Ivan Fedotov joins Philadelphia Flyers after KHL contract termination

Ivan Fedotov is in Philadelphia to join the Flyers for the rest of the 2023-24 NHL season.

The news comes a day after Fedotov’s previous club, CSKA Moscow in the KHL, ended his contract with a year left on it.

Fedotov originally signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers ahead of the 2022-23 season. Last year, he was detained in Russia for allegedly attempting to evade military service and was unable to join the Flyers. His deal was moved over for the 2023-24 season, with the belief that he’d be ready to serve as backup this year.

Instead, he signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, a move that the IIHF immediately sanctioned the team and the player for. Fedotov was banned from national and international games with Russia, which was also to include him sitting out KHL games. Despite this, Fedotov continued to play with CSKA, registering a 21-22-1 record en route to a first-round playoff elimination.

The 27-year-old goaltender was drafted 188th overall by the Flyers in 2015. He started to make a name for himself over the past few years and was one of the top goaltenders at the 2022 Olympics with the Russian Olympic Committee. He was also named the top goalie in the KHL that season, which led to him becoming a high-profile transfer option for the Flyers.

Fedotov’s initial contract is set to expire ahead of the July 1 free agency period. The deal was signed in 2022, but the Flyers were able to push the contract back to 2023-24.

Fedotov’s arrival should give the Flyers some extra goaltending depth after losing Carter Hart as part of the investigation into Canada’s 2018 World Junior Championship team. Alexei Kolosov is also expected to join the Flyers in the coming days after finishing season with the KHL’s Dinamo Minsk, going 22-21-3 with four shutouts in 47 games.