VOORHEES, N.J. – It’s safe to say the Flyers’ goaltending situation last season was rather unsettled.
First, there was the Carter Hart drama. The team’s No. 1 netminder played the first half of the schedule under a dark cloud due to legal problems stemming from a 2018 off-ice incident over an alleged assault (with four others) on a woman.
When Hart was eventually forced to the sidelines, somewhat unproven Samuel Ersson had to step into the breach.
Then came the arrival of Russian goalie Ivan Fedotov, who brought some gaudy credentials and showed flashes of brilliance.
As we know, the season ended in disappointing fashion. The Flyers just missed the playoffs and that left people wondering just how costly the Hart distraction really was.
This season promises to be different.
It appears Ersson is the established No. 1, Fedotov No. 2 and Hart nothing more than a distant memory.
At Tuesday’s press conference, general manager Daniel Briere agreed things should be getting back to normal when it comes to stopping pucks.
“I hope it (a better atmosphere) helps,” he said at the Flyers Training Center. “Last year there were a lot of questions. We didn’t know what was going to happen with Carter. There was a three-goalie system for awhile. That wasn’t easy. We’re not planning on doing that this year.
“Hopefully, Ersson takes the reins. We see him as No. 1 and Fedotov, hopefully, can be pushing him for starts the same way that Ersson did it to Carter last year. Ersson didn’t steal the starts he was getting, he earned them. That’s a big part of why we were where we were (in the playoff picture for 124 days).”
If not for a late-season slump, the Flyers might have made the postseason for the first time since 2020.
Maybe a more stable goaltending structure will help the cause.
>Power play solutions
The Flyers finished 32nd and dead last on the power play last season. At just over 12 percent, it was the worst number in franchise history.
Briere was asked if the addition of Matvei Michkov and the return of a healthy Jamie Drysdale could get things going in the right direction this season.
“Those are two high-end, skill players,” Briere said. “But they’re still young. It’s going to be a work in progress. It’s definitely an area we’re putting an emphasis on this season.”
>Kolosov drama continues
Don’t look for Alexei Kolosov in a Flyers uniform anytime soon.
Briere confirmed the Belarussian netminder is back in Minsk, waiting to play there on a loan and basically disregarding the contract he signed with Philadelphia. The Flyers were hoping the he would be in their training camp, which starts on Thursday and eventually play for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season.
Kolosov, a 2021 third-round draft pick, is not on the Flyers’ training camp roster, which was released Tuesday.
“So you’re going to start with him?” Briere cracked at the start of Tuesday’s media session. “I guess we can still hope he decides to show up at some point if he wants to play (NHL) hockey. We hope that he changes his mind and decides to come. But it’s not looking like it at this point.
“It is what it is. I think we have to move on. We had hoped he wanted to compete for a job. When you look at the way we’re built right now, there’s an opportunity there for him. He would be in a competition for the guys we have to play some games this year.”
Briere said he believes this “holdout” is more about Kolosov’s desire to play in the NHL right now.
“If not, he prefers to stay over there,” Briere said. “It’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 sign a contract, we want him here with the smaller ice, learning the language. I guess he doesn’t see it that way.”
Could the Flyers have done anything differently to handle this situation? It’s the second time this year a high draft pick has asked out. In January, the Flyers sent 2022 fifth-overall draft pick Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round draft pick. Gauthier indicated he didn’t want to play in Philadelphia.
Rumors continue to fly about Kolosov’s future. Briere claims the Flyers have done their best to make the player feel comfortable.
“Our players and coaches went above and beyond to try to help him try to integrate with the team,” Briere said. “I feel bad for some of the leaders. These guys went out of their way to try to help him fit in. They would ask him to go to dinner. I talked to some guys, they said he was fine and great around the rink.
“I get it, he might be homesick but that’s the life of a pro hockey player. You have to adapt if you want to play hockey. That’s just how it is. If he wants to play hockey, he has to respect his contract. We have no interest in loaning him back. It’s too bad he’s not willing to come over.”
Are there any concerns now that both Gauthier and Kolosov didn’t work out?
“We’re always looking at ourselves and seeing how we can do better,” Briere said. “Don’t forget we’re talking about two guys from the outside. The culture we’re building inside, the players want to be here. They realize how fortunate we are as a Flyer organization, they give you everything you want to succeed. I’m more worried about the people on the inside. I think it’s a great missed opportunity for him (Kolosov).”
>Johansen situation in limbo
Last month, the Flyers terminated the contract of forward Ryan Johansen, a player they picked up from Colorado last March.
But, there are still some legal matters to hurdle and the situation has not yet been resolved. Johansen’s agent claims his player has a serious hip injury.
“We haven’t heard from their camp,” Briere said. “The ball is still in their camp at this point and there’s nothing new to report. The contract is terminated. They have to decide if they want to file a grievance or not.”
