We Want the Cup – Next Years Players? – Fedor Tyutin

Feb. 2012; New York Rangers right wing Brandon Prust (8) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin (51) battle for the puck . Rangers won in overtime 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Fedor Tyutin a 2nd round pick of the NY Rangers in the 2002 draft is a Russian born player. He has been with the Blue Jackets through 5 seasons. Due to injury this year, he only played 67 games, the first time he has not played 80 games. Fedor has been pretty consistent averaging about 30 points per year. When Nikita Nikitin joined the Blue Jackets this year the 2 were paired, making a Russian pair on what many people think of as an anti Russian team. So much for the anti Russian  theories. The pairing worked well as both players seemed to flourish both defensively and offensively.

Fedor will turn 29 in July. Being consistent on the ice both offensively and defensively and playing 80 games per year is not a bad combination. His +/- this year was a -21, which is far and away the worst ever. He is under contract until 2018 for about $4,5 M/year.

There is no reason to trade him, so he is probably going to be a Blue Jacket for the next few years. He has shown himself to be reliable and consistent. He has 24 games of playoff experience with the NY Rangers, and a total of 558 NHL games, so he is a veteran. As with so many foreign players, it’s hard to know his effect on the”room” and the team. [He was on call to talk to  Nikitan when the trade with the Blues was completed, although he was not needed, so he can speak English well enough to be considered a translator]