The Philadelphia Flyers’ drama with KHL prospects continues.
Alexei Kolosov, expected to be part of the goalie tandem in AHL Lehigh Valley this season, instead would prefer to be loaned to Dinamo Minsk of the KHL for 2024-25, according to a source briefed on Kolosov’s thought process. The source added that Kolosov, 22, believes remaining in the KHL will be better for his overall development.
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Kolosov, a third-round draft pick of the Flyers in 2021, joined the Phantoms late last season and appeared in two games, as the organization attempted to prepare the Belarus native for what to expect in North America. He allowed six goals on 52 shots (.885 save percentage) in going 1-1-0.
Instead, the Flyers now seem to find themselves at odds with Kolosov, who recently changed his representation to agent Dan Milstein. According to a team source, the Flyers are not interested in loaning Kolosov back to the KHL or in terminating his contract, which has two years remaining at a $995,000 cap hit at the NHL level. Since Kolosov is signed to an NHL deal, he technically can’t return to the KHL without the Flyers’ consent.
But the Flyers only have to look at goalie Ivan Fedotov, who joined them in March, to know that the KHL doesn’t always abide by the rules. Despite Fedotov’s contract with the Flyers, signed in May 2022, the goalie signed a two-year KHL deal with CSKA Moscow after he was forced into a year of military service. Fedotov played the majority of last season with CSKA before it terminated the final year of that deal, allowing him to belatedly join the Flyers. Fedotov signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract extension with the Flyers on April 23.
The Flyers also have rookie Matvei Michkov, who was unexpectedly let out of his KHL contract two years early, and who will be on their NHL roster when the season begins in less than two months.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Kolosov has spent the last four seasons with Dinamo Minsk. Last season, in 47 games, he managed a 22-21-3 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and .907 save percentage and four shutouts.
The Flyers are expected to meet with Kolosov’s camp this week. It’s anyone’s guess what could come out of it, considering the circ*mstances.
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The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Kolosov as the Flyers’ seventh-best prospect in late February, but did not include the goalie on his list of top 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects.
Wheeler offered further analysis: “I would qualify Kolosov as a B-grade goalie prospect. He’s on the smaller side but has the tools you look for in terms of mobility/technique/hands. He found success at an early age in the KHL and has been a solid goalie at that level across parts of four seasons now. I think he’s got 1B/2 upside and should be a solid No. 3, regardless.
“I do think he could benefit from a full season in North America, though, not just to get acclimatized but because he’ll be 23 in January, and if he wants to make himself a priority or call-up option, he’d probably be smart to start now.”
If Kolosov doesn’t join the Phantoms, it’s fair to wonder about his future with the organization, which evidently would not be pleased with the decision. Still, the Flyers selected two goalies high in the 2023 draft: Carson Bjarnason in the second round (No. 51 overall), and Egor Zavragin in the third round (No. 87).
Bjarnason will return to Brandon of the WHL this season, while Zavragin is expected to play for Michkov’s former team, HC Sochi.
On the Flyers’ NHL roster, expected No. 1 goalie Samuel Ersson and Fedotov are signed through 2025-26. If Kolosov does not join the Phantoms, that makes Cal Petersen the expected AHL starter and the first option to join the NHL roster, should either Ersson or Fedotov get hurt.
If the Flyers look to add another veteran goalie before training camp, among those on the free agent market include Martin Jones, Antti Raanta and Kevin Lankinen.
(Photo of Alexei Kolosov at the 2023-24 KHL All-Star Game: Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
Kevin Kurz is a staff writer for The Athletic NHL based in Philadelphia. He previously covered the New York Islanders and the San Jose Sharks for 10+ years and worked in the Philadelphia Flyers organization. Follow Kevin on Twitter @KKurzNHL
