Former Ottawa Senators winger Nikita Filatov is now gone for good from both the team and from an NHL contract. He's departed team and league to sign a contract with KHL team Salavat Yulaev. Because the KHL salary cap will not apply to stars returning to the league from the NHL, there's a good chance that he could make a lot more money in Russia next season than any NHL team would have paid him.
Nikita Filatov Leaves Senators, Signs In KHL
Winger Nikita Filatov has opted for guaranteed ice time (and money) in the KHL over a shot to make an NHL team.


Filatov was the 6th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft. He's been impressive during some stints in the AHL and KHL, but has never translated his talents to success in the NHL. He only managed a total of six goals and seven assists in his 44 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team that drafted him. He recorded one assist and no goals in his nine games with the Senators this year before he was reassigned to the AHL.
He didn’t like his new assignment, so he decided to leave for the KHL in December. He’s just 21 years old, so he would have been able to pick up an NHL contract somewhere if he wanted one, but Filatov has chosen guaranteed ice time in the KHL instead.
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