By Kevin Kurz, Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun
Ivan Fedotov, a Russian goalie who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers practically 9 years in the past, is more likely to lastly make his method to North America.
Fedotov is anticipated to affix the Flyers earlier than the tip of the season, a league supply confirmed to The Athletic. The Flyers drafted Fedotov within the seventh spherical in 2015. He signed a one-year entry-level cope with the membership on Might 7, 2022, however his NHL contract received’t start till he joins the Flyers. So, Fedotov has a sound cope with Philadelphia and could be eligible to play this season, after which he would change into a free agent.
Fedotov was ready to return to the Flyers when he initially signed his contract, however he was then arrested and compelled into army service with Russia and was reportedly despatched to Severomorsk, within the northern a part of the nation, close to its border with Finland.
There’s excessive sensitivity right here, given visa points, the challenges getting a participant out of Russia and the historical past with this specific case, which makes a proper announcement by the Flyers on Thursday unlikely, though it might be made within the coming days because the Flyers search to make clear particulars with the league.
The NHL has confirmed to The Athletic that there are not any points or roadblocks to Fedotov becoming a member of or taking part in for the Flyers instantly.
Fedotov spent this season with CSKA Moscow within the KHL, defying the IIHF, which dominated that his NHL contract with the Flyers was legitimate.
In 44 regular-season video games, he was 21-22-1 with a 2.37 goals-against common and .914 save proportion. His workforce was not too long ago eradicated from the playoffs, after which the workforce introduced on X, previously often known as Twitter, on Thursday morning that his two-year contract, which had one 12 months remaining, had been terminated. Fedotov is keen to start his NHL profession, a league supply stated.
In 2021-22, Fedotov led CSKA Moscow to the Gagarin Cup championship, posting a 14-10-2 report with a 2.00 goals-against common and .919 save proportion in 26 common season video games. He additionally performed within the 2022 Beijing Olympics, serving to the Russian workforce to a silver medal.
Following that season, he figured he was developed sufficient to aim to play within the NHL. As a substitute, he didn’t play hockey of any type till this season, as a result of he fulfilled his army duties.
“All residents chargeable for army service within the nation should pay their debt to their homeland,” Fedotov stated final July, in accordance with a translation. “We are able to debate for a very long time, however the regulation is the regulation. It have to be revered. Everybody repays their debt to their homeland to 1 diploma or one other.”
The Flyers might probably use the 27-year-old goalie immediately, as the standard of play from their backups behind No. 1 Samuel Ersson — and since Carter Hart’s departure in late January — has been subpar.
Popping out of the All-Star break, Cal Petersen was given a chance to begin two video games. He made 17 saves in a 3-2 win over Seattle on Feb. 10, however then allowed seven targets on 32 pictures in a 7-6 loss in Pittsburgh on Feb. 25. Following that sport, the workforce reassigned Petersen to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and recalled Felix Sandstrom.
Sandstrom has appeared in 5 video games, posting a 1-2-0 report in three begins, with a 3.87 goals-against common and .823 save proportion. He allowed three targets on simply 14 pictures in his most up-to-date sport, a 4-1 Flyers loss to Florida on March 24.
After that sport, when requested about Sandstrom’s play, Flyers coach John Tortorella merely shrugged a pair instances earlier than leaving the rostrum. Later, Tortorella apologized for that response, and to Sandstrom himself.
“I made a horrible mistake with you guys the opposite evening,” Tortorella stated on Tuesday, earlier than the Flyers’ sport in New York. “My physique language was mistaken. What I ought to have stated to you (is), he’s attempting. Sanny’s attempting. Issues occurred this 12 months that put our goaltending scenario into just a little little bit of a state of flux. Sandy didn’t deserve that from me. … It was mistaken.”
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(Photograph of Ivan Fedotov on the 2022 Olympics: Elsa / Getty Photos)