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Flyers Prospect Ivan Fedotov, in Apparent Violation of IIHF Ruling, Starts Opener in Russia

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1 year ago

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Ivan Fedotov (Photo by Flyers' Barry Hanrahan)
Ivan Fedotov (Photo by Flyers' Barry Hanrahan)

Philadelphia Flyers prospect Ivan Fedotov started Friday in the KHL season opener in Russia, an apparent violation of the IIHF ruling regarding the goaltender’s contract.

Fedotov’s contract is in dispute among the NHL, IIHF and Russian Ice Hockey Federation. The IIHF ruled on Aug. 14 that Fedotov could not play in Russia until Jan. 1, 2024.

Fedotov started for his CSKA Moscow team, his first professional game since April 30, 2022.

Before the game, the KHL and CSKA Moscow issued a statement:

“The CSKA team applied for the match and included Ivan Fedotov in the list to participate in the match,” KHL president Alexei Morozov said. 

“The KHL accepted the application, the application went through the CIB database, so he will take part in the match. The KHL and the club do not agree with the IIHF decision, which infringes on the constitutional right of a citizen of the Russian Federation to work.

“The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation came out in defense of the player and sent a warning to the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, the club and the League about the inadmissibility of violating the right to work and ordered Fedotov to be allowed to participate in the competition.”

Contract Conflict

The Fedotov contract tale remains as murky as midnight in Moscow.

The International Ice Hockey Federation ruled on Aug. 14 that the Flyers’ contract with Fedodov was valid. Fedotov was banned from playing in the KHL or other domestic leagues until Jan. 1. The IIHF ruling gave Fedotov two weeks to return to the Flyers or obtain a release from the team. That two-week deadline has passed.

The IIHF ruled that Fedotov, 26, breached his Flyers’ contract when he signed a two-year deal with CSKA.

The Russian federation appealed the IIHF’s ruling two weeks ago, shortly after it was rendered.

Fedotov signed that two-year contract with CSKA Moscow on July 8. The Kontinental Hockey League registered Fedotov’s contract, effectively closing the door on the goalie playing in Philadelphia next season. Fedotov had signed a deal with the Flyers in May 2022.

The Flyers and NHL submitted an appeal to the IIHF in late July, arguing the contract should be tolled, as Philadelphia requested in June.

Fedotov didn’t play last season because he served his year of required military service in Russia, after reportedly trying to evade service. Fedotov was detained and couldn’t play last season.

The Flyers drafted Fedotov in the 2015 seventh round (188th overall). He is considered one of the best goalies in the world not playing in the NHL.

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GMan

I am torn over this. Is Fedotov just a puppet for his team and the strings are being pulled or was it his decision to flip the bird to the Flyers. The Flyers have never had a goalie of his physical stature that could get from post to post easily and flash that long pad out to make a save.

I was really looking forward to him coming over and giving Hart a run for his money. Now, the situation is clear as mud and doesn’t look good for the Flyers when you could possibly see the light at the end of the tunnel when the Flyers won the IIHF decision.

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Byron

Ummm, Flyers had a guy named “Bobrovsky”.

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Not Offsides

I would think he’s being pressured or ordered by the government (which has ties to the KHL) to play for CSKA Moscow. If the KHL will not respect and accept the IIHF ruling, then to me the relationship is fractured and there’s no need for the NHL to abide by any agreements regarding NHL-drafted players with KHL contracts. Thus, the Flyers should work to get Michkov (and his family if necessary) out of there at any opportunity. Remember the Stastny brothers?

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Chuck Bausman

Good points by both. I feel badly for Fedotov. I think he just wants to play. Politics is never a good look in sports and the outcome often is clumsy. The Flyers have Michkov over there, which further complicates the matter for all parties involved.

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Byron

been saying since draft day they would never see Michkov in a Flyers uniform

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Sav1970

I wonder what role his coach Sergei Federov is playing in this situation? defected from Soviet Union to start his NHL career. If he is part of the problem holding him back from the NHL, he is a hypocritical POS.

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Pony

Great point. Perhaps Fedorov could help him to greener pastures in the nhl.

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Pony

All great comments. I think it’s important to not hold the player responsible in this case. Look at the way Russia handled his attempted departure before. They threw the book at him. If I were him I’d abide by whatever those who are immediately in control of my destiny ask of me. If he says he wants to go to north America and play he surely fears what the Russian government could do. He probably fears for his family too. Could you imagine that? As an American it’s tough to truly fathom.

Is his only option to defect? If so he would probably only do so with his entire family. That’s gotta be a hard thing to execute. Let him play in some international tournament and sweep them all off to the untied states right under the nose of the Russians. Wouldn’t that be sweet. Probably gotta take michkov with him otherwise he never gets out.

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Sav1970

This situation also has me worried about when it’s Mitchcov’s time come over. It is wierd because why are they fighting so hard to keep a 7th round draft pick on an ELC from coming over to NHL? They haven’t done this with any other KHL player that I know of.

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