Ivan Fedotov Opens Up About His First NHL Season: 'You Just Have to Be Patient'

When Ivan Fedotov arrived in North America, he brought with him not just intrigue, but expectation. 

After years of success in the KHL, including a standout performance in international play, the towering 6-foot-7 goaltender was seen by the Philadelphia Flyers as a wild card worth betting on. 

Could he adapt to the pace, structure, and grind of the NHL? Could he translate flashes of brilliance into something more permanent?

Now, one full season into his NHL career, the 27-year-old Russian goalie has some answers—and a clear-eyed view of what still lies ahead.

“For me, it’s a good season,” Fedotov said during his exit interview. “I had good games, bad games, but overall, I understand way better right now—how [the NHL] works.”

That sentence, simple as it is, captures the essence of Fedotov’s journey this year. It wasn’t perfect. At times, it wasn’t even particularly smooth. But it was progress. And for a goalie adjusting not only to a new league, but to an entirely new lifestyle and hockey culture, that progress matters.

“In the beginning, I wasn’t enjoying my game,” he admitted. “I think about some details—how I move, how I stop the puck, my eyes, everything. When I get some not positive results, I have to change something because you understand it’s not working very good.”

The learning curve was steep, and the transition unforgiving. Goaltending in the NHL isn’t just faster—it’s more layered, more physical, more nuanced. For Fedotov, it wasn’t just about saves; it was about rhythm, routine, and mindset.

“I don’t want to get into details, but inside, outside, my routine will change during the year,” he said. “You have to manage and find a new way that you can be better, how you can improve.”

There were stretches of the season where Fedotov hardly played—long gaps between starts that made it even harder to find a groove. He didn’t sugarcoat that experience.

“Honestly, I wasn’t good,” he said of one month-long stretch on the bench. “It was terrible because you feel that, before that year, you had very good games and you seem like you’re on the right way.

“It’s not under my control. You think about how you can change the situation and how you can improve that. You just have to be patient and keep your head up just day by day and wait for your opportunity.”

When those opportunities did come, there were glimpses—real ones. Fedotov had nights where he was a game-stealer, showcasing his raw athleticism and rangy ability. He talked about “finding his game,” and while it wasn’t always consistent, there was a visible difference in his comfort and composure as the season wore on.

“There were times I played, like, one game in 10 days,” he said with a shrug. “But it’s a part of our job, so you have to be ready for that. Anything can happen—you can play a lot or not, but you have to be ready and keep your mind sharp.”

His improvement wasn’t accidental. It came from breaking down his game at the granular level—something many goalies only begin to truly do when faced with adversity. For Fedotov, the focus became clear: puck tracking.

“The main thing is tracking,” he explained. “I understand better how I can use my body, my head, my eyes for the traffic in front of me. The start of the season wasn’t good enough, then I understand how it works… I think I found how I can be good enough with the speed and feel comfortable with different directions.”

That might sound technical, but in the high-octane environment of the NHL, tracking is survival. It’s the ability to see pucks through traffic, to anticipate movement, to react rather than guess. And for a goalie used to different systems and ice surfaces overseas, it can take time.

Now, Fedotov feels that time has served its purpose.

“I want to be the first goalie,” he said plainly. “That’s why I came over.”

There’s no ambiguity in his tone—just ambition, steadied by experience. After a whirlwind year, he knows what he’s up against: Sam Ersson, a younger goalie with more NHL reps, and Aleksei Kolosov, the Belarusian prospect who’s just beginning his transition to North American hockey. The Flyers’ crease is crowded, and no one’s job is guaranteed.

“I think everybody will have the same chances,” Fedotov said. “It’s been one full year already and I want to jump right away when we start the season. I want to have a good summer and I understand how I can manage my preparation, so I trust everything.”

That last part—I trust everything—might be the most important thing he said all day. For Fedotov, this season wasn’t just about making saves. It was about learning the rhythm of a new world, believing in his place in it, and holding tight to the reason he came in the first place.

It wasn’t always pretty. But it was honest, and it was growth. And for a goalie who’s just getting started, that might be the most important save of all.