Columbus Blue Jackets

ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Ken Hitchcock of the Columbus Blue Jackets makes a point to the bench during the second period in a preseason game on September 18, 2009 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)

Solid Coaching Often Not Sexy Enough for Young NHL Players

Columbus forward Nikita Filatov left the Blue Jackets, choosing to finish the season playing in Russia. According to Puck Daddy , a huge part of the issue was coach Ken Hitchcock's defensive ...

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  • Comment

    Chris TMC commented on Solid Coaching Often Not Sexy Enough For Young NHL Players

    "Scott Gordon is pushing a high-risk offensive system on a very young Islanders team, and so far, it's only translated into a lot of ties. It...

    • 2 replies – here are the latest…
    • Steven Ovadia replied…

      I love your enthusiasm, Chris! The Islanders have a .700 win percentage when leading after the...

    • Chris TMC replied…

      Thats me, Ms Enthusiasm lol. Just to clarify here, I did not at any point in...

  • Comment

    Miah D. commented on Russians Worth the Risk?: NHL Draft Time Could Prove Answer

    it depends on the player. in montreal, we have a certain kostitsyn, and he feels like he has been treated unfairly by the coach so he...

  • Comment

    Kenny Hutton commented on Rick Nash: The Best Hockey Player No One Is Talking About

    Great article. I've been a fan of Rick since he has been in London. I think Nash is overlooked because he is clearly not as flashy...

    • 1 replies – here are the latest…
    • Aaron Tom replied…

      As a Jackets fan, I'd rather him just stay here and get some attention...after all, if...

  • Comment

    Bryan Thiel commented on Russians Worth the Risk?: NHL Draft Time Could Prove Answer

    It's interesting, but it still falls down to team's preferences. Many teams will continue to simply draft the best guy available. Maybe he's Russian, maybe he's...

    • 11 replies – here are the latest…
    • Sergey Zikov replied…

      Are you talking about quantity or quality? As for quality, I might have the US at...

    • MJ Kasprzak replied…

      I gotta say, there is no way America is second. I think Sweden is, and I...

  • Comment

    Sergey Zikov commented on Russians Worth The Risk? Draft Time Could Prove Answer

    All of the best players in the league are Russians for a reason. Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk, all the Hart Trophy Candidates. When you think of the...

    • 9 replies – here are the latest…
    • Ken Armer replied…

      The sources I have heard in regards to it failing are THN, which have made the...

    • Sergey Zikov replied…

      Don't believe everything you read. Yes, there are KHL teams in serious financial difficulty. There are...

  • Article

    New Article: Solid Coaching Often Not Sexy Enough For Young NHL Players

    Columbus forward Nikita Filatov left the Blue Jackets, choosing to finish the season playing in Russia. According to Puck Daddy , a huge part of the issue was coach Ken Hitchcock's defensive ...

  • Article

    New Article: The Filatov Fiasco: The Departure of Hockey's Top Prospect

    Well, I guess we all received the answer to the question of whether Nikita Filatov was going to log more Time On Ice - TOI...

  • Article

    New Article: Rick Nash: The Best Player That No One Is Talking About?

    Playing on consistently bad teams can sometimes have its advantages. For example, if you are a poor player, or just an otherwise good player having an off-season, chances are you will face less scrutiny if everyone else around you is playing equally bad.

  • Comment

    Sergey Zikov commented on Russians Worth The Risk? Draft Time Could Prove Answer

    There's some of this that I can buy and some that I don't. But the first thing you need to remember is the difference in the...

  • Comment

    TAB BAMFORD commented on Russians Worth The Risk? Draft Time Could Prove Answer

    Intersting... I think the economy will have both sides - the players & teams - considering whether the jump over the pond w/out a sure roster...

    • 1 replies – here are the latest…
    • Ken Armer replied…

      If it is truly all about the money, then I hope they keep out of the...

  • Article

    New Article: Russians Worth The Risk? Draft Time Could Prove Answer

    With Blue Jackets prospect Nikita Filatov skipping the country to return to native Russia to play in the KHL does it serve as an example of a growing problem in the NHL? It could be that Filatov ...

  • Article

    New Article: Steve Mason: The Sophomore Jinx

    Let me begin by stating that I am a huge Steve Mason fan. In fact, I'll even go as far to admit that I have a vanity license plate which refers to Steve Mason...

  • Comment

    STEVE HAGER commented on Now There Are No Doubts: Mathieu Garon Needs to Be No. 1 in Columbus

    I don't think you replace Mason yet....that would probably hurt him more than help, I have no problem letting Garon play but not as the number...

  • Comment

    Ron Van Lew commented on Now There Are No Doubts: Mathieu Garon Needs to Be No. 1 in Columbus

    I don't think that is a terrible idea for the short term. Maybe Mason needs to refocus on what got him to the NHL. We can't...

    • 1 replies – here are the latest…
    • Aaron Tom replied…

      Agreed. Mason NEEDS rest if he is to even have a chance at regaining his form....

  • Article

    New Article: Now There Are No Doubts: Mathieu Garon Needs to Be #1 In Columbus

    The plan was simple for Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson in the offseason: Hire a goaltender that would serve as a competent backup to rookie standout Steve Mason.Sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry...

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