Fedotov valid to play with Flyers after saga of uncertainty

After a long and grueling saga, the International Ice Hockey Federation concluded the contract Ivan Fedotov agreed to with the Philadelphia Flyers is valid.

Today, the IIHF released a statement revealing Fedotov is suspended from national and international games and that CSKA Moscow will be disciplined due to their awareness of the contract situation, receiving a one-year ban on international transfers.

The suspension does not apply to NHL games.

Ivan Fedotov to travel to Philadelphia?

It’s been a long road for Fedotov. After signing an entry-level contract with the Flyers last year, Fedotov was detained in Russia for ‘attempted military evasion.’ He was then sent to complete a year of mandatory military service.

Before this, the 6’7″ goalie helped CSKA to lift the Gagarin Cup and earned a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2021-2022. He was initially expected to join the Flyers last year before mandatory military service was imposed on him. The Flyers fought for Fedotov with the IIHF earlier this year.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Flyers will choose to bring Fedotov over. The team already has Carter Hart, Felix Sandström, and Samuel Ersson on their books, and while a stint in the AHL would benefit his development, he’s already 26 years old.

The good news is that it’s a decision the Flyers and Fedotov can make between themselves. They fought for the goaltender earlier this year, and the IIHF decided to give Fedotov the freedom to make that decision while punishing CSKA.

It’s a messy situation, but one that can still hopefully end on a positive note.

(Photo by Mickael Chavet/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)