VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said yesterday that he has been committed to playing his young skill players regardless of the price.

"We've got a plan and we're willing to stick with it," Hitchcock said. "And if it costs me my job then it costs me my job, but there is a plan."

The coach and his team have lost 20 of the past 23 games, and questions regarding his future with the organization grow louder with each defeat.

Hitchcock has drawn criticism for his handling of youngsters such as center Derick Brassard, 22, and Nikita Filatov, 19, who returned to Russia in November unhappy with his playing time.

But yesterday Hitchcock defended the way he has played the likes of Brassard and Jake Voracek and the franchise's vision for the future.

"It would be easy to sit out young guys and play stop-gap (players), but we are not doing that," Hitchcock said. "We trust how good these guys are going to be.

"We have gone through growing pains with guys and we are going to stay with that program . . . I really see light at the end of the tunnel. I see where guys like Brassard and Voracek are at and where they were at six weeks ago, and there's a dramatic change.

Hitchcock was asked whether he were concerned about his job security and the increased scrutiny in recent days. He has received votes of confidence from team president Mike Priest and general manager Scott Howson.

"I don't like to read that stuff, nobody likes to read that stuff," he said. "I'm the guy taking the hits, but I trust the people I work for and the people I work with."

More ice time for Brassard

Brassard scored a gritty, rebound goal late in the second period of a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

His reward for competing in the high-traffic areas? Brassard earned just 2 minutes, 11 seconds of ice time in the third period as the Avalanche rallied for two goals.

On Sunday, Hitchcock spoke to Brassard about the decision on playing time, and the second-year center said he was satisfied with the answers he received.

"He told me I should have played more in the third," Brassard said. "I liked when he said that to me. He was honest."

Both of Brassard's linemates, Jared Boll and Alexandre Picard, left the game with injuries, and Hitchcock opted to play three lines, leaving Brassard with only spot duty.

Brassard figures to get increased ice time tonight and might play a different position, as well. He will be elevated from the fourth line to the second line against Vancouver and possibly will play some left wing alongside center Antoine Vermette and Voracek.

Second-line left winger Raffi Torres likely will miss the game because of the flu. Hitchcock already was preparing to promote Brassard, practicing him yesterday on the third line.

Hitchcock said the staff has been discussing using Brassard on the wing to give him additional ice time. Brassard and Vermette could alternate at left wing and center tonight.

Slap shots

The Jackets recalled center Derek MacKenzie from minor-league Syracuse. MacKenzie will play fourth-line center tonight. Picard was cut by a skate above the left knee Saturday, and he is expected to miss at least one game.

treed@dispatch.com