It seems as if the Aleksei Kolosov saga in Philadelphia is nearing its end.
According to Anthony SanFilippo of the Snow the Goalie Podcast, the Flyers are not going to send him down to the AHL for the Phantoms’ postseason run. Instead, he will return home to Belarus.
Elite Prospects also reported it based on a report from a Belarusian hockey source. This report claimed that Kolosov could make his return to the KHL as soon as this offseason.
SanFilippo furthered his report by saying, “This may have been the last time you see Kolosov.”
The important thing to keep in mind is that the team will not make any official moves or announcements until the conclusion of the season. As of now, he is still a rostered member of the Philadelphia Flyers.
If the 23-year-old goalie were to return home, Dynamo Minsk in the KHL would still own his rights, so it is likely that he would play there.
Aleksei Kolosov’s Flyers Tenure
If this is the end of Aleksei Kolosov’s Flyers tenure, it certainly was not as exciting as expected.
Kolosov signed his three-year entry-level contract last season and still has one season remaining on his contract after this one.
The Belarusian goaltender never appeared in an NHL game last season and made his NHL debut in late October this season. Kolosov appeared in 16 games for the Flyers this season, earning a record of 5-8-1 in 14 starts.
He has a save percentage of .867%, and a 3.56 goals-against-average.
Among goaltenders to play 15 or more games this season, Kolosov ranks at the very bottom in save percentage and has the third-worst goals-against-average. Needless to say, this season has not been too kind to the 23-year-old.
Most recently, Aleksei Kolosov picked up a win in the Flyers’ 8-5 victory over the New York Rangers. Although it’s quite hard to lose a game when your team scores eight goals.
Could the Flyers Make A Trade?
To put it simply, I don’t believe the Flyers will be able to make a trade involving Aleksei Kolosov unless it is for a late-round pick years in advance.
There is not much value there, especially if he does not play in the AHL. The Flyers have a problem in net, especially when it comes to carrying three goaltenders. If Kolosov does go home or gets traded, at a minimum, that brings the Flyers back to two rostered goaltenders. That does solve the roster problem, but does not particularly solve their issues in net–that is a story for another time.
If the Flyers do want to trade him, maybe they give him one more, if not both of the remaining games, to see if they can get any trade value out of him. However, it might be a little too late to do so, especially if he does have his sights set on a KHL return.
The Flyers’ season ends Thursday after their game against the Buffalo Sabres. Clarity on the Kolosov situation will follow shortly after.
