Actually. the Flyers are well situated in Russia. Ken Hoodikoff is Canadian but lives and scouts year-round in Russia. They are well aware of the talent over there but also the particulars of dealing with each organization.

That said, it's no picnic dealing with Roman Rotenberg (or the Rotenberg oligarch family in general) or negotiating with/against the Volga Group (Gennady Timchenko). and their Gazprom sponsors. SKA is a very wealthy team.
- bmeltzer

The Rotenbergs and Timchenko are pretty scary people to be honest and despite the fact that the principals have been sanctioned by every country in the west, they don't seem the worse for wear.

Correction… possibly the best in the draft
- SMS4016

I’m telling people Michkov > Bedard, until proven otherwise

Did they trade Tony D yet? I haven’t seen anything

I’m telling people Michkov > Bedard, until proven otherwise
- ClaudeFather

please provide a link.

please provide a link.
- hello it's me 2050

Damn, you got me…just facts 😂

The Rotenbergs and Timchenko are pretty scary people to be honest and despite the fact that the principals have been sanctioned by every country in the west, they don't seem the worse for wear.
- Sinisalo4vr

When you’re talking about oligarchs, Russian or other, there’s enough money around to have your own army. Sanctions are for little people. Billionaires conduct business as usual.

What do you make of that story where he thinks he was poisoned while in the military?
- Minnyhock

Absolutely NOTHING surprises me anymore. Half the time where there’s smoke there’s fire.

I’m telling people Michkov > Bedard, until proven otherwise
- ClaudeFather

Quite possible turns out matter of opinion and what you prefer.

Fedotov
- SMS4016

Ah yes, the high profile, 7th round selection in 2015.

Ah yes, the high profile, 7th round selection in 2015.
- funmaster18

He’s 26. Fedotov could become the most talked abou prospect that never made the NHL.

I’m telling people Michkov > Bedard, until proven otherwise
- ClaudeFather

This will be proven true, with enough time.

Fedotov
- SMS4016

I think you missed the “high profile” part of the comment.

Per @CapFriendly

The #Flyers have signed 2021 3rd round pick, G Aleksei Kolosov, to a three year Entry-Level Contract.

#FueledByPhilly 

Did they trade Tony D yet? I haven’t seen anything
- Duran76

Yes, for RiZzo and Joe Pesci. Flyers retain 50% of Tony's salary. According to Facebook. )

Correction… possibly the best in the draft
- SMS4016

I’ll take the field.

The thing that is most worrisome about the Michkov situation is that it is so easy to imagine that the Flyers might not have done their due diligence in regards to his contract situation, the situation in Russia in general, and/or into Michkov himself. You can so easily imagine them just seeing a talented kid who seems enthusiastic to join the team and deciding that they want THAT without fully researching things. It so easy to imagine three years from now Michkov not coming to the NHL and information leaking out that the entire Flyers scouting department advised against the pick because everyone know he’d never play in the NHL. Clarkie will probably outright say as much when he’s interviewed after Briere is fired. If any other team picked him I wouldn’t feel this way way.
- Dkos

If any other team picked him you wouldn’t feel this way. Your hysterical. You have all new people running the organization now. It’s time to let the issues of past regimes go and not let them cloud your view of this new regime. Allow this new regime time to do their thing and then by all means judge them as harshly as you’d like.

There have been many Russian players drafted since the invasion of Ukraine and there has been no issues with players coming over. Fedotov is the only one who’s had an issue and it’s because he committed a crime. They’ve clearly chosen to make an example of him.

Now could things change? Absolutely. If the world is lucky the War ends and peace prevails. At that point maybe the NHL and KHL MOU is re-established. On the other hand things could get worse over there and who knows what happens. But if that were to happen you can’t blame the Flyers. That would be ridiculous. 4 Russians were taken in the first round and Michkov was the 2nd Russian taken.

Briere has stated also stated they’re comfortable waiting the 3 years for him to come over because the Flyers rebuild is going to take longer than that. Let’s just wait and see, no point in worrying about it for 3 years

It should be embarrassing to the team that they still owe a 2024 2nd rounder from the original trade and 5 mill for a guy who they can't wait to trade back to a team who wouldn't (and still won't) pay more than 50% of what the Flyers (and only the Flyers) thought he was worth).

All because he passed Fletcher's, and everyone advising him, old school eye test (Flyers analytics team and advanced stats be damned).

Hopefully the analytics dept, all great and competent people i am told, somehow contribute to the team this upcoming year in a way that makes their employment useful other than for PR purposes (look we have an analytics dept! we are modern! while doing everything the opposite of what would be recommended by a competent analytics dept).

Edit : "I think most analytics are trash," Tortorella said. "I believe in the eye test and the stomach he said."
- Flyers_01

Yeah, you could tell by the way Fletch spoke about analytics he didn’t take it seriously and saw it more as a cool little toy/PR thing.

I think there needs to be a balance between eye test and analytics. Use them to affirm your thoughts or make you to take a harder look to see what your missing.

I’m telling people Michkov > Bedard, until proven otherwise
- ClaudeFather

I guess we’ll find out some day but I hope you are 100% correct!

If any other team picked him you wouldn’t feel this way. Your hysterical. You have all new people running the organization now. It’s time to let the issues of past regimes go and not let them cloud your view of this new regime. Allow this new regime time to do their thing and then by all means judge them as harshly as you’d like.

There have been many Russian players drafted since the invasion of Ukraine and there has been no issues with players coming over. Fedotov is the only one who’s had an issue and it’s because he committed a crime. They’ve clearly chosen to make an example of him.

Now could things change? Absolutely. If the world is lucky the War ends and peace prevails. At that point maybe the NHL and KHL MOU is re-established. On the other hand things could get worse over there and who knows what happens. But if that were to happen you can’t blame the Flyers. That would be ridiculous. 4 Russians were taken in the first round and Michkov was the 2nd Russian taken.

Briere has stated also stated they’re comfortable waiting the 3 years for him to come over because the Flyers rebuild is going to take longer than that. Let’s just wait and see, no point in worrying about it for 3 years
- Schmojo

Good points. Not to mention, while 2023 Russia might not be a shining example of freedom, this isn’t old Soviet Union. Michkov was physically here in the US for the draft and was free to travel. That bodes well for the Russians

You guys really need to stop eating up all the Michkov and Fedotov clickbait rumors.

I guess we’ll find out some day but I hope you are 100% correct!
- mikeyo27

More importantly, he’ll win a cup before him, ala Eichel and McDavid

If any other team picked him you wouldn’t feel this way. Your hysterical. You have all new people running the organization now. It’s time to let the issues of past regimes go and not let them cloud your view of this new regime. Allow this new regime time to do their thing and then by all means judge them as harshly as you’d like.

There have been many Russian players drafted since the invasion of Ukraine and there has been no issues with players coming over. Fedotov is the only one who’s had an issue and it’s because he committed a crime. They’ve clearly chosen to make an example of him.

Now could things change? Absolutely. If the world is lucky the War ends and peace prevails. At that point maybe the NHL and KHL MOU is re-established. On the other hand things could get worse over there and who knows what happens. But if that were to happen you can’t blame the Flyers. That would be ridiculous. 4 Russians were taken in the first round and Michkov was the 2nd Russian taken.

Briere has stated also stated they’re comfortable waiting the 3 years for him to come over because the Flyers rebuild is going to take longer than that. Let’s just wait and see, no point in worrying about it for 3 years
- Schmojo

My hysterical? Well, I was trying to be funny. You’ve got to admit, if it were all to go bad it would not be surprising if it started with the Flyers and Russia’s #1 prospect.