Don Meehan on Nikita Filatov

From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

I asked Meehan how Filatov was handling the situation. Here’s what he said:

“You know what? He’s doing OK. Thanks for asking. I talked to him on Tuesday, and we’re talking now more often because we’re going through immigration process (work visa). He’s doing fine, really. His one goal is to play in the NHL right now. You hear these threats out there, about being suspended from international play. Now, that has not been voiced to me. But Nikita’s goal right now is to play in the NHL, and all of that stuff will be dealt with later. He’s a brave kid. I told him that. You have to be brave to go through something like this. But he wants to play in the NHL. It’s what he wants, and we’re going to make it happen.”

Read the entire entry from Puck-rakers here.

The Blue Jackets did their homework before the draft, not only on Filatov’s skill level, but his willingness to come to the NHL. It has become obvious that he wants to be a Blue Jacket very badly, and it looks he should be at training camp come September.