The Philadelphia Flyers and Goaltender Ivan Fedotov
The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly poised to assign goaltender Ivan Fedotov to the AHL for the beginning of the 2025-26 season. This decision comes amid a challenging marketplace for goaltending, with many teams, including the Flyers, grappling to secure reliable netminders. Jake Allen remains a top target in this year’s market, although he is likely to stay with the New Jersey Devils, while previous Flyers goalie Alex Lyon has also emerged as a potential candidate.
Insights from Insiders
According to insider Anthony Di Marco from Daily Faceoff, this move aligns with insights previously shared by Anthony San Filippo on his “Snow the Goalie” podcast. In discussing the team’s options for goalies, Di Marco echoed the sentiment that it appears Fedotov will be sent down to the AHL.
Fedotov’s Performance and Future
Fedotov, who is 28 years old, completed his inaugural full NHL season with disappointing statistics, including a 6-13-4 record, a 3.15 goals-against average, and an .880 save percentage. Throughout the season, he frequently found himself sidelined, which raised concerns about his consistency. Despite demonstrating flashes of potential — with eight of his 26 games featuring save percentages above .920, including two contests against Tampa Bay — he also recorded 10 outings where he struggled, finishing with percentages below .867.
This lack of experience in North America plays into the decision to assign him to the AHL. With further development against less formidable competitors, the Flyers hope he can overcome the struggles evident during his first season. Additionally, this strategy will reduce the Flyers’ NHL salary cap by $1.15 million, a crucial factor as they look to acquire a new goalie.
Current Goaltending Situation
Currently, starter Sam Ersson is coming off a season plagued by lower-body injuries, while prospect Aleksei Kolosov has shown inconsistency that raises doubts about his future in the short and long term within the organization.
Additional Rumors and Considerations
In a related note, the Flyers are also rumored to be considering a trade for New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, raising questions around what price the Flyers are willing to pay given the current trade market dynamics. Moreover, if 19-year-old prospect Carson Bjarnason is not assigned to the ECHL, he and Fedotov could form the goaltending duo for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season.
