Quick Hits: July 28, 2024
1) Tony Androckitis (Inside AHL Hockey) tweeted on Saturday that Flyers goaltending prospect Alexei Kolosov informed the organization "at the end of his stint with Lehigh Valley [that] he did not want to return" for the 2024-25 season.
I do not yet know what exactly went on or has gone on since. When the initial reports surfaced about Kolosov wanting to go back to play for Dinamo Minsk, Flyers sources said it was news to them and that they were looking into it. Subsequently, the sources said Kolosov told the Flyers there was nothing to the report.
Things went quiet until after Development Camp, which Kolosov did not attend. It is not unusual for Russian Federation Prospects not to attend NHL Development Camps but there was a strange report from Belarus that Kolosov
had a plane ticket but accidentally overslept his flight on his intended trip. That seemed dubious.
At the end of the Flyers Development Camp, assistant general manager said Kolosov "hopefully comes over this year and gets [AHL] experience". Kolosov signed an entry-level contract last year but, as part of the deal, the Flyers loaned him to Dinamo Minsk for the 2023-24 season (burning the first year of his NHL contract because he didn't fall under the slide rule). After his KHL season, Kolosov reported to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms shortly after meeting with the Flyers in Voorhees.
Kolosov spent three-plus weeks with the Phantoms near the end of the regular seasons and during the Calder Cup playoffs. While in Allentown, he stayed at the Renniance Hotel, which is directly attached to the PPL Center. The word from the Flyers organization was that he'd be eased into the AHL with the Phantoms not yet having staked down a playoff spot.
After the Phantoms clinched, Kolosov appeared in two games for head coach Ian Laperriere's team. During the Phantoms playoff run -- six games total -- Kolosov backed up veteran starter Cal Petersen. Felix Sandstrom was relegated to being a healthy scratch. None of that was unexpected, as the word all along was that Kolosov would only get his feet wet with the Phantoms during his short stay and would compete for more playing time in 2024-25.
According to several sources around the Phantoms, Kolosov was very quiet and withdrawn during his brief stint with the team. His English is not fluent but others in the same boat have managed it while being eager to immerse themselves in the day-to-day routine. There were no other Russian or Belarusian players on the Phantoms in 2023-24 (someone such as ex-Phantom Artem Anisimov, who was a huge help to Egor Zamula, would have been ideal). Zamula's naturally sociable and inquisitive personality is different than Kolosov's quiet and slower-to-engage personality.
Nevertheless, having someone such as Anisimov around might have helped Anisimov feel more that at ease. Flyers' sources said they were aware of this, and would seek to find someone -- preferably a player but, if not, other assistance -- to help Kosolov get settled in for his first full season in North America.
In early July, a photo surfaced on social media of Kolosov in Belarus, posing for a photo with a young fan before stepping out on the ice for a training session. What's notable about the photo is that Kolosov is decked out in Phantoms gear -- not just color-coordinated equipment to the Flyers/Phantoms color scheme, but also a Phantoms jersey and Phantoms mask.
Several days later, there was a report from Belarus that Kolosov was training on the ice with Dinamo Minsk players. It must be noted here that it is very common for European players signed to North American teams to do summer training with Euro clubs based in their home towns (especially if they previously played for that team). I thought nothing of that report.
A few days later, however, there was a new report eminating from Belarus: Kolosov
allegedly asked Dinamo Minsk to assist him in breaking his entry-level contract with the Flyers.
Note: Permission from the Flyers to go back to Dinamo is the ONLY way Kolosov could legally avoid playing wherever the Flyers choose to have him play. This is based upon the CBA, the NHL-KHL non-interference agreement on valid contracts (but CSKA broke that with Ivan Fedotov until after their 2023-24 season), and the terms of one-season loan agreement the Flyers made with Dinamo last year.
With Sandstrom having signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres (likely AHL bound to Rochester) and Nolan Meier having signed an AHL contract with the Providence Bruins, the Phantoms and ECHL's Reading Royals were in need of goalie depth.
As a result, 31-year-old Parker Gahagen, who was No. 3 on the Phantoms' depth chart last season and split the season between Lehigh Valley (where he played surprisingly well) and Reading, was signed to a new AHL deal. The Phantoms also now have 25-year-old Keith Petruzzelli, who was a backup goalie (17 GP) with the AHL's Toronto Marlies last season in addition to spending time in the ECHL (seven games played).
Notes: There is no limit on AHL contracts. Unlike NHL contracts for players past waiver-exemption age (players on entry-level deals), no waivers are required to loan an AHL-contracted player to an ECHL club. The Gahagen and Petruzzelli signings appear to be strictly depth moves with competition in mind for the No. 3 spot on the Phantoms' depth chart if Kolosov is with Lehigh Valley. If not, Gahagen and Petruzzeli could compete to back up Petersen as the No. 2.
It is NOT an indirect "confirmation" that Kolosov isn't coming back. Rather, these are depth signings with Sandstrom and Meier gone PLUS it would be a layer of insurance if Kolosov does end up in Minsk. In either case, Gahagen/Petruzzi as the main backup to Petersen is not Plan A. Plan A was a split time arrangement between veteran Petersen and rookie Kolosov, with the Belarusian goalie hopefully taking on the main role as the season progresses. Petersen is an unrestricted free agent next season.
Summary: Right now, there are conflicting timelines and information about what (if anything) Kolosov told the Flyers organization, when it was said, and the expectation level over whether he'll play Year 2 of his three-year ELC with the Phantoms. It's hard to sort out what's accurate, what's speculative and where things actually stand.
I will say that the optics don't look good in light of the Cutter Gauthier situation last year. Beyond that, not much is known for a fact and nothing has yet been fully confirmed.
2) The late Barry Ashbee, a Flyers Hall of Famer and the person for whom the trophy the Flyers annually award to the player voted the team's best defenseman that season, was born in the metro Toronto area on this day in 1939. Goaltender Garth Snow, a Flyer during the mid to latter 1990s and later the general manager of the New York Islanders, was born on this day in 1969.
Longtime Flyers broadcaster Steve Coates celebrated his 74th birthday yesterday. "Coatesy" played for the Detroit Red Wings, the Flyers farm teams in Richmond, Springfield and Maine, as well as the Philadelphia Firebirds during his playing days.
3)I was saddened to hear about the passing on Thursday of Aaron Siegel. A link to Ed Snider, Mr. Siegel was the former Spectrum CEO and Spectacor Management COO. He was a friend and mentor to many. Condolences go out to Mr. Siegel's family and friends.
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