Quick hit this morning before major rumor update.


A source of mine in Russia has been speculating for some time now that Filatov could be heading to Russia and today we are starting to hear reports on this. Quite a shame actually. This is one kid whom I always believed could be a real factor in the NHL.

I remember meeting him at the draft and you couldn't ask for more. He looked to have the whole package. He was bright, could speed English well, was interesting (recalling his hardcore training in the woods where he would exercise carrying logs around), and he had the looks of a star.

I also remember being in Columbus and eating at the Boston Pizza across from the rink and the owner there saying how Nik would eat there every day and was the nicest kid the staff had ever met. Prior to the season I had high hopes for him in Ottawa as well.

The Blue Jackets have an odd history of their top picks falling fast. Zherdev, Filatov, Voracek, and soon Brassard (maybe as soon as this week) have all left town.

I will note this however...I have been hard on Voracek this season. He would amaze you with some incredibly adapt stickwork on occasion but then disappear for games at a time. You could see the talent, but the results were all over the map.

Well this past week something seamed to click on for Voracek. He started to carry the puck. he started to shield the puck with his size. Instead of trying to always deke a player he would take the puck around a guy and challenge the player to take it. Very much like we see from Jagr. It was most noticeable against Buffalo, but it was become more common place in the games since then.

Will it last? That is the obvious question and I am sure Jackets fans are skeptical and will tell me they recall him playing this way for spurts in the past. If he does mature and can learn to do this on a night in/night out basis them the Flyers got a steal in the Carter trade. and those of you in pools might want to take a Flyer on him right now if he went undrafted.


rumors to come...

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