muscles by BM preventing him from leaving was a vain attempt at saving face as well.

So now we will listen to the very “diplomatic” assessment of his play.

In the end we did what we could, and not all players in a rebuild turn into the stars of tomorrow. That’s why we need to keep adding prospects.

by Marvellous on Dec 12, 2011 1:54 PM EST reply actions

Nikita Filthytov

good player but not good enough, this is the NHL we are talking….He is done and wont get another flyer for some time…if he really wanted to play in the NHL he would have to have put in his time and blew up the AHL like most prospects have to do. He did neither..

by Marlboro man on Dec 12, 2011 4:12 PM EST reply actions

bad

he played in his first season when he had almost one point in the game… he was 18, than in the last season when he had played with injury (and than he get concussion and neck injury). He played this season… he needed only one… a confidence. If he would get confidence from the coach like Butler his play would be more better but he did not. AHL is not the solution… and again… what I know Július Šupler is a great coach for development IMO. I am sure he will grow there he will play in WC and he will be ready for NHL the next year.

by eru24 on Dec 12, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

I bet he'll be in Ottawa for development camp next year

If not development camp, then training camp.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 12, 2011 7:54 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed Pete

Sick of people saying he had a poor attitude, when BM and PM been saying that his attitude was fine

by pmedow on Dec 13, 2011 1:24 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with your agreement

And also tired of the “insiders” knowing that BM and PM were lying or giving corporate speak when saying he worked hard in practice.

by OD99 on Dec 13, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

there have been a number of young guys who havent burst out of the gate for ottawa...

and yet they have received plenty of playing time. It would seem to me that there must have been a reason filatov was played less (I’m guessing it was an attitude/work ethic thing). I’ll be surprised if he ever amounts to anything in the NHL at this point.

by alfie4PM on Dec 12, 2011 5:50 PM EST reply actions

Wasn't a work ethic thing

At least not according to Murray, MacLean or Spezza.

by B_T on Dec 12, 2011 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

Filly don’t do rebounds,

by Ryan Sheets on Dec 12, 2011 6:51 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Murray actually dismissed this as "silly".

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 13, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

I always believe there is more than what meets the eye

But I am also shocked that Filatov didn’t get more of a chance.

I mean he was good without the puck so it’s not like he was a liability. Being a + player on this team is saying a lot and although that stat isn’t a real good one he made some noticeable plays back-checking.

That said, he left me wanting each game and I always wanted more from him. When he received the puck he seemed lost which was weird…he would slow down and just didn’t seem to make anything happen.

I am with Peter though – no chance i am writing him off yet. I hope he goes home, decides he is going to work on his game and being stronger and then comes back next season ready to earn a spot.

Several people marvelled at his skill during prospect camp so he must still have it, right?

Here’s hoping!

by OD99 on Dec 12, 2011 8:38 PM EST reply actions

Yashin

Interesting to note that Yashin plays for CSKA Moscow.

by LPitlick on Dec 12, 2011 9:54 PM EST reply actions

Lance!

Welcome to the site!

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 12, 2011 10:09 PM EST up reply actions

He's Filatov's "Ghost of Christmas Future!"

by The Tif on Dec 13, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions

My two cents

Having watched him play multiple games, it became clear to me that it was his inability to breakout effectively that was his achilles heel. He seemed hesitant to make those split second decisions on the defensive half wall (that Butler has no problem making if you watch closely) for fear of getting hit.

He’s a slim dude relative to the average NHLer, and his physique is something Maclean specifically called into question on the Team 1200 today. If he was a bulkier and thus more assertive player, he’d be willing to take more abuse and wouldn’t be so paranoid on the ice. His tentativeness brought him down.

That said, I admired his defensive effort level and playmaking abilities, no question. I sincerely hope he comes back weighing in at 200 lbs and is ready to take a check to make a play.

by LeTigre on Dec 12, 2011 11:19 PM EST reply actions

Yes, it’s a lack of physical strength and confidence, trust from coach. He needs fitness trainer like Stamkos after 1 year. He is not ready for NHL yet.

by Mihali4 on Dec 13, 2011 7:44 AM EST up reply actions

That is the most coherent explanation that I have heard about Filatov. The question now is whether he is able to put on the weight and strength that he would need to be successful in the NHL. Some guys take longer to fill out than others. Some guys never really fill out much.

by DW19 on Dec 13, 2011 9:26 AM EST up reply actions

Is he really RFA?

Usually 6 feet and 190 is plenty big enough to be able to be able to be physical without getting hurt. It’s a matter of willingness to be that kind of player, and how a player works at it to develop himself. So even if he puts on 20 more pounds, he still won’t change his mindset.

The Sens wanted him to be more competitive, to work harder and be more physical and win the battles. He didn’t respond to that.

The other thing is that Capgeek says Filatov is an RFA at the end of this year. Is that correct? I thought he was going to be a UFA.

by Marvellous on Dec 13, 2011 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

He's coming off his entry contract, so yes, he's RFA

by B_T on Dec 13, 2011 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

RFA vs. UFA

If the Senators make a qualifying offer he will be RFA. If the don’t make one then he will be UFA. In yesterday’s papers Murray was saying they will make the qualifying offer. We will know for sure at the end of the season.

by DW19 on Dec 13, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions