Sens' Filatov Signs Two-Year Deal With KHL Team: Nikita Filatov has signed a two-year deal with Salavat Yulaev of the KHL reports the Ottawa Sun. (Updated 05/15/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/27/12).
Fantasy Analysis
It certainly appears that the Nikita Filatov experiment is over for good in Ottawa. The Senators will need to make a qualifying offer to Filatov, who will become a restricted free agent come July 1st, or he'll become unrestricted. Ottawa's management is debating whether or not to do so, but odds are good that GM Bryan Murray will take a pass and end the team's association with the winger. His fantasy value next year is next to nil. (Updated 05/15/2012).
09/20/2011 16:59 Draft Prep 2011-12: Keep an eye on these young guns
Young players are the heart of the future. Rotowire's Janet Eagleson takes a look at some youngsters who you should target on Draft Day.
The 2010-11 season was largely one to forget for the talented Filatov. He started the year in Columbus, playing a total of 23 games, but was eventually sent down to Springfield of the AHL after putting up only seven points (all assists) during his stretch with the big club. With Springfield, Filatov notched nine goals and 11 assists in 36 games before suffering a season-ending concussion. After the season ended, it became apparent that Filatov and the Columbus Blue Jackets organization needed to part ways (rumors that the Columbus and Springfield coaching staffs had soured on Filatov were rampant) and the talented winger was eventually traded on the second day of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft to Ottawa for a third-round pick (66th overall). While Filatov must share some of the blame for how he handled himself with the Columbus organization, the fact that he was rushed to the NHL like so many other Columbus prospects in years past certainly did not help his development. With a new lease on life in Ottawa, Filatov will be given every opportunity to play on one of Ottawa's top two lines. That being said, Ottawa's management has made it clear that he'll need to earn top-six minutes. It was a good sign when Filatov cut short a family vacation in the Dominican Republic to attend Ottawa's annual rookie development camp for a couple of days in late June before returning to Moscow. With new coach Paul MacLean stressing a puck possession game with speed, Filatov's talents might actually be exploited to their fullest. If Filatov can harness his talents and work hard all year, he might begin to scratch the surface of his potential and net upwards of 20-25 goals with 25 assists. At only 21 years of age, Filatov is still a prospect and will be allowed to make mistakes on what will be a very young Ottawa team, something he wasn't afforded in Columbus. (Updated 10/4/11)
