A difficult season for Flyers captain Sean Couturier continues. The 31-year-old sustained an undisclosed injury in Monday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders, and head coach John Tortorella is “not sure when he’ll be back,” he told reporters today (via Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia). He carries a day-to-day designation, though, and hasn’t specifically been ruled out of Friday’s contest against the Sabres. He’s without a point and has a -4 rating in six games since returning from back-to-back healthy scratches in mid-March, not the response he or Tortorella was looking for. Couturier’s recent struggles have been a significant reason why the Flyers’ playoff chances have dropped by about 25% in the past few weeks, as they now find themselves in a nearly neck-and-neck race with the Capitals and Red Wings for two playoff spots. He’s logged over 15 minutes in a game just twice since the beginning of March and has played mostly fourth-line minutes since his healthy scratches. The 2011 eighth-overall pick has at least managed to remain mostly healthy after missing most of the last two seasons due to back injuries, but his offensive impact has been greatly diminished with 11 goals and 36 points in 70 games, his worst point-per-game pace in nine years.
Flyers Rumors
Flyers To Reinstate Jamie Drysdale From Injured Reserve
Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale will come off injured reserve ahead of tonight’s game against the Islanders after missing over a month with a shoulder injury. Philadelphia will likely make a corresponding transaction later Monday, as activating Drysdale gives them an excess of nine healthy defenders on the active roster with two of them being waiver-exempt (Ronald Attard, Adam Ginning).
Philly fans cringed when Drysdale sustained the injury on Feb. 25 against Pittsburgh, appearing to reinjure the shoulder that kept him out of all but eight games last year. A weeks-long absence isn’t ideal for the young blueliner as he tries to make his mark after being acquired from the Ducks midseason, but avoiding anything longer-term is still good news. Drysdale wasn’t overly impressive in 17 games with the Flyers, scoring twice and adding two assists, but he did log much-improved possession numbers from his time in Anaheim.
After the Ducks drafted Drysdale with the sixth overall pick in 2020, he had a breakout rookie campaign two seasons later, scoring 32 points in 81 games as a 19-year-old. The torn labrum less than a month into the 2022-23 season stunted all of his momentum, though, and he hasn’t been able to recapture his pre-injury form. A lower-body injury also cost him most of the early going of this year with Anaheim, and all in all has been limited to 27 appearances across his two clubs.
The sinking Flyers will gladly welcome his presence as they fight to turn things around and secure a playoff spot. They’ve gone 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, dropping them out of third place in the Metropolitan Division and putting them only two points ahead of the Red Wings, who have a game in hand, for the second wild-card spot in the East. Outside of their top pairing of Travis Sanheim and Cameron York, Philly doesn’t have many skilled puck-movers on their back end, and plugging Drysdale back into the lineup should allow trade deadline pickup Erik Johnson to be relieved of his overmatched top-four spot alongside Nick Seeler.
Seeler Will Play Tonight, Hathaway Fined For Embellishment
- The Flyers will get a key blueliner back in the lineup tonight as the team announced (Twitter link) that Nick Seeler will return to the lineup. The 30-year-old had missed more than three weeks with a lower-body injury. Seeler has played in 63 games so far this season, logging nearly 17 minutes a night while leading the team in blocked shots with 184. That helped earn him a four-year, $10.8MM contract extension earlier this month.
- Still with the Flyers, the league announced yesterday that winger Garnet Hathaway was fined $2K for embellishment. It’s the second time he has been cited for that infraction. Each citation between now and the end of the season will result in an increased fine for the 32-year-old who leads all NHL forwards in hits with 294 so far.
Ivan Fedotov To Occupy Flyers’ Backup Role, Extension Talks Underway
The Flyers have assigned goaltender Felix Sandström to AHL Lehigh Valley, GM Daniel Brière told reporters Friday (including Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports). The move indicates that netminder Ivan Fedotov, who arrived in Philadelphia and spoke to reporters alongside Brière this morning, will be reinstated to the NHL roster and will be the team’s backup netminder behind Samuel Ersson to close out the regular season. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz adds that extension talks between the Flyers and Fedotov, a pending UFA, have begun.
It’s unclear when Fedotov will make his NHL debut, but he is likely to dress for his first game on Saturday when the Flyers host the Blackhawks. Reports yesterday indicated that the 27-year-old, who had spent all of 2023-24 with CSKA Moscow of the Russian KHL, violating his valid NHL contract and an IIHF arbitration ruling, had his contract with CSKA terminated and was en route to join the Flyers.
Speaking on Friday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Fedotov didn’t appear pleased with the chain of events that led him to remain in Russia this season. “The current situation was untenable; he didn’t want to be there, he wasn’t playing well, and the Flyers wanted him in North America,” Friedman said.
In his media availability today, Fedotov gave the following statement (via Kurz):
I’ve been here a long time ago, around eight years. It’s been a long time. So now I’m here and for sure I’m so excited and happy be here. Great feelings, because really difficult two years (it) was for me.
A tough season it was for Fedotov, whose .914 SV% and 2.37 GAA were remarkably the worst of his career since breaking into the KHL full-time in 2019-20. The seventh-round pick of the Flyers back in 2015 has long been one of the most talented netminders outside of North America, who firmly planted himself in the conversation with a 2021-22 campaign that included a Gagarin Cup championship with CSKA, KHL Best Goaltender, and First All-Star Team nods, and a silver medal with Russia at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
It was the following summer that the Flyers first attempted to bring Fedotov to the NHL, signing him to a one-year, entry-level contract with plans to have him start the season as the backup to then-starter Carter Hart. However, Fedotov was detained by Russian authorities when trying to leave the country and was accused of skipping out on required military service, missing the entire 2022-23 season as a result.
The NHL tolled his contract, making it valid for 2023-24. However, since Fedotov would be 27 at the end of the contract, not 26 as originally intended, he becomes a UFA upon expiry instead of an RFA. In the unlikely event he hits the open market in July, he’d be free to sign with any NHL club, but all indications point toward Fedotov remaining in Philadelphia through next season at least.
Fedotov hopes to provide some stability to the Flyers’ crease outside of Ersson, who’s largely held the fort after Hart left the team in January to face sexual assault charges. Sandström and Cal Petersen have received tryouts in the backup role but have put up unplayable numbers for a team in the playoff hunt. The former returns to the minors today after being recalled to replace Petersen on Feb. 29, posting a .823 SV% and 3.87 GAA in three starts and two relief appearances during his stint on the roster.
After similarly poor numbers during his time in the NHL last season (3-12-3, .880 SV%, 3.72 GAA in 20 appearances), time is running out for the 27-year-old Sandström. A UFA this summer upon completion of his two-year, $1.55MM extension, it seems highly unlikely he’ll be offered a contract to remain in Philadelphia. The Flyers selected him 70th overall in 2015, four rounds ahead of Fedotov.
Ivan Fedotov To Finish Season With Flyers
Editor’s Note: This article has been amended to properly reflect Carter Hart’s status.
March 29: Fedotov is in Philadelphia and will meet with media alongside Briere in a press conference at the team’s practice facility Friday morning, Chris Johnston of The Athletic and TSN reports.
March 28: In a surprising development coming out of the Kontinental Hockey League, CSKA Moscow has terminated the contract of Philadelphia Flyers’ goalie prospect Ivan Fedotov. The reasoning became clear shortly thereafter, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Fedotov will finish his season with the Flyers.
The news comes as a bit of a shock, as it was only seven months ago that the KHL, NHL, and IIHF held a lengthy battle over the contractual rights to Fedotov for the 2023-24 season. As it would turn out, under pressure from his native country, Fedotov would spend the majority of his year in the KHL.
After the announcement became public from CSKA Moscow, it was unclear if Fedotov would be coming over to Philadelphia, as the General Manager of the team, Daniel Briere, declined to comment at today’s media availability regarding Fedotov’s status. Nevertheless, as a precursor to Friedman’s confirmation, Sports Express in Russia did initially report that Fedotov would be leaving for the NHL.
With only one year remaining on his current contract, Fedotov will become an unrestricted free agent this summer if Philadelphia does not sign him to an extension before July 1st. In the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NHLPA, a player is eligible to hit the unrestricted free agent market once they hit 27 years of age, or have accrued seven years of experience at the NHL level.
Although there will be a bit of an adjustment coming over to North American hockey, Fedotov should be able to play himself into the starting role with the Flyers relatively quickly. In 44 games for CSKA Moscow this season, Fedotov produced a 21-22-1 record in 44 games but did carry an impressive .914 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average.
Since Carter Hart left the team in late January after being charged in connection to an alleged 2018 sexual assault involving multiple members of that year’s Canadian Men’s National Junior Team, Philadelphia has been operating with Samuel Ersson as their starting option, with Calvin Petersen and Felix Sandstrom seeing time in the backup role. Proving to be a volatile option, Ersson has produced a 9-8-4 record in 21 games with a .880 SV% after taking over the top job.
Still trying to lock down a playoff spot with nine games remaining, the Flyers could get quite the jolt with Fedotov between the pipes. However, even if the team is unable to secure a playoff spot, they could view it as an important trial run to see if they would like to continue their relationship with the netminder.
Snapshots: Cates, Fast, Liljegren
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that forward Noah Cates will be out on Thursday due to personal reasons (Twitter link). Cam Atkinson will step back into the lineup in his place, marking the first game Atkinson has played since March 16th. The veteran Atkinson will step back into the lineup looking to snap a 16-game scoring drought. He’s managed 25 shots in that stretch, though his only other stat changes have come via a -9 and, interestingly, the first fight of Atkinson’s 10-year career. He squared off against Tampa Bay forward Michael Eyssimont, who used his two-inch size advantage to pummel Atkinson.
Atkinson is taking on more grit and responsibility as he finds himself fighting for a consistent spot in the lineup. The Flyers will hope he can find his groove soon, as he fills in for Cates’ role on the fourth-line. Cates has just 13 points through 51 games this season – a far step down from his 38 points as a rookie last year. He’s sacrificed scoring for a much more poised, all-around role, improving his faceoff percentage by five percent this season and yet to record a penalty this season. Atkinson will face pressure from healthy scratches Garnet Hathaway and Nicolas Deslauriers if he can’t make an impact quickly.
Other notes from around the league:
- Jesper Fast will miss his fifth straight game on Thursday, per NHL.com’s Walt Ruff (Twitter link). Fast has been recovering from an upper-body injury and returned to the team’s practice in a no-contact jersey. He’s served in a quaint role when healthy, managing six goals and 18 points in 66 games while averaging 12:48 in ice time. Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen have gained a boost in ice time with Fast out, though Carolina could also lean on healthy scratch Brendan Lemieux if needed.
- Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren has been removed from the team’s lineup on Thursday, per NHL Network’s David Alter (Twitter link). He was a late call for head coach Sheldon Keefe and will now miss the game with an upper-body injury. Liljegren’s absence opens the door for Mark Giordano to return to the lineup, marking his first game since February 29th. Giordano, the NHL’s oldest player, has one goal and seven points in 38 games this season.
Updates On Flyers Defensive Core
Coming from today’s media availability with the General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, Daniel Briere, there were several updates on injured members of the organization’s defensive core. Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports reports that defenseman Jamie Drysdale is expected back before the end of the regular season, but the same expectation is not held for Rasmus Ristolainen.
Furthermore, in the most positive development, O’Connor mentions that defenseman Nick Seeler is very close to a return, and may even be available for the team this weekend. With only a one-point lead on the Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division, the Flyers could use all the help they can get to capture their first postseason appearance since the 2019-20 season.
Afternoon Notes: Kolosov, Milano, Gustafsson
The Philadelphia Flyers are expected to add goaltender Alexei Kolosov, following the end of his KHL season with Dinamo Minsk. The Russian club officially announced the transfer in a press release thanking Kolosov for his four years with the club (Twitter link).
Kolosov, 22, has established himself as Dimano Minsk’s clear-cut starter over the last two seasons – managing 13 wins and a .912 save percentage in 42 games last season and 22 wins and a .907 in 47 games this year. He’s played ahead of Canadian Dylan Ferguson, who is in his first KHL season after playing in two games with the Ottawa Senators last year.
The Flyers drafted Kolosov in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He was the third goalie selected in that class after both Sebastian Cossa and Jesper Wallstedt were selected in the first round. Kolosov signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers in early July. He was loaned back to Russia soon after, though his contract wasn’t eligible for an entry-level slide, meaning this season has burned the first year of his three-year deal. Kolosov now joins a Flyers team with an open backup spot, stepping into a competition with Felix Sandstrom and Calvin Petersen.
Other notes from around the league:
- The Washington Capitals could add forward Sonny Milano back to the lineup on Tuesday, with head coach Spencer Carbery saying his attendance will be based on how he feels leading up to the game (Twitter link). Milano left the team’s Sunday game against Winnipeg early with an upper-body injury. He will help Washington fill-in for the suspended Tom Wilson, if he’s healthy enough to play.
- The New York Rangers designated defenseman Erik Gustafsson as day-to-day with an upper-body injury ahead of their Monday morning practice, which Gustafsson missed (Twitter link). Gustafsson seemed to suffer the injury in the team’s Saturday game against the Florida Panthers, taking a high hit from Sam Reinhart. He is questionable for the team’s Tuesday night game against Philadelphia, which could open the door for Brandon Scanlin to make his NHL debut.
Former Capital Chris Simon Passes Away At Age 52
Long-running NHL enforcer Chris Simon has passed away at age 52, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli (Twitter link). Simon was a mainstay of the NHL’s bruiser era, playing 15 seasons in the NHL. Seven of those came with the Washington Capitals, where Simon remains one of the club’s most penalized players, with 666 penalty minutes in 320 games.
Simon was originally drafted 25th overall in the 1990 NHL Draft, going to the Philadelphia Flyers in what was then the second round. He was selected just ahead of 1000-game pros Doug Weight and Geoff Sanderson. But Philadelphia knew what they were getting in Simon, who recorded 36 goals, 74 points, and 146 penalty minutes in 57 OHL games during his draft year.
Two years after his draft day, Simon would be part of one of the biggest trades in NHL history – making up the ’future considerations’ aspect of the trade that sent Eric Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers. Simon was moved to the Quebec Nordiques alongside Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, $15MM in cash, and more.
The Nordiques awarded Simon with his NHL debut in the subsequent 1992-93 season, with Simon netting two points and 67 penalty minutes in just 16 NHL games. He’d go on to break the 100-penalty minutes mark in 1993-94, a feat he’d achieve in each of the next four seasons and pull off nine total times in his career. His most penalized year in the NHL came in 1995-96, when Simon totaled 250 penalty minutes in 64 games, the sixth-most in Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche history. Simon was also a major piece of Colorado’s 1996 Stanley Cup win, providing a physical presence and grit that pushed the Avalanche down the stretch.
Simon built a legacy as a hard-nosed enforcer, with 101 fighting majors across his 15-year career. PHR sends its condolences to Simon’s family and friends, as well as to all of the organizations he’s played for.
Flyers Expected To Scratch Sean Couturier
The Philadelphia Flyers are planning to scratch team captain Sean Couturier, per The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor (Twitter Link). The scratching comes one month after Couturier was awarded the captaincy – becoming the team’s first captain since Claude Giroux’s reign ended in the 2021-22 season.
The Flyers also recalled forward Olle Lycksell and defenseman Adam Ginning on Monday, with both players expected to now slot into the lineup – Lycksell ahead of Couturier and Ginning ahead of Marc Staal.
Philadelphia will hope to find a spark with these moves, after an unconvincing 4-6-1 stretch over their last 11 games. They’ve been outscored 32-to-42 in that span, with Couturier managing just three assists. Lycksell will replace him, after recording one goal and six points over his last two AHL games. The 24-year-old winger has appeared in nine NHL games already this season, netting three assists. The appearances bring his career totals up to four assists in 17 games, though he’s still searching for his first NHL goal.
Ginning has also appeared in the NHL this season – stepping into the lineup on March 7th for a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers. It was the second NHL game of Ginning’s career, with the stout defender managing two penalty minutes, a -1, three blocks, and seven hits in the pair of matchups. He’s still searching for his first NHL point. Ginning has been a consistent piece in the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ lineup, where he’s totaled two goals, 13 points, and 82 penalty minutes in 56 games this season.
This is the first healthy scratch designation that Couturier has carried in quite some time, though it calls back to John Tortorella’s scratching of Kevin Hayes in December of last season. Philadelphia experienced a 6-3 loss without Hayes in the lineup, returning him to his usual role in the subsequent game. The Flyers will hope for better fortunes this time, as Tortorella is once again leaving a seemingly top-name out of the lineup.