N. FIlatov a possibility for the Bruins?

by The Jumbotron (Gabe) on Nov 18, 2009 5:26 AM EST

So news broke earlier today that alleged offensive dynamo and 2008 6th-overall pick ~~Amanda Bynes~~ Nikita Filatov has been amicably gifted to the KHL for the remainder of the season.

Here is Filatov discussing the move with Puck Daddy.

Obviously, Filatov won't be returning to the NHL this year, and there's a good chance he might stay in Russia, where people may not immediately question his gender upon gazing on his visage.

That said, would you like to see the Bruins, if they're able, swapping a 2nd round pick (or two) for Filatov's rights? If and when he does return to the NHL he will have at least a year left on his entry-level contract, and is a prodigiously talented offensive sniper, having already notched an NHL hat trick, and, well, only 6 goals and no assists in 21 career games. Ahem.

Yes, he is a defensive liability, but he's also 19 years old, and still in the throes of puberty (if not just starting) so there remains a chance that he could fill out. "Effective 2-way player" might be pushing it, but "not always a defensive liability" might be acceptable if they were accompanied by 30 goals and a 850k cap hit. And unlike Phil-the-Pill, character problems don't seem to plague Filatov, as Columbus has praised his work ethic and willingness to adapt, even if his talent and physical ability haven't quite caught up.

I'm not really a fan of Filatov. I sincerely doubt we'll ever see him in the NHL again (he's just too small, and not as good as Patrick Kane) but I thought I'd just throw the idea out there, see what everybody else thought. A 2nd round pick seems kind of slight for a talent like Filatov, but it's obvious that there is no place for him in Columbus, even with their desperate need of goal-scoring.

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Filatov isn’t playing in the NHL all this year and if/when he comes back he’ll probably play for Columbus.

Hitchcock did the old trick with “only play him as a fourth-liner and then complain when he doesn’t put up top-line numbers.” I don’t think he’s necessarily too small, just look at martin st. louis and patrick kane and brian gionta and mike cammalleri, and…

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 18, 2009 9:49 AM EST reply actions

But that’s just it. For every St. Louis, Kane, Gionta, and Cammalleri, there are 8-10 other guys who you never hear about because they just can’t hang with the big (or normal-sized) dogs. Filatov might belong in the latter category.

by The Jumbotron (Gabe) on Nov 19, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

We don’t need another Carl Soderberg.

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by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Nov 18, 2009 5:07 PM EST reply actions

I’m not sure if Soderberg is the right comparison to make. He’s an NHL player, and from my understanding of the loan agreement, he is under contract with the Blue Jackets still. At the end of the season, he should go back to Columbus. He was eager to go due to lack of playing time. Let’s say he matures with CSKA, and some team (not necessarily the Bruins, but maybe not the Blue Jackets) says “Okay, we’ll give you 12 minutes, let’s see what you got.”

The KHL and NHL most likely do not want another Alexander Radulov situation, which would be a more appropriate comparison if Filatov stays in Russia.

by The Jumbotron (Gabe) on Nov 19, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

good point…at any rate, there’s too many question marks with this kid.

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by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Nov 19, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

NO!!!!

Remember we have the leaf’s first round picks the next two years!!!!!!! If the leafs continue suck this bad we could get a top 2- pick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This year we have our first pick, the leafs, then in the second round we have ours, the leafs, the Bolts (via the Recchi trade), & I think the Wild’s or Sabre’s pick (whoever we sent Kobasew to, I forgot), don’t forget that we have 8th over pick in ‘07 Forward Zach Hamill in Providence & the #16 overall Center Joe Colbourne playing for the Denver Pioneer in the NCAA. The B’s are stoked on talent, plus we have Wheels, Lucic, Hunwick, Bitz, Krejci. I want the B’s to use the Leafs to get a stud blueliner so badly.

by Todd the Terrible on Nov 26, 2009 1:07 AM EST reply actions