On Thursday Flyers goaltender prospects Ivan Fedotov and Alexei Kolosov both had their KHL contracts terminated which allowed them to come play in North America. Fedotov was in Philadelphia by Friday and has already suited up in two games for the orange and black. While Kolosov was sent down to Lehigh Valley along with Felix Sandstrom to allow Fedotov to join the Flyers.
Alexei Kolosov was drafted in the third round by the Flyers in the 2021 draft. The 22 year old Belarusian has spent the last four season playing for Dinamo Minsk in the KHL. In 120 game Kolosov averages a 2.63 GAA and a 0.909 SV% with 6 shutouts.
While Ivan Fedotov has one of the craziest backgrounds anyone has ever witnessed. Drafted in 2015 in the seventh round, Fedotov played 9 seasons with various Russian teams. In May of 2022 Fedotov was a free agent and he signed an entry level deal with the Flyers to come to North America. In July Fedotov was arrested by the Russian military for evading the required miliary service. He joined the Russian Navy in the remote Artic town of Severomorsk along the Finnish boarder. He did not play for the entire 2022-23 season. After spending his one year in the Russian Military Fedotov signed a two year deal to play in the KHL for CSKA Moscow (previously known as the Red Army). This lead to a contract dispute over which one is valid, the one he signed with the Flyers, or the one with Moscow. The IIHF intervened and ruled in favor of the Flyers and placed sanctions on CSKA Moscow. After playing 44 games this season with a GAA of 2.37 and SV% of 0.914 with 4 shutouts Moscow terminated Fedotov’s contract which opened the door for him to come to America. Fedotov made his NHL debut on April 1st for the Flyers in relief of Sam Ersson at the start of the second period, making 19 saves on 21 shots in a 4-3 overtime lost to the Islanders. Fedotov is the tallest goalie in NHL history at 6’8″.
The Playoff Push
With six games left in the regular season the Flyers sit third in the Metropolitan division standing. They are one point ahead of both the Capitals and Red Wings, and two above the Islanders. The Caps have eight games left, while the Wings and Isles have seven. In the remaining schedule for the Flyers four of their games are against teams outside of playoff contention in the Sabres, Blue Jackets, Canadians, and Devils. With one game against the the division best Rangers, and the final game which maybe for all the marbles against the Capitals. After going 2-4-1 in seven games against five of the best teams in the league the Flyers lost three in a row against teams outside of the playoff picture. The Flyers are in despite need of wins against weaker opponents if they want to have any hope of making the playoffs.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola
Nathan Harding
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