Columbus Blue Jackets winger Nikita Filatov is returning home to Russia. 

It was reported Tuesday Filatov, 19, has signed a contract with CSKA Moscow of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, with the blessing of the Blue Jackets. 

The deal allows the young winger, who struggled to adjust to head coach Ken Hitch**** demanding two-way style, to play the season in Russia, with the understanding he can return to the Jackets next season. 

Filatov's handling by Hitchcock has according to the Columbus Dispatch been an area of contention between the coach and GM Scott Howson, who selected Filatov sixth overall in the 2008 entry draft.

Expectations were high for Filatov to crack the Blue Jackets lineup this season and he was even touted as a potential rookie of the year candidate

- It appears the NHL career of forward Tyler Arnason has come to an end. 

After he cleared waivers yesterday the NY Rangers released him from his one-year, two-way contract with the club, allowing him to sign with the KHL's Dinamo Riga. 

Arnason, 30, had been playing this season with the Rangers' AHL affiliate after failing to make their roster during pre-season play. 

His play had been in steady decline since a career-best 22-goal, 55-point performance in 2003-04 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He'd spent the last three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. 

- Forward Drew Miller is on the move again via waivers. 

Having been acquired from the Anaheim Ducks by the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer in a trade Miller was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings on waivers. 

The Washington Capitals recent "demotion" of center Michael Nylander to the AHL's Grand Rapid Griffins for a two-week conditioning stint has resulted in a minor resurrection of speculation he could either be traded to another NHL team or perhaps loaned to a European club, possibly in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). 

The way I read it, this is a last chance measure for Capitals management to hopefully drum up some interest in the 37-year-old center. 

Two years ago the Capitals signed Nylander, who was coming off an 83-point performance with the NY Rangers in 2006-07, to a four-year contract worth $4.875 milllion against their salary cap per season. 

The thinking was Nylander might mesh well with young Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin as a set-up center, and

A former NHL defenseman has announced his retirement while a former winger is heading to Russia's KHL. 

Philippe Boucher, who split last season between the Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins, has decided to retire after 17 NHL seasons, having won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins last spring. 

Winger Eric Perrin, who played last season with the Atlanta Thrashers and was an unrestricted free agent, has signed a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk. 

Boucher, 36, also played for the Buffalo Sabres and LA Kings during his career. His best season was in 2006-07, with a career-best 19 goals and 51 points in 76 games with the Stars, earning a berth in the NHL All-Star game. 

He was a good puck-moving defenseman for much of his career but injuries were also his nearly constant