Filatov: Ovechkin is the best forward of this planet

 Nikita Filatov's blog, www.sports.ru, Jan. 9, 2008:

In the last game for Columbus I played less than two minutes, but in the next game vs. Washington I am looking forward for more. The situation is simply different. The team has a huge number of injured forwards. Everybody is in shock, it is something incomprehensible. Nash, Huselius, Chimera and Torres can't play because of the injuries. Brassard is gone for the rest of the season. Can you imagine that! Just a string of bad luck.

It is now possible to show yourself and play much more. It is no coincidence that Maxim Mayorov, who unfortunately was not invited to WJC, is in Columbus roster too. Now the kids in Columbus have more chances to prove what they are worth. For my part, I will try to do the best though we'll be playing against the team that is clearly not a Christmas present.

The Capitals have lot of stars. For example, I believe that the Washington leader Alexander Ovechkin is objectively the best forward in the world. Not just the best Russian forward, he is the best in the entire planet. I am confident that at the end of the season he will become the best scorer of the league and again will win individual trophies. It is always interesting to play against such hockey players. I could never imagine that at 18 I will play against such master as Ovechkin.

But now it is a reality.