Blue Jackets management will get its first look at Nikita Filatov since he left the team in November unhappy and uncertain about his future with it.

General manager Scott Howson and assistant general manager Chris MacFarland are scheduled to travel today to Saskatchewan, site of the world junior championships.

They are not, however, planning to make a sales pitch to Filatov about next season.

Howson said if they get a chance to speak to Filatov, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft, they won't talk Blue Jackets hockey or what led to the rookie's departure.

"It would be a social conversation, not a hockey conversation," Howson said.

The Jackets have given Filatov his space since loaning him to CSKA Moscow of the Continental Hockey League for the remainder of the season at his request. The KHL season ends about a month before the NHL season, so Filatov, 19, could conceivably return.

But Filatov told The Dispatch several weeks ago he doubted the Blue Jackets would want him back for a stretch run. He has offered no promises to return next season, but the team is hopeful he will.

Filatov went home Nov. 19 because he said coach Ken Hitchcock wouldn't give him a legitimate chance to prove himself. Filatov had two goals in 13 games, averaging eight minutes.

The Jackets have kept close tabs on Filatov, who has 14 points in 12 games, playing 17-plus minutes. Developmental coach Tyler Wright has spoken to him twice since he departed.

"We have not talked to him about his experience with CSKA," Howson said. "He is scoring and playing a lot, and those are positives."

With the NHL trade deadline about two months away, Howson reiterated the club has no intention of dealing Filatov.

"He is one of the best prospects in the world and we think he's going to be part of our future," Howson said.

Oh, so close

Raffi Torres snapped a 10-game goal scoring dry spell, but it's the chance he missed minutes later that will haunt him.

Torres scored his 11th goal at 6:02, and with 3:27 remaining in the first period, he had a chance to make it 2-0. He took a cross-ice pass from Antoine Vermette and, with Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis out of the play, put a shot off the left post.

"It was a great pass but it kind of handcuffed me a little," Torres said. "A couple more inches the other way and it's in."

Slap shots

Forward Mike Blunden cleared waivers yesterday and will be assigned to minor-league Syracuse. The Jackets scratched defenseman Mike Commodore and forward Andrew Murray. The Jackets had their fourth sellout of the season and second straight.

treed@dispatch.com