It Get's Tricky With Niki

(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Jackets are riding high right now. They have matched their best start in franchise history (2003-2004) going 3-1 in their first four games. Back in those days the Jackets were pretending as they dropped their next six games... Now-a-days it's all about contending as the Jackets look to make a repeat trip into the playoffs.

This post however isn't about terrific start for the team, but the slow start for an individual. That individual being rookie blue chip sniper Nikita Filatov. No individual should be bigger than the team and the most important thing are notches in the win column. Of course there is the rub. The Jackets find themselves in an interesting position really for the first time in their nine year history. How do you balance winning with grooming young blue chip talent? It's tricky.

We knew from last year's rookie crop of fellow blue chippers Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek that earning ice early in the season was going to be difficult for Filatov. This team no longer hands out ice time like candy on Halloween to high draft picks. Players have to earn it regardless of their draft standing.

On top of that this is the deepest Jackets roster to date. Still, even with that in mind, you look at Filatov's ice time through four games and regardless of the wins one has to ask themselves, what gives? Game One: 9:18 Game Two: 7:41 Game Three: 6:14 Game Four: 4:49 Compare that to the first four games from Brassard and Voracek last season: Brassard Game One: 12:23 Game Two: 15:39 Game Three: 16:46 Game Four: 11:36 Voracek Game One: 9:09 Game Two: 12:03 Game Three: 14:05 Game Four: 8:54

Voracek is probably the better comparable as he is closer to Filatov in age but even he saw his ice time increase before decreasing in his first four games. Filatov has seen his ice time dwindle to a minuscule 4:49 seconds. What's more interesting than that is when you take a look at the TOI in the eight games Filatov played last season: Game One: 9:10 Game Two: 8:38 Game Three: 4:51 Game Four: 2:54 Game Five: 8:53 Game Six: 9:59 Game Seven: 7:42 Game Eight: 12:53 When Filatov played last year he got more ice time than he did so far this season. Now how can that be when he's a year older with more development time under his belt? It's tricky.

Last year injuries played a big part in his ice time, especially when he was recalled in January. This year circumstance has played a big factor. The four games that have been played sans the San Jose game were tightly contested affairs. Filatov's playing time has been dictated by the sheer intensity of these games.

I also don't think it's a huge coincidence that Filatov saw the most ice during the Jackets home opener as Hitch had more control over who to line the young Russian up against. He also came off his strongest preseason games leading up to that game which gave the coach more confidence in him. Once they hit the road the games were close and Hitch road the veterans. Result: 3-1 Still though... 4:59? Hey, it's tricky!

Howson has stated that Steve Stamkos started off similar to Filatov last season. Let's take a look: StamkosGame One: 8:25 Game Two: 14:53 Game Three: 6:05 Game Four: 9:22 Indeed Stamkos didn't storm out of the NHL gates with guns'a blazin (in fact he went scoreless through his first seven games) but he certainly saw more time than Filatov thus far. Also keep in mind it took a coaching change before he saw his time ratchet up. To me Filatov's leash seems unfairly short at this point.

That was evident the moment Hitch benched him after a penalty in the 3rd period of opening night. Yes it was a bad penalty to take at a key point of the game but if a veteran commits that penalty he doesn't miss a shift. Filatov, on the other hand, didn't see the ice after his.

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