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The Philadelphia Flyers are making a surprise playoff push as the NHL regular season winds down, and they just made a big-time addition that should help the cause.
Philadelphia announced the signing of 27-year-old Russian goaltender Ivan Fedotov on Friday morning.
But Fedotov’s path to the NHL was anything but straightforward after the Russian government forced him into military service when he tried to defect to the US two years ago.
The Flyers selected Fedotov with the 188th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft after an impressive debut season with KHL team HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.
Fedotov had a breakout season with CSKA Moscow in 2021-22, becoming the full-time starter and posting a 14–10–2 record with a 2.00 GAA and .919 save percentage. He was named as a finalist for the KHL’s top goaltender of the year and he helped lead the team to the Russian equivalent of the Stanley Cup.
He then helped lead Russia to a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Flyers Goalie Prospect Ivan Fedotov Was Detained By Russian Police
But when Fedotov tried to sign with Flyers as a free agent, he was arrested for alleged evasion of military service in Russia and sent to a military camp in Siberia.
Fedotov completed his compulsory military service. But CSKA Moscow claimed he had to play two more seasons for the club.
Surprisingly, however, CSKA terminated his contract on March 28, allowing him to sign with the Flyers.
So, what’s next?
The Flyers held an introductory press conference for the 6-foot-7, 27-year-old goaltender on Friday.
He’ll now likely serve as the Flyers backup goaltender behind starter Samuel Ersson during the stretch run. Ersson began the season as the backup to Carter Hart, who left the team after turning himself in to Canadian police on charges of sexual assault.
Meanwhile, the Flyers also agreed to a deal with Belarusian goaltender Alexei Kolosov earlier this week. Kolosov, like Fedotov, was playing in Russia’s KHL.
He’s expected to become the No. 1 goaltender for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL next season.