You’ll have to forgive me: I took some liberties with the term “chronicling” as it’s used in the title. The word doesn’t fully capture the scope of this article. Beyond simply providing a historical account—which is closer to the literal definition of “chronicle”—this piece also offers analysis from multiple perspectives: the fans, the front office, and Kolosov himself. 

The alliteration was just too irresistible–technicalities be darned.

The other words? I’m pretty confident they’re applicable.

You most likely won’t need a reminder of this debacle if you are a diehard Flyers fan–he’s been the target of the community’s frustration for quite some time. That being said, it is worth detailing what has transpired in the brief career of the Belarussian so far—for those who might be unaware, or just need a quick refresher. 

Kolosov is back home in Belarus, training other goaltenders for his former KHL team, Dinamo Minsk. At first glance, this seems like standard behavior for an NHL player—especially to the uninitiated. After all, plenty of foreign-born NHL players go back home to train during the offseason. 

For those who know, it’s here we go again.

Why is that? Well, it’s been the defining storyline of Kolosov’s career so far: the constant uncertainty. Some reports claim he will go back to the KHL, while others claim he might not be reporting there at all.  

As it stands today, the story is simple: no one actually knows where he’ll be next season. And, well, that’s a problem—because the Philadelphia Flyers have a goaltending issue—placing near-league worst in several metrics. 

To tell the complete Aleksei Kolosov story—to this point—we need to go back to where it all began. 

2021 – Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers

“At pick No. 78, we have selected goaltender Aleksei Kolosov in the third round!”

Rewind to where it all began: the draft. Kolosov was viewed as a goaltender who boasted outstanding athleticism to compensate for his lack of size. Drafting goalies can be seen as a bit of an iffy proposition: they’re notoriously more difficult to project than forwards or defenders. 

As a third-round selection, Kolosov didn’t come with heavy expectations. At the time of Kolosov being selected in 2021, the Flyers were in a decent position when it came to goaltending. They had a rising star in Carter Hart, widely seen as the long-awaited answer to Philadelphia’s never-ending goaltending woes.

However, you can never have enough goalies, so why not?

Kolosov Ascends The Ranks 

Kolsov would go on to have a strong 2022-2023 season, recording a 2.55 goals against average with a .912 save percentage. He was considered one of the top players on his KHL team, Dynamo Minsk, and widely regarded as one of the best young goalies in the entire league. This in turn caused the Flyers to sign the 21-year old goaltender to an entry-level contract. 

All of a sudden, expectations rose. The Flyers very well may have a backup–or perhaps even a future starter–in the making. 

This definitely caught the attention of the front office, who began monitoring the  prospect more closely— one the previous regime, led by Chuck Fletcher, may have hit on. 

“The Philadelphia Flyers are in constant contact with my agent,” Kolosov said. “We talked recently and said that they were watching all my games and were waiting for me. I’m happy with everything in Minsk! They let me play here, the KHL is a strong league.” 

And that attention was certainly warranted. He proved he can make spectacular saves,  consistently demonstrating the aforementioned athleticism with sprawling saves across the crease. 

This is an elite trait—one that strongly projects him toward an NHL future. The size concerns are quickly evaporating. 

At this stage, everyone—fans, front office, and presumably Kolosov himself—is happy.

Windows Shutting, Windows Opening 

The plan was made clear: play in the KHL for one year and then head to Philadelphia. So that means Kolosov will belong to Dynamo Minsk for one more year on loan, the 2023-2024  KHL season. 

He proceeded to record another great season–2.39 GAA and .907 save percentage. We now have a large sample size of Kolosov performing well in a formidable league. The stock is rising. 

Starter Carter Hart left the team as a result of an investigation involving the 2018 Canadian Junior hockey team. On January 24, 2024, Carter Hart wanted an indefinite leave of absence from the Flyers—and the team granted it. Suddenly, the Flyers are back to where they were before Hart: without a starting goalie. 

Samuel Ersson was tasked with picking up the slack—30 games started in all. This resulted in a 3.23 goals against average and .875 save percentage. Put in context, this was out of 35 games remaining. Ersson was run ragged. 

Felix Sandstrom, another Flyers goaltending prospect, simply wasn’t given much trust to protect the net. He started three games in this span. 

Cal Peterson, a player acquired by General Manager Daniel Briere, was seen as a negative asset to the premium assets: the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft, defenseman Sean Walker, defenseman Helge Grans, Los Angeles’ second-round pick in 2024, and Columbus’ second-round pick in 2024 or 2025. 

In other words: the Flyers only real option was Samuel Ersson—and he was playing well below his standard. 

Next year’s season’s options were murky, but now much clearer: some combination of Samuel Ersson, almost assuredly a possible free agent or trade option, and Aleksei Kolosov. Just like that, we can see why they say “always draft goalies.” 

Kolosov Levels Up – KHL to AHL

Kolosov was promoted to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL on April 2, 2024. He now has a major opportunity to prove he belongs, and possibly claim the starting role moving forward. 

His first professional game went fine—a 5-4 win in which Kolosov made 24 saves on 28 shots. It was his AHL debut, after all. 

The next game was a different story. 

22 saves on 24 shots in a 3-2 loss.  

It is a very brief time period, but Kolosov proved he can handle the next level. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms clinched the playoffs, and were set to face off against the Hershey Bears. 

Veteran Cal Peterson was their starter during the regular season and would man the crease throughout the entire series, leaving Kolosov to observe from the bench. Granted, this is standard operating procedure for a goaltending—letting one guy take the reins during the playoffs—and Kolosov was a newly minted rookie. 

The Phantoms would be eliminated in four games, leaving the summer for Kolosov to train and prepare for next year. However, it wasn’t that simple. 

Things only got stranger. In late April, Flyers signed KHL goaltender Ivan Fedotov to a two-year contract. Considered a lost cause to the KHL—due to the league not respecting his contractual rights to the Flyers— This move came as a major surprise. Fedotov had been forced to serve a year of military duty, and it was widely assumed he would never be able to come overseas, with the KHL likely to keep him indefinitely. 

This changes things on the Kolosov front. For one, Fedotov signed a one-way contract, meaning his salary is fully guaranteed regardless of whether he’s in the NHL or AHL. It also means Fedotov would have to clear waivers if sent down, giving any team the chance to claim him. 

It sends a clear message: the Flyers intend to give Fedotov every chance next year on the big club. And it’s not entirely undeserved—Fedotov was a decorated KHL goaltender. His career 2.34 goals against average and .914 save percentage showed he was a stellar, reliable goalie. He backstopped his team to a—Gregarin Cup, the KHL championship—in the 2021-2022 season. It was a remarkable run: a 1.85 goals against average and a .937 save percentage. He was lights out. The Flyers were interested to see if this could translate to the NHL. 

If Kolosov had any hope in joining the Flyers next season, he would have to force the team to carry three goaltenders—an uncommon construction of NHL rosters. 

Fedotov’s start was not great—10 goals allowed and a paltry .811 save percentage over three games. Admittedly, these were his first NHL games. But it doesn’t inspire confidence, and if it continues, it could potentially open the door for Kolosov in the future. 

A Change of Heart? 

May 16, 2024: the day the Kolosov news sent shockwaves through the media.

Now, it’s not exactly shocking to hear Kolosov, a Belarussian, had issues with “adaptation” to North America. In fact, it would be more surprising if he hadn’t. Cultural acclimation takes time, and this should be expected. But to walk away so soon? That’s what’s truly concerning. There has to be something more to this.  

The fan reaction? Not again.

Flyers saw  top-10 prospect Cutter Gauthier request a trade away out of the organization. Now Kolosov? 

This would be a disaster—an indelible mark on the franchise’s reputation for being unable to retain their top young talent. 

The organization initially dismissed this as any kind of legitimate issue. 

“I’m hearing Flyers are not aware of anything regarding Aleksei Kolosov going back to KHL. The belief is he was homesick and the hope is he’ll be OK. Kolosov, 22, is under contract and played in the KHL on loan this season. He joined Phantoms in April.”

More intel started to flow in to contextualize the situation. 

I’m told that people close to #Flyers goaltender Aleksei Kolosov are denying the report of him not intending to return to North America. But, in the event that he does not, the belief is that his contract will be tolled, similar to what happened with Ivan Fedotov.

Dinamo Minsk just signed their potential starter just now – so that should shut down rumors a bit (or maybe it won’t lol)

So, not a complete and utter denial, but still better than hearing a confirmation he is leaving for the KHL. 

The expectation remains that Kolosov will report to the Phantoms next year. 

Ping Ponging Back and Forth

We had to wait until June to hear the latest on the situation. Development camp is opening up, and Kolosov was a notable name left off the camp roster. 

General Manager Daniel Briere denied this being related to the KHL rumors. 

“He’s played three years pro. Usually, that’s about the cutoff for our guys, Briere said. “ We just gave him the option to stay home a little longer. I know there’s rumblings, but we’ve been in discussions with him and he’s told us there’s nothing to that.” 

Translation: nothing to see here. 

And as time went on, it appeared to be true. 

But hold on, we’re not out of the woods quite yet. Belarus Hockey reported Kolosov asked his former KHL team, Dynamo Minsk, to find a way to terminate his NHL contract.

There is a lot to unpack here. First, by signing his NHL contract, Kolosov has given the Flyers control over where he plays. However, the Flyers thought the same years ago when they signed Ivan Fedotov—and we all saw how much respect the KHL had for that arrangement. 

Secondly, this situation would make it difficult for future NHL general managers to trust that Kolosov would return to the NHL in good faith. It should go without saying, he signed a contract just one year ago. 

On top of all this, it’s difficult to trust information permeating one way or another: we need to wait for Kolosov himself to reveal his intentions. The Flyers desperately need an answer to their goaltending question, and the fans endure the heartbreak of watching another promising player opt to leave Philadelphia—a possibility that unfortunately seems increasingly likely. 

It Gets Worse 

When it rains, it pours. 

According to reports, Kolosov told the organization at the end of the AHL season that he didn’t want to return. Reports stated he felt somewhat abandoned. 

As discussed, it is understood that a player from Belarus would take considerable time to adjust to life in America. Very understandable. It doesn’t help matters if the team—-allegedly—-does not accommodate him in a manner to help this acclimation. 

Now, fans are worried about team culture. It feels like the potential nightmare is coming alive. Do Daniel Briere and Keith Jones, both relatively new NHL executives, have what it takes? That’s the question fans are asking—how could they not? We still don’t have any clear confirmation of Kolosov’s intentions, but the vibes? I can report—they’re not good. 

Daniel Briere said the expectation remains the same: Kolosov will return. Briere also acknowledged the report about Kolosov feeling lonely, and refuted any intentionality of making the goaltender feel abandoned. 

“When players come over, we try to help them out,” Briere said in an interview to reporter Sam Carchidi. “We had all our development guys there. We had our goalie coach, development guy in Brady Robinson, who worked with him every single day. He was on the ice every day and had special attention from Brady, as well as all our development guys. Riley (Armstrong) and Nick Schultz were there on pretty much a daily basis working with him.” 

“He was not left by himself, and we thought everything was going good.” 

Two days later, Anthony SanFilippo published an article on Crossing Broad to dispel the reports. It is a fantastic read, and makes clear that the Flyers did not ignore Kolosov in the manner it was initially reported. 

The article details that Kolosov was offered an apartment in the same building as other Phantoms, but he wanted his own living space. The Flyers accommodated this request and he was given a four star hotel. 

It was made apparent that the Flyers kept constant communication with Kolosov, he was not left alone when he was done practicing on the ice. Like Briere mentioned, they had their development coaches checking in on him. 

It’s clear now that the two sides see things differently. The fact remains: we have a situation, and not a good one. A potentially disgruntled top prospect faces the very real threat of returning to Russia—perhaps to never be seen again. 

Training camp is coming up in September, and now the organization and fans wait on pins and needles to see if he arrives. 

Appearing on the Nasty Knuckles podcast, Briere said Aleksei Kolosov changed agents. Briere himself acknowledges the situation has been murky for their end, not getting direct answers from his previous agent. 

The drum beat continued in the negative sphere, as The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported Kolosov prefers a return to the KHL. Along with this bit of information, Kurz relayed the Flyers should meet with Kolosov’s camp in the near future. 

It’s becoming apparent from reports that Kolosov would rather develop in the KHL rather than the AHL. 

“Aleksei Kolosov is on the Flyers roster. This means he is due to report for rookie camp and training camp. I check this daily. Other goaltenders on the roster are Samuel Ersson, Ivan Fedotov, Carson Bjarnason, and Cal Petersen Great news #Flyers fans for Kolosov to come”

Now, this doesn’t mean he is confirmed to come back, but it doesn’t hurt to see his name on the roster for camp. 

Weeks go by, and it appears that bit of information was indeed not a confirmation. 

Making matters worse: he appears to be back with his former KHL team, Dynamo Minsk.

The fans are angered. He signed a contract, he should honor it. How could a player as young as Kolosov think he is entitled to force his way onto the team this early? Still, without any concrete information as to what transpired, the fans are left wondering what really happened between Kolosov and the organization. 

The organization can’t be thrilled, either. 

Daily Faceoff reporter Anthony Di Marco goes on to suggest if he does not report to camp his contract will be tolled. This means that the Flyers would keep his rights without using any of the years. In effect, this delays the contract from coming into effect. 

Appearing at a press conference in Vorhees, NJ on September 17, 2024, Briere himself confirmed it: Kolosov would not report to Flyers training camp. And he stood firm in his stance that Kolosov has to respect his contract. 

“All we know is he’s under contract with us,” Briere said. “And, you know, the way we see it, if he wants to play hockey, he has to respect his contract for us. Yeah, we have no interest in loaning him back. We want him to develop here.”

In this press conference, Briere detailed more of what has stemmed from Kolosov’s dissatisfaction, wanting more of a guaranteed NHL position. 

“I think on his end, it’s more about he wants to be guaranteed a spot in the NHL,” Briere said. “If not, he prefers to stay over there, and that’s not the way we see it. We agreed last year to loan him back for one year because he wanted to stay home. But at some point, you signed a contract, and we want him here. We want him to start integrating himself with the way it’s played here in North America, the smaller ice, and learning the language and all of that. And I guess he doesn’t see it that way at the moment.” 

Briere is correct, by all means, Kolosov has to eventually make the leap. He makes it clear: he either comes over to the organization or he doesn’t play. We now have an official dispute, one that could turn ugly. 

Who Will Blink First?

A new twist and turn in the rollercoaster that has been the Kolosov conundrum hit newswaves on September 27th, as it was reported the netminder would actually report to training camp. 

Kolosov’s agent, Dan Milstein of the Gold Star Group, cleared the air. 

“All previous concerns have been thoroughly addressed and are now resolved,” Milstein said to the Associated Press. 

The fans and the organization can exhale in relief. It looks like we won’t have a Gauthier situation. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested could only play some games and then return to the KHL if he does not make the Flyers roster. 

To add even more convolution to the situation, Friedman commented that Kolosov may have a “European Assignment Clause” which would allow him to return to the KHL if he does not arrive in the NHL by a certain time. 

To add to the confusion, Russian source RG indicated Kolosov wanted to meet in Philadelphia not to begin his stint in training camp, but rather to terminate his contract and go back to the KHL. 

“Kolosov’s goal is to come to Philadelphia and resolve the contract termination issue on the spot, which was impossible to do remotely,” RG reported. “He is expected back in Dinamo Minsk this fall, and his salary has been reserved. Kolosov does not want to play in America, but the KHL does not allow Kolosov to play for Dynamo while under contract with the Flyers.”

Right when you think it’s over, it’s not: the theme of the Kolosov conundrum. 

At Long Last

The mystery was over: Kolosov arrived to camp—not to terminate his deal—-but to train. 

Better yet, his preseason debut is announced: September 30th. 

He impressed in the game, only appearing for part of the game, with 7 saves. He outplayed Fedotov, who is all but guaranteed a spot on the team. 

Kolosov followed that game with a 11 saves on 14 shots performance against the Devils. 

It now appears Kolosov is ready to compete, and doesn’t require an NHL spot promised to him. He was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms yet again, where he would get much needed development time. That is, in the organization’s eyes. Kolosov reportedly didn’t see it that way. 

Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco reported Kolosov believed he doesn’t need a year to develop in the AHL. Furthermore, a return to the KHL’s Minsk is not out of the question. 

It’s past the point of it being exhausting. If you turn away for a second you may miss an update. 

The good news for the organization? Kolosov looked decent in his limited AHL action: 20 saves in an AHL preseason game and 22 saves in his first AHL game of the season.

Meanwhile in Flyers Land 

Things are not going well for the Flyers start to the season, namely Ivan Fedotov. The Russian goaltender who was guaranteed a starting spot is struggling mightily. 

Fedotov’s first two games went as follows: 5 goals allowed on 31 shots and 5 goals allowed on 24 shots. That won’t cut it. 

It wasn’t soon after that On Pattison’s Anthony San Filippo speculated that Fedotov’s poor play could give Kolosov a chance earlier than expected. 

The rollercoaster continues to find new and interesting twists and turns. 

To this point, Kolosov has shown his agility and athleticism—qualities that Fedotov lacks. 

Turns out, the report was a great call, as Kolosov would be called up on October 26th in preparation for his potential Flyers debut on October 27th. 

Kolosov got his wish—he’s made it to the roster. The Flyers have done the uncommon: carrying three goaltenders. 

For now, everyone is happy. 

A Dream Realized

History was made on October 27, 2024 as Aleksei Kolosov was the first Belarussian-born player to play in the NHL. By all means, it was okay. Four goals allowed on 24 shots. It appeared as though the Flyers defense could have been better to support him in this one. 

Kolosov would get an extended look with Ersson out with a lower-body injury sustained on November 2nd that was reaggravated. Just like that, it’s down to Fedotov and Kolosov. Recall what I brought up earlier, you always need goalies. 

Kolosov’s next six games (from November 2nd to November 30th) went well—2.70 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. Not exactly lighting the world on fire, but very respectable for a rookie goaltender. 

Head Coach John Tortorella lauded Kolosov for his determination, especially to battle on a team that hasn’t consistently performed well in front of him. He addressed the young netminder having an opportunity in front of him. 

“I think he fights. You can see he fights,” Tortorella said in a November 4th press conference. “I wasn’t crazy about the goals, but I think he fought. In a tough spot to come into—the team’s struggling and trying to find its footing in this league—and I don’t think he looked afraid at all.”

It looked like he was starting to settle into the NHL.

The Flyers suddenly had a legitimate competition. Fedotov put up comparable numbers in this span: 2.70 goals against average and a .909 save percentage. 

Ersson was looking to return to the ice in the middle of December. Tortorella made it clear that Kolosov wouldn’t be the starter quite yet. The three goalie predicament was brought up, and Tortorella had to address it. He was clearly perturbed to have to deal with three goaltenders at once. 

“Danny and I have talked about that, I’m not sure when it’s going to happen,” Tortorella said. “But I do have it figured out: Ers is our number one, Koly’s our number two, and Feds is our number three. That has been decided.” 

Kolosov has now usurped Fedotov to be in the lineup, something that was unthinkable just months ago. 

Then, suddenly, the wheels fell off. 

The Rookie Wall 

Things were not good for Kolosov from December 5th on—-6 losses in 8 games—-3.1 goals against average—-and a .847 save percentage. Disappointing numbers to say the least.

It was a terrible stretch—prompting The Athletic’s own Kevin Kurz to suggest Kolosov might be the worst goaltender in the entire league—citing his league’s worst save percentage as of January 3rd (.870). It’s becoming increasingly clear why the Flyers front office believes Kolosov wasn’t ready—and unfortunately for him, they may be right. 

Fast forward from January 3rd to January 10th, and Kolosov hasn’t played a game. A quote from Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman only further sparked speculation regarding his future. 

“As a matter of fact, there’s some talk that they may ask Kolosov to go to the American Hockey League for a few days and just play, just to get some action,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “I look at them, and I see a team that, if not now, then eventually, they’re going to have to look for goaltending.”  

We now have another awkward situation—-surprise! Kolosov requires playing time to further his development, but he is in no shape to play in the big leagues—-at least at this juncture. So what is the recourse? Do you send him down and risk him becoming disgruntled? Do you send him back overseas on loan to the KHL? Or do you continue riding out three goaltenders on the roster, a situation that John Tortorella loathes? 

GM Daniel Briere addressed the media on January 21st for a midseason update. He stated Kolosov, to his knowledge, wouldn’t oppose returning to the Phantoms of the AHL. 

“As far as I know, yes,” Briere said. “I don’t have any reasons to believe that he wouldn’t. That would be his decision, but it has nothing to do with anything that’s going on.”

Now, in the blink of an eye, Tortorella confirms that Fedotov has reclaimed the backup goaltender spot. The writing is on the wall for the Belarussian goaltender. 

When It Rains It Pours

Just a day later, it was made official: Aleksei Kolosov has been sent down to the Phantoms. 

January 23rd Anthony San Filippo posted an incredibly insightful article to On Pattison.com regarding the situation. In it, he put Kolosov’s point of view into perspective and also suggested the team could look to call him up to the Flyers in the future. 

Things did not go great in his start to the AHL stint, either. 

In his first three games, Kolosov allowed 12 goals—good for a 4.00 goals against average and a .872 save percentage. Yikes. 

It is too quick to panic—Kolosov is still just a 23-year-old player at this stage of his career—and three games at that. However, the concern has to be setting in. 

Keeping A Close Eye 

On February 1st, Kolosov was once again recalled to the Flyers. The rollercoaster continues on. 

This time, there’s a bit of a stipulation. The AHL is on their All-Star break, so the Flyers wanted Kolosov back with the team to train and develop. 

Kolosov remained on the scratched list for an extended period, only to watch the game from outside looking in. 

Back Down Again

Kolosov would be getting a second AHL stint—officially sent down on March 7th. He has had some time to rest and reset after an elongated absence from games. 

The added rest did initially bear fruit. The next two games were a reminder of the young netminders potential. 

• March 9th: 21 saves on 23 shots. Only two goals allowed.

• March 14th: 27 saves on 28 shots. Only one goal allowed. 

Next couple games? Back to the bad. 

• March 16th: 17 saves on 21 shots. Four goals allowed.

• March 19th: 23 saves on 26 shots. Three goals allowed. 

His very last game ended on a higher note. 

• March 22nd: 22 saves on 24 shots. Two goals allowed. 

Back Up Again

On March 25th, Aleksei Kolosov was recalled to the Flyers once again. Last time did not go so well. It was time to see if he learned from his last go around. 

Well, not great. He would proceed to get bombarded yet again. 

April 9th: 24 saves on 29 shots. 5 goals allowed. 

April 17th: 26 saves on 30 shots. 4 goals allowed. 

Goals like this can’t be the norm, at least in the National Hockey League. 

Anthony San Filippo speculated Kolosov will not return to the AHL for the Phantoms postseason run, and will instead fly home to Belarus. 

“This may have been the last time you see Kolosov” 

Wow.

Yes, it is a small sample, only 17 games in the 2024-2025 season as a Philadelphia Flyer. However, it does not inspire confidence. 

The Flyers clearly had a plan in place for Kolosov over the season—one that Kolosov obviously didn’t have interest in following. There’s certainly a chance he could be a much better goaltender today had he aligned with the team’s development plan from the start. But alas, that is not how things have played out—and here we are. 

San Filippo’s report turned true—the goaltender did not report to the Phantoms for their AHL playoff run—-something you would figure could be instrumental to the development of a young developing player. 

Back In Belarus 

Reports predictably emerged that Kolosov returned home to Belarus on May 16th. He was spotted training with members of his former KHL junior team. 

“Great emotions. I entered the arena, memories immediately came flooding back,” Kolosov said. “Even the smell in the locker room was the same. And I had a great time with the kids, rode with them, suggested something, amused them.” 

It wasn’t long after that the KHL reports started drumming up again. 

Now we are back to the same place we were before. The Kolosov conundrum. 

It bears repeating: the Flyers own Aleksei Kolosov’s rights—meaning they control where he plays. However, it also bears repeating that the KHL has shown they can ignore those contractual obligations. 

This reminder played as leverage last year for Kolosov. The organization faces another difficult situation moving forward with the netminder. Where do they go from here? 

It is only fitting we have gone full circle. Back to where we began. 

We may have gotten more clarity from a transaction made by Kolosov’s former team Dynamo Minsk. 

Yahoo’s Jonathan Bailey astutely points out that Dynamo now has two quality goaltenders on the roster—-Zachary Fucale and Vasili Demchenko. As we discussed, and as the Flyers themselves have experienced, carrying three goaltenders is generally ill advised. 

What a whirlwind of a start to a career. 

In my estimation, it would be far too early to give up on the player. Has his attitude been less than inspiring? Certainly. Has his play been underwhelming? Undoubtedly. 

Let’s take a practical look at all of this. The Flyers still do not have a long-term answer in net. Add to this fact, we are far from seeing the final product, whatever that may be, of Aleksei Kolosov. The Philadelphia Flyers own his rights, like I mentioned. In the event that Kolosov refuses to report, the club can toll his contract. If he actually goes rogue and plays in the KHL, his contract in the NHL will remain intact.