The Nikkita Filatov Conundrum

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Perhaps the most perplexing development with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season is the lack of playing time given to forward Nikita Filatov.

Since the season began, Filatov has seen his Time On Ice (TOI) go from a small amount, to virtually non-existent, to a series of healthy scratches—this, predicated by quite an intense discussion with Head Coach Ken Hitchcock during a practice preceding the series of healthy scratches—to Filatov starting to play, even fewer minutes, to more healthy scratches, to playing a few more minutes—only due to a rash of injuries to the CBJ's forward crop—to more diminished minutes, last night, with the same diminished forward corps. Whew! Recounting that was exhausting...

Let's backtrack a bit to what predicated the first series of healthy scratches, then to the more confusing second go-around of diminished ice time and healthy scratches.

Hitchcock and Filatov met—for about 10 minutes, right before the fourth game of the season, against the Calgary Flames—at center ice. By the accounts of the local print media, it was quite a scene as Hitchcock, tapping his stick, at times, on the ice, "informed" Filatov as to what's expected of him, at the NHL level.

What follows is what the local print media disclosed on the exchange/session—call it what you may:

Besides letting Filatov know he'd be a healthy scratch for that evening's game, Hitchcock also emphasized that Filatov needs to be more competitive on the puck. In short, Hitch wants Filatov thinking "quality over quantity."

But the most interesting element is that both player and coach conceded that Nikolai Zherdev has been discussed in relation to Filatov's development. If you recall, the relationship between Hitchcock and Zherdev wasn't exactly rosy, although Hitchcock and GM Scott Howson did reach out and work with the enigmatic Zherdev, to the point of making him more productive, before trading him in July, 2008, to the New York Rangers.

Filatov seems genuinely receptive to following Hitchcock's instruction, and has since worked on those recommended areas of improvement, and has demonstrated a willingness to compete on the puck and has generally improved in all facets of the game.

Then, more confusion: Part Deux.

Filatov gets the opportunity to get back into the lineup against the Phoenix Coyotes, on Oct. 28, this after a series of games in which Filatov was "healthy scratched"—not injured, just benched. Filatov responded by playing, quite easily, his best game of the season. While he didn't factor into the lone goal of the first period, trust me, he was the most dominant offensive player on the ice for the CBJ.

Then, after logging over six minutes of quality ice time, Filatov got to play a whopping 2 shifts, totaling 1 minute and 40 seconds of ice time.

Hitchcock's explanation for the sudden (ice time) drop? "Well, we were in a lot of special team situations." Wait, isn't the power play (PP) one of those special teams situations? The Blue Jackets, after the first period, after leading 1-0, were thoroughly dominated by the 'Yotes, the rest of the way, losing 4-1.

You mean to tell me, when the score was 2-1 and 3-1, and they were on the PP, that Filatov couldn't have been on the PP unit? Now, remind me, who was on the PP unit when they scored their lone goal? Heck, I'll answer it, for you: It was Filatov.

Filatov doesn't see the ice, basically, for the rest of the game, but, more than a few veterans absolutely stunk up the joint. What was their "punishment?" Not only plenty of ice time, the remaining two periods, but, continued high ice time minutes the next few games.

Let me demonstrate this confusion, numerically, by comparing the TOI of Derek Brassard and Jake Voracek, at this time, last season—their first full season's with the CBJ.

Brassard's TOI - Games 10 - 12, 2008-2009 season:

16:33

12:10

17:02

Voracek's TOI - Games 10 - 12, 2009-2009 season:

16:23

14:27

12:18

Filatov's TOI - Games 10 - 12, 2009-2010 season:

9:51

8:43 (Phoenix game, Oct. 28th, per above)

Healthy Scratch

Now, the Blue Jackets organization reported that Filatov experienced back spasms, for the games in which he was scratched, both against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals; however, the organization also indicated that, even if Filatov was healthy, he would have been healthy scratched, for those games.

Then, still more confusion: Part Trois.

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