Filatov is our #1 prospect
by JoeCorvo on Feb 10, 2012 12:32 PM EST
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Print- He has by far the highest offensive upside.
- He is the most skilled prospect in terms of: stickhandling, skating and pretty much shot wise as well.
- Skill is not his number one asset. It's his intensity and his ability to win battles. People who have watched him play consistantly over his career know this.
- At some point he has proven he can dominate almost every league he has played in.
He is only 21, and actually played quite well for what he was given here in ottawa, just a little extra time to get used to the NHL, a little more confidence and he is a major threat.
Him going back to Russia is not a big deal, he can develop there while making more money to provide for his family whats wrong with that tabernak.... (hockey players have short careers... you've got to make as much as you can).
I dont think fans realize how much of an asset this guy is i have ABSOLUTE confidence this guy will be a good player for the sens everyone just needs to relax and be as patient as possible. Hes the real deal.
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Attitude
Its about the attitude a player has. All the potential in the world shit attitude = not a very good player. He has to listen and humble himself or he will never hit his potential
I hope so...
I like Filatov and would love to see him make it.
BUT there’s another guy with unbelievable talent – Mark Stone. I see potential league-leading scoring from this guy. The next great thing is on the way.
21 is too early to write off anyone as a bust, of course
As far as everyone needing to relax, I’m not really sure who you’re addressing—I’m not sure anyone is panicking over Filatov.
As far as your ABSOLUTE confidence, are you a scout? Have you watched Filatov play in the KHL? What’s driving that opinion besides where Filatov was drafted? Because I have ABSOLUTE confidence that I’m going to win the lottery tomorrow night, and I suspect you and I may see similar results.
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Well from what I’ve read and heard around sens blogs fans seem to think Murray’s "
gamble" is over. I misspoke to say everyone.
Yes I’ve watched him play in khl, not live of course, and he has dominated, almost everytime he’s on the ice something seems to happen, he’s been mostly injured this year but other than that hes a force.
He also dominated alot of the games he played in bingo. It’s not all about the points and i said hes demonstrated that he CAN, consistency is another matter, but the very best players struggle with that.
Also, what's your definition of "dominate"?
In ANY league he’s played in against men, his best point production was 32 in 39 games for the Syracuse Crunch in 2008-09.
He may have done well at the under-18 level, but at the professional level, he hasn’t come close to dominating anything.
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Maybe absolute confidence is a little much
But theres almost no reason to think he won’t be a good nhl player. He has litteraly everything it takes, including the attitude.
But if that's true, why hasn't he BEEN a good NHL player?
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The kid doesnt keep the puck on his stick for more than a second, very unimpressed with his puck possession,,,for all the talk about this great stick handler, you would think he was the 2nd coming of Alex Kovalev, but ive never seen anything that would suggest that- more like the 2nd coming of Alex Daigle, skates like the wind,, but who doesnt in the NHL.. come to think about it, he’s a lot like Daigle in the sense that he looks very uncoordinated with the puck, fast skater, rarely go’s to the net,,,at 21,,he’s NO bust but I dont see anything that deems him worthy of the all world status he’s been tagged with
by SensSational19 on Feb 13, 2012 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
It was a low risk move.
Keep his rights, if he wants to come back and try for a shot, then go for it. The third round pick is worth the gamble.
See "Radulov, Alexsander"
Filatov has all the physical tools to be an impact player in the NHL – speed, vision, great puckhandling skills and creativity, a good shot… it’s his attitude that needs serious work. At this point in his career, he is purely a perimeter player, and unfortunately, he seems fine with that. He will not drive to the net, he will not backcheck, he will not do anything that would require him to pay a price to gain the puck. He doesn’t seem interested in anything other than waiting for a pass so that he can dash down the wing and take a shot. That kind of work ethic definitely won’t wash with a coach like Paul MacLean, who knows from personal experience what it takes to make it as a player in the NHL. There’s a reason that a player like Kaspars Daugevins made the team out of training camp, and Filitov was demoted. I’m sure that Filly doesn’t have the slightest idea why, though. Here’s a hint – it’s the same reason why CSKA recently demoted him to their junior squad. Murray will likely still qualify him for next season though, because you never know – he’s still just a kid and he could still come around. I’m sure that at this point, playing for a Russian junior club is probably less appealing to Filatov than playing in Binghamton…
by KickSaveAndABeauty on Feb 10, 2012 2:44 PM EST reply actions
He wasn’t demoted, he was injured and the demotion was for financial reasons. His coach and teamates agree he’s the team’s best player.
Paulrus said he was very responsible defensively and the work ethic WAS there, the reason he got demoted here is because he was not playing with confidence (ie he was tentative he didn’t want to make any mistakes). His role is to score goals and he just didnt have the confidence at that point.
Is this a serious post?
- is a joke. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player play so much on the perimeter and just float around avoiding contact. #3 actually made me laugh.
I’m still not sure if you are making a serious comment with all of this.
And what more did you want Ottawa to do for him? He got prime ice time in the top 6 for as long as they could allow it. He didn’t play well enough in the pre-season to deserve that playing time and he still had the chance to prove himself.
From my perspective, they gave him way too many opportunities considering his blatantly evident attitude problems.
btw, are you Nikita Filatov? Because I honestly don’t think anyone else in this universe thinks this highly of him.
I'm not sure why it says "1." now... I wrote #3...
meh… #3 is a joke
by 80 on Feb 10, 2012 8:54 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think Filatov has an attitude problem
I mean, there’s absolutely nothing he’s done or said to indicate that.
It seems to me that he’s just struggling with finding the intensity level needed to succeed consistently at the pro level—and this is a challenge that I believe many innately talented athletes face. As the quality of competition increases, the talent gap decreases, and players who relied on their talent to get by at lower levels struggle as they find their go-to tricks no longer work. That challenge then becomes finding the internal motivation to all the little things necessary to build yourself some small edge—because at the professional level, that small edge is what makes the difference. Most NHL goals are scored from a missed step or a slow read, bad change or something like that. Rarely does a player score a goal by simply out-talenting everyone else on the ice, because the talent gap is too small for that.
But finding that internal motivation is a lot more challenging if you’re used to your talent getting you by. It’s the difference between an Alexander Daigle and a Sidney Crosby. Or a Daniel Alfredsson and a Nikita Filatov.
Filatov has demonstrated a willingness to work hard, which I think contradicts and claims of an attitude problem. What’s left for him is figuring out that the NHL game can’t be played from the perimeter, and that’s more of a maturity thing in my opinion.
Also, don’t ask people if they are someone. Please be respectful.
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 11, 2012 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
sorry. I was feeling somewhat confrontational...
I’m still confused as to how someone has such a high view point of Filatov. I mean, he’s clearly got skill, but there are MAJOR question marks. I don’t see him being NHL ready for at least another 2 years, if not more (…if ever). He certainly didn’t prove to be NHL ready this year and it’s complete and utter nonsense to claim that he wasn’t given every oppportunity.
From my experience, anyone who complains about a lack of opportunity for Filatov also tends to believe this season was meant for “tanking” and giving the prime ice time to kids to let them develop. They don’t grasp or accept the fact that Maclean was trying to win games and Filatov doing fly-bys on the top line was a detriment to the teams success. He wasn’t trying, he wasn’t aggressive, he didn’t battle, and he didn’t score.
I also disagree with theidea that he doesn’t have an attitude problem: he’s thrown tantrums in Bingo, he’s made highly questionable comments on his formspring account (primarily when talking in Russian), and he generally has a highly disingenuous air about him. And then there’s the “Filly don’t do” rumours… I’ve read or heard virtually everything he’s said in the media since the trade and frankly I don’t buy it. He says the right things…but I have a hard time believing them.
What tantrums has he thrown in Binghamton?
Cite a source.
It sounds like you’d rather believe rumors than what’s been published.
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 11, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
joy?
I’m fairly certain joy wrote about in-game tantrums and sulking.
Thought it was common knowledge. Not going to look for it. Believe what you want. Kid’s got a clear attitude problem and I’m certainly not the only one that sees it.
by 80 on Feb 11, 2012 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
source?
….
anyways, on HF all the Bingo guys were talking about it at one point near the beginning of November. If you care enough to go research it, feel free.
by 80 on Feb 11, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
No, that's not how it works
You’re the one claiming there were tantrums, so you’re the one that has to provide sources. The burden of proof is on the claimant, not the doubters.
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okay...
How’s this: I don’t care that much. Believe what you want.
… the tweet from Umberger post-trade was very telling. If your ex-teammate congratulates your GM on the return he got for you and then retracts that statement for something more politically correct, you probably weren’t the most well liked guy.
by 80 on Feb 11, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions
What about his current teammate the time, Robin Lehner, saying he is awesome?
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Or comments from MacLean... or Kleindeskort....
Or pretty much anyone actually involved with or covering Bingo…
But hey, some people have decided Filatov has an attitude problem. And be damned if they’ll give that conception up.
This really isn't that hard to understand.
His current coaches teammates are not going to throw him under the bus, the same as his past coaches and teammates wouldn’t have. Those past coaches and teammates, though, have come out with some interesting comments post-trade, such as the Umberger tweet and the “Filly don’t do” story.
His new coaches and teammates haven’t known him for even 6 months (they only spent about 3 months together, at best) so what could possibly make you believe they would even have experienced it, let alone gotten to the point where they would talk about it.
You argument is naive.
by 80 on Feb 12, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
I'll take the piles and piles of evidence that it's not an attitude problem over the scattered conjecture and flat out unsubstantiated rumours that it is
Anything else is what is truly naive.
And you’re right, it’s not hard to understand. I’m not sure what’s causing the difficulty for you to do so.
i can tell you with 100% certainty
he got along great with most of the sens. they loved him. how do i know? 2 days before he went back to russia i had a drink with him at junxion when he was out with about 7 of the other boys from the sens. they were having a great time with him. ever sit in on a practice? i did. one time when zibby was still here they were the last 2 off the ice joking around with each other playing games with the trainer. it’s pretty silly to speculate how he fits in within a locker room. you’ll never know. none of us will. filatov has issues succeeding in the nhl at this point in his career, but getting along with teammates certainly isn’t one of them from what my personal experience has shown me.
So, here's where we're at on this conversation
You claim that Filatov has a “bad attitude” and “highly disingenuous air” to him based on the fact that he’s “thrown tantrums in Bingo.”
When asked for documented proof of those tantrums, you can’t provide any and now claim not to care. But if you don’t care, why even bring it up?
When presented with facts from the organization that valued him enough to trade for him, you dismiss them as some kind of conspiracy of obligation—despite numerous instances of the organization providing honest criticism of all of their prospects, not just Filatov.
Is it really so hard to say, “I have no clue what Filatov’s attitude is like, but I think he’s a jackass based on some Internet rumors I read.”?
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I don't think he's a jackass...
I think he’s an arrogant kid that thinks extremely highly of himself. I think this because of what . I’ve seen of him in interviews and read from him on his formspring account. I\ve also seen plenty of kids like him and I know how that type of arrogance plays out in various scenarios.
…but I don’t think he’s a jackass; I think he’ll react poorly to being criticized and misunderstood. I think familiarity breeds contempt and his arrogance will wear thin as his teammates get to know him better. The Umberger tweet is a clear example of such a scenario…
If he grows out of it, he’s got the skill to play in any league so he should be able to make it. If not, he may still play in the league, but he’ll probably be a detriment when it matters.
As far as the burden of proof goes, this is an online hockey blog…
………
by 80 on Feb 13, 2012 9:38 PM EST up reply actions
This may be an online hockey blog, but rumormongering is not respected here
There are plenty of other sites where people can claim they know Wade Redden does drugs because their buddy knows a bartender whose bartender buddy TOTALLY saw him sniffling and bloodshot one night. This isn’t one of them.
If it’s your opinion that he’s got an arrogant air about him, that’s cool; we can agree to disagree there—I like having those kinds of discussions. If you’re going to claim a fact, though, please be prepared to cite a source. Otherwise there’s no reason to believe it.
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 14, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
Fair enough.
I actually only brought it up because I thought it was common knowledge. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if it was just a he-said, she-said thing.
by 80 on Feb 14, 2012 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
The rumours I’ve read (if true) merely reenforce my view of him. My opinion of him would remain unchanged if those rumours were false…
He does say all the right things, though. He’s a very smart young man.
by 80 on Feb 13, 2012 9:40 PM EST up reply actions
80….where to begin. First off, do you know Filatov? Because for someone who goes on second-hand sources and reports you do sure speak like you know what you’re talking about. Filatov is 21; he is still just a kid. HIs well-documented issues in Columbus and to a certain extent were those of a young man. What’s the expression…. you live and you learn? Sure we see the Crosbys, Jeff Skinners and RNHs attain success at the NHL level as 18 year olds, but as I’m sure you know that’s far from the norm. Maybe Filatov’ll one day make it in the NHL or maybe he won’t. I can guarantee you though that your ceaseless bashing of his personality and motivation (let me reiterate that you don’t even know him personally) will not affect whether he makes it or not. So in short, stop talkin’ shit! There are still some of us who hope he can turn his career around!! :p
One last thing…this is I think the most annoying occurrence in sport of the 21st century. With the unlimited amount of media coverage on athletes and social platforms that we can communicate with them (i.e. twitter, fb), as fans sometimes we think we know them…when we don’t.
No I don't know him
but I do know kids like him.
It’s not a strong argument, but I’ve had dealings with that type of personality in the past and I’ve seen how it can damage the chemistry in a dressing room.
On another note, I don’t think “ceaseless bashing of his personality and motivation” accurately depicts what took place in this thread. I’ve obviously questioned his attitude, but the reiteration was more forced than it was desired.
I’m quite clear on the fact that my posts here will not affect whether he makes it or not. I don’t want him to fail. I would be pleased if he succeeded. It would make that deal look like a stroke of brilliance and would make our team that much stronger.
….But I do have an opinion on the kid and in a thread where such nonsense as “Filatov is our #1 prospect” is the headline, I think it’s entirely reasonable to voice my opinion, so to speak.
It still boggles my mind that people can claim he didn’t get a fantastic chance to show what he can do in his time in Ottawa. It’s fantastic, at best.
by 80 on Feb 14, 2012 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
"it's fantastic, at best"
the notion, not the opportunity he got. The opportunity he got was truly tremendous. The notion that it wasn’t is, at best, fantasy.
by 80 on Feb 14, 2012 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think his opportunity was tremendous
He didn’t get a lot of NHL playing time. Of course, he didn’t really earn it, either.
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 15, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think ceaseless bashing is what happened here
Let’s disagree with civility, please.
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by Mark Parisi on Feb 15, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Mark makes marks
Wow..10/10…very good insight. I concur completely and I like the info from Joe about the Russian experience. What I have seen of Filatov, I like a lot. My hope is that in the future, the Sens will take a position with the Russians & the Swedes that if they are over junior age, Bingo is their only option for professional development because that is where they learn all those little things you mention.
Skill only a part of the equation
I loved watching Filatov in Training Camp. He is a gorgeous skater and his puck handling skills are as good as anyone’s.
Unfortunately skill is only a part of the equation of becoming an NHLer. When I say “attitude problem”, what I mean is a willingness to do what it takes, which means do as you are asked to do and work your ass off doing it… because nobody’s entitled to a spot as a top six forward on any team.
If he had the maturity to do as he was asked to do and work his ass off doing it without whining, he’d be in the NHL probably as soon as next year… but no… he chose to do it his way… and how is that working?
Some players need alot of growing up before they are regulars in the NHL. If you play for the Red Wings, for instance, no matter who you are, you generally spend at least three years toiling in the AHL, and then you learn what there is to learn. As one example take Darren Helm… an incredible skater who worked his ass off in the AHL for years and is a really good player now.
Playing the European game is not the same as playing the North American game, and we may have seen the last of Filatov in a Sens uniform… although there will always be yet another GM willing to try out a player with this kind of skill in the hopes that he has matured enough to do what it takes.
Fait.
I am in agreement with the original posting. If you look at the fact that he is still a prospect. I would put him on top of the list. His attitude (true or false) does not change his talents or his projection as a first line player. If he comes back next year, there is a better chance of him playing on the first line (talent wise) then all the other prospects. They are very talented players that never make the NHL (see Pavel Rosa or Corey Locke). That does not mean that they are not top prospects. So many things happen in the development of a NHL player. You only have to look at Turris as an example. (This is just my conjecture of the situation as I saw it) He saw his developement stalling in the Coyotes organization and in danger of not making the NHL, if he stayed. He did what he could to precipitate a move to another team with the idea of being able to develop into a player that he saw himself as.
He's not the best prospect
At this point, I’m not sure where I’d rank him. Probably top ten, but that’s based on draft-position pedigree, and certainly not on anything we’ve seen.
I’m all for re-signing him next season, and seeing if he can put everything together. But I’m not very optimistic about that happening.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Feb 13, 2012 9:16 PM EST reply actions
Anything we’ve seen from his 9 games mostly on the fourth line? Or the couple games he had on the first where the mandate was: produce at high level or you’re scratched.
Btw when this guy was rushed awkwardly into the nhl he scored in his first game, and also got a hat-trick in very limited ice time (very low 4th line minutes). Averaged 1.2 shots every 8 minutes he played (on a very challenged 4th line). Compared to stamkos (same draft class who was given much larger window of opportunity despite very average play) who now averages 1.3 shots per 8 minutes as the league leader in goals. Bottom line hes done quite exceptionally under the ice time given and pressure imposed. Just let him play his game, hes shown he can produce. And on top of all this, he was never a liability.
Attitude nothwithstanding
Since I haven’t seen anything that leads me to believe he has an attitude problem, I just haven’t seen enough out of him at the NHL level to think he will be an NHL player.
Yes he is young but when playing he doesn’t seem that fast, he doesn’t seem to have a very good shot and his hockey sense doesn’t seem to be there. Maybe in practice all of those skills are very evident but he has to do it in games, when opponents are checking him, and I just haven’t seen it.
I've seen him in practice many times and he isn't all that impressive there either.
I remember the first time I saw him suit up prior to the pre-season, where I finally got a chance to see Zib in a scrimmage and messing around with the puck prior. It was a shock to see how great Zibs puck-handling was and how much he could do with the puck. Filatov, however, didn’t do much of anything and I left disappointed. The same can be said for all of my previous and subsequent viewings of him. He really doesn’t have much of a shot and his hockey sense is underdeveloped. I think his effort level was lacking more than anything else (in all scenarios…not just the scrimmage…….)
by 80 on Feb 14, 2012 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
Let me clarify
I’m not against the kid. I think he can be a great addition to the team in a few years, but I think he’s definitely a few years away from being NHL ready.
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