Five games into the 2024-25 season, Philadelphia Flyers fans have already grown frustrated over the team’s goaltending tandem—specifically taking issue with the performance of backup Ivan Fedotov.
To be clear, there is merit in criticizing certain aspects of Fedotov’s two performances so far. It’s clear that he’s still adjusting to the NHL (keep in mind, he’s only played five games), and he’s still learning how to get out of his own head when other teams start finding ways around him.
His famous 6-feet-7-inches frame can make up for much of what he may lack in certain skills, but it obviously can’t compensate for everything. Fedotov is still very much a work in progress, and patience will be required as the season carries on.
The reaction to the Russian’s less-than-ideal start to the season has been predictable—demote Fedotov, and bring up someone from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Namely, people have been suggesting that current Phantoms netminder Alexei Kolosov should take over the backup duties.
Plain and simple, that would be a ridiculous move.
Fedotov and Kolosov came to the U.S. at the same time, and have about the same number of North American hockey games under their belt. Fedotov has had nothing but NHL experience, whereas Kolosov has not played a single NHL minute. Fedotov spent the entirety of preseason in the Flyers’ camps, while Kolosov remained in his native Belarus for most of the summer, with no guarantee that he would come back to the U.S. at all.
Kolosov is 22 years old, which makes his development in the AHL a lot more sensible than having 27-year-old Fedotov suddenly sent down there. From the beginning, the Flyers brass had planned to have Fedotov be the No. 2 in the NHL while they develop Kolosov in the minors.
Related: The Confusing Offseason Saga Of Flyers’ Alexei Kolosov
The Flyers are hurting for viable goalie prospects at the moment, so it would be completely antithetical to their mission of development to rush Kolosov into the NHL just because Fedotov is still finding his feet. They knew there would be an adjustment period for their backup, and they’ve stuck with him.
This is not the kind of front office that panics and makes impulsive roster decisions after five games, especially not when it comes to the goalie tandem they’ve vowed to have the utmost faith and confidence in. A lot of moving pieces still need to fall into place for the Flyers, and to start making major rearrangements this early would be more harmful than helpful.
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