We Still Don’t Know Where Ivan Fedotov Will Play Next Year
On Monday morning the IIHF made their ruling on Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov. Last year Fedotov was signed to his NHL contract and before he could board his plane to the USA he was picked up by the Russian Military. Fedotov was detained for evading military service and was unable to fulfill his contract with the Flyers last year.
The contract for Fedotov was then moved to this upcoming season where it was suspected he would compete for the backup role. However, Fedotov also signed a contract with CSKA which is why the IIHF has been forced to step in.
BREAKING NEWS ‼️
— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 14, 2023
The IIHF rules that #FueledByPhilly Ivan Fedotov has a valid contract with @NHLFlyers
Source: https://t.co/rpOoTDZRuk pic.twitter.com/oORsUaUAQL
The IIHF ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Flyers in regards to Fedotov, which we assumed meant that he would be on a flight to the US to come play for the Flyers.
Fedotov was given a four month suspension by the IIHF which means he can not play for CSKA until the second half of the season and can also not play in any international games. Not ideal for a goaltender who already missed last season due to the military service.
So while the IIHF ruled in favor that Fedotov has a valid contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, CSKA does not agree with the ruling…
Official statement from CSKA regarding the IIHF #FueledByPhilly Ivan Fedotov decision: pic.twitter.com/990BD4DWVz
— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 14, 2023
So while we thought we were going to get some clarity on the situation, that just does not seem to be the case. Unfortunately, it looks like CSKA is prepared to stop cooperating with the IIHF. Which means they are going to do whatever they can to make sure Fedotov plays the season with CSKA.
This whole situation is very messy and there is a lot of false reports out there and a lot of speculation that is only making things worse. So as of now we do not know if Fedotov will be playing for the Flyers and if he will be at training camp next month. So until we get full clarity on this situation it’s best just to wait for the accurate information to come out. Especially because we have seen how dangerous it can be for players and their families from Russia coming over to the states.
The Flyers have plenty of options when it comes to goaltending and whether or not Fedotov is here for this season or not it really isn’t a big deal. The only thing we can hope for is the best for Fedotov and that everything gets sorted out the right way.
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-Walsh