By Kevin Kurz, Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun
Ivan Fedotov, a Russian goaltender drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers nearly nine years ago, is likely to finally make his way to North America.
Fedotov is expected to join the Flyers before the end of the season, a league source confirmed to Athleticism. The Flyers drafted Fedotov in the seventh round in 2015. He signed a one-year entry-level contract with the club on May 7, 2022, but his NHL contract will not begin until he joins the Flyers. Thus, Fedotov has a valid deal with Philadelphia and would be eligible to play this season, after which he would become a free agent.
Fedotov was ready to join the Flyers when he initially signed his contract, but he was later arrested and forced into military service in Russia and was reportedly sent to Severomorsk in the north of the country near the border with Finland.
There is great sensitivity here, given the visa issues, the difficulties in getting a player out of Russia and the history of this particular case, which makes an official announcement from the Flyers on Thursday unlikely, although it could be made in the coming days as the Flyers look for him. to clarify details with the league.
The NHL has confirmed Athleticism that there are no problems or obstacles to Fedotov immediately joining or playing for the Flyers.
Fedotov spent this season with CSKA Moscow in the KHL, defying the IIHF, which ruled his contract with the Flyers in the NHL was valid.
In 44 regular season games, he had a 21-22-1 record with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. His team was recently eliminated from the playoffs, then the team announced Thursday morning on X, formerly known as Twitter, that his two-year contract, which had one year remaining, had been terminated. Fedotov is eager to begin his NHL career, a league source said.
In 2021-22, Fedotov led CSKA Moscow to the Gagarin Cup championship, posting a 14-10-2 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 26 games. regular season. He also competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, helping the Russian team win the silver medal.
After that season, he thought he was developed enough to try to play in the NHL. Instead, he did not play hockey of any kind until this season, because he was fulfilling his military duties.
“All citizens subject to military service in the country must pay their debt to their homeland,” Fedotov said last July, according to to a translation. “We can debate for a long time, but the law is the law. We must respect it. Everyone repays their debt to their homeland to one degree or another.”
The Flyers could potentially use the 27-year-old goaltender right away, as the quality of play of their backups behind number one Samuel Ersson – and since Carter Hart’s departure in late January – has been mediocre.
Coming out of the All-Star break, Cal Petersen had the opportunity to start two games. He made 17 saves in a 3–2 win over Seattle on February 10, but then allowed seven goals on 32 shots in a 7–6 loss at Pittsburgh on February 25. After this game, the team reassigned Petersen to AHL Lehigh. Valley Phantoms and recalled Felix Sandstrom.
Sandstrom played in five games, going 1-2-0 in three starts, with a 3.87 goals-against average and .823 save percentage. He allowed three goals on just 14 shots in his most recent game, a 4-1 Flyers loss to Florida on March 24.
After that game, when asked about Sandstrom’s play, Flyers coach John Tortorella simply shrugged his shoulders a few times before leaving the podium. Tortorella later apologized for the reaction, as well as to Sandstrom himself.
“I made a terrible mistake with you the other night,” Tortorella said Tuesday, before the Flyers game in New York. “My body language was wrong. What I should have told you is that he’s trying. Sanny tries. Things have happened this year that have put our goaltending situation in a state of flux. Sandy didn’t deserve this from me. … It was wrong.”
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(Photo of Ivan Fedotov at the 2022 Olympics: Elsa/Getty Images)