The drama surrounding goaltending prospect Alexei Kolosov’s reported refusal to return to the Philadelphia Flyers has given fans plenty to talk and debate about, with many placing the blame for the situation squarely on Flyers GM Danny Briere’s shoulders.
The thing is, it’s not that black and white.
It can’t be overstated that the general public doesn’t know the details of the situation. Nobody from Kolosov’s team has commented on the reports, and the only thing the Flyers have said is that they fully expect the young goalie to participate in preseason camps (which he is contractually obligated to do).
A source said that Kolosov felt “isolated” during his stay with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, lending credence to reports that Kolosov was dealing with severe homesickness after his arrival in the U.S. in April. He apparently was also disappointed with his playing time, only appearing in two games during the tail end of the 2023-24 season.
Per AHL source, Alexei Kolosov told #Flyers at the end of his stint w/ Lehigh Valley he did not want to return
“They put him in the hotel by himself & he felt isolated, especially since his English isn’t great”
Explains the AHL deals for Gahagen & Petruzzelli. @InsideAHLHockey
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) July 27, 2024
It’s understandable that a young player could feel out-of-place in a new country and new league, especially when many people on the Phantoms don’t speak his language, but people seem to think that Briere and the rest of the Flyers front office “abandoned” Kolosov in a hotel and dusted their hands of the situation. In what world would any NHL front office do that to a new player, much less a front office that has consistently shown how much they care about making their players comfortable in the organization?
The narrative that Flyers just “ghosted” Alexei Kolosov in Lehigh Valley is hard to believe for two reasons…
1- Kolosov & Fedotov have same agent so he knew Fedotov was coming
2- PHI made it well known Kolosov wasnt coming over for NHLSomething doesnt add up. #LetsGoFlyers
— Brandon J. Sommermann (@B_Sommermann) July 27, 2024
As for the limited game time, it’s natural to feel unhappy with so few minutes, but Briere stated from the get-go that Kolosov would be starting out his Flyers career with the Phantoms, and that Ivan Fedotov (who arrived at the same time) would assume backup duties at the top level.
Kolosov and Fedotov have the same agency representation, and Briere has always made a point about being transparent with his players about what the expectations are for them and what responsibilities they’ll have within the team. Kolosov might not have agreed with his placement, but it’s not like Briere promised him a spot on the NHL roster and then switched up at the last minute. He would have been aware of the plan since before his arrival, and if he’s expressing frustration because he thought that he deserved more, that’s on him—not Briere.
And if Kolosov really is that unhappy with his AHL placement, the goaltending situation within the Flyers is still precarious enough to where he could have a real shot at some NHL minutes if he proves himself worthy with the Phantoms.
Related: The Confusing Offseason Saga Of Flyers’ Alexei Kolosov
It may be a tedious and frustrating thing to endure, but he’s far from the first player to experience that path to The Show. Plenty of current Flyers (Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Bobby Brink, etc.) have had to pay their AHL dues before earning a spot on the top roster. It’s counterproductive to get fed up after two games and give up on his NHL aspirations, but if that really is the case, again, that is on Kolosov.
As general manager, Briere does have a certain amount of responsibility in overseeing the journey of prospects, but when the prospects have their minds made up on a course of action and resort to childish and immature tactics to try and have their demands met (see also: Cutter Gauthier), Briere has made it crystal clear that he has no interest in bending the knee. He didn’t give in to the brattiness of a top prospect like Gauthier, so it’s extremely doubtful that he’ll tolerate the antics of a less elite talent like Kolosov.
Related: REPORT: Alexei Kolosov Informed Flyers He ‘Did Not Want To Return’ To AHL
The blame game is exhausting, irritating, and nothing but a breeding ground for disingenuous shock-value opinions and clickbait. The offseason can get boring for many hockey fans, and a saga like this allows the kind of pot-stirring and keyboard wars that’ll get fans through the sluggish summer months.
However, these current debates lack nuance and understanding, and simply attack the easiest available target instead of making an effort to see both perspectives and draw an educated conclusion. When preseason hasn’t even started and fans are already catastrophizing with their torches and pitchforks at the ready, the issue may run deeper than just the front office.
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