Nikita Filatov Fansite

Come next season, Nikita Filatov will have a chance to reboot his career with the Ottawa Senators. Indeed, today, during the 2011 NHL Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded their former 1st round pick to the Sens. This means that in the 2011-2012 NHL season, our favorite young Russian star will be playing in Canada.

So, Nikita Filatov is going to Ottawa, and in exchange, the Blue Jackets received the Sens’ third round pick. Just last Thursday, Columbus acquired Jeff Carter from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange of first round pick (Sean Couturier) and Jakub Voracek.

Nikita was drafted 6th overall in 2008 by Columbus in the first round of that year’s first round. Packed with talent, Filatov was expected to become the next great superstar for the Blue Jackets. Unfortunately, three years later it has not happened. In 2009-2010, Nikita was even loaned to Russian League’s CSKA Moscow. He played with Columbus last year, but spent a good chunk of the season going back and forth to the minors at their AHL farm team in Springfield. In fact, in 23 NHL games with Columbus last year, Nikita had no goals and only seven assists. Basically, things weren’t working there - Filatov is far too talented to not be raking in the goals.

Hopefully, things will change in Ottawa, and Nikita will be able to showcase his full talent. Playing in the same team as Sens’ veteran captain Daniel Alfredsson could be beneficial to Nikita as well. Let’s not forget that we’re talking about a kid - he turned 21 exactly one month ago - with a lot of potential and still time to improve. All things considered, getting Nikita Filatov for a third round pick - who turned out to be center Thomas Tynan - is a great pick-up for the Ottawa Senators.

Nikita Filatov had an amazing World Junior Championship and if it wasn’t for 5 seconds in the semi-finals against Canada, he could be wearing a gold medal today. He will have to settle for a bronze medal instead. Russia beat Slovakia 5 - 2 and finished third in the championship. Filatov score two goals in the victory for a total of 8 goals in the tournament.

“It was a very good game by us, so of course we’re all happy,” Filatov said, his medal dangling from his neck. “All the things against Canada, they weigh in the head, and for a long time, for all the guys.”

Filatov was the captain of Russia during the tournament and was clearly their best payer. Nikita was named a first-team all star for world junior hockey championship. Filatov scored 8 goals and 3 assists during the tournament and finished 4th in scoring leader list behind Cody Hodgson, John Tavares and Jordan Eberle, all from Canada.

Nikita Filatov was the number six pick in the 2008 NHL entry Draft and the first European to get picked! Looks like he’ll playing alongside the likes of Rick Nash and Zherdev pretty soon since the Columbus Blue Jackets selected him.

Arguably, Filatov was the second best player available in this year’s draft, next to Steven Stamkos. However, due to his size and the problems in getting Russian players in the NHL in the recent years, some teams probably didn’t want to take a risk, which explains why he was still available when it was Columbus turn to pick.

We can’t wait to see him in the NHL!