After careful deliberation, the IIHF have come forth with their decision regarding the future of goaltender, Ivan Fedotov, and it’s actually great news for the Philadelphia Flyers.
The saga has been as complicated as ever from the goaltender being detained and sent to Arctic for a year to serve for the military to returning but signing a contract with the KHL, although the Flyers had his contract tolled for the 2023-24 season. Due to that, the IIHF had to step in and determine who’s contract had more merit.
On the 31st of July, it was announced that the IIHF would make the final decision and 2 weeks later we finally have a resolution.
The IIHF put out a statement:
“Based on the evidence provided to the IIHF by the involved parties, the IIHF has determined that Ivan Fedotov has a valid NHL Contract with the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Club for the 2023/2024 season. Accordingly, the IIHF has determined that Ivan Fedotov was in breach of a Professional Player Contract per Article II.4.1 of the IIHF International Transfer Regulations when he signed a contract with CSKA hockey club for the 2023/2024 season.
In accordance with Article II.4.1 of the IIHF International Transfer Regulations, Ivan Fedotov was given two (2) weeks to either go back to his former club (i.e Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Club); or obtain a release from his former club. As neither action occurred within the given period, the IIHF has imposed the following sporting sanctions on Ivan Fedotov:
– A four (4) month suspension on playing in official national and international games during playing periods. The suspension shall take effect on 1 September 2023 (first CSKA regular season game) and conclude on 31 December 2023.
In accordance with the Article II.4.2 of the IIHF International Transfer Regulations, it shall be presumed, unless established to the contrary, that any club signing a Player who has breached his Professional Player Contract has induced that Player to commit a breach. Therefore, as CSKA Hockey Club was aware of the Player’s NHL Contract and did not establish to the IIHF that it has not induced the Player to commit a breach of his Professional Player Contract, the IIHF has imposed the following sporting sanctions on CSKA Hockey Club:
– A one (1) season ban on International Transfers taking effect on 11 August 2023 and concluding on 10 August 2024.”
Due to the fact that he breached the code of conduct, Fedotov will be banned for one season on International Transfers taking effect on the 11th of August, 2023, and he will also face a 4-month ban on playing in national or international games from the 1st of September, 2023.
The Flyers, who now have an insurmountable number of goaltenders at their disposal in Carter Hart, Samuel Ersson, Felix Sandström, and Cal Petersen, don’t necessarily need Fedotov at the moment, however for the first time in a long time, there is clarity on his situation and who holds the rights to his contract.
The Flyers could play nice and allow him to play somewhere else on loan that’s not in the KHL, as his 4-month suspension also includes Russia’s top league.
Fedotov originally said that playing with CSKA Moscow was something that he was looking forward to doing, but he is also seemingly not ready after a full year away from competitive hockey. Fedotov mentioned that he played a few times a week while stationed in the Arctic but the competition wasn’t even close to professional hockey.
It is interesting that Fedotov was given 2 weeks to either come to Philadelphia or ask the Flyers for a release and he did neither of the two options, which incidentally prompted the IIHF to rule against the KHL contract.
The KHL put out the following statement, courtesy of Hockey News Hub:
As of right now, the Flyers should be rejoicing in the fact that they have won the rights over their ultra-talented goaltender who is only just over a year removed from helping his nation win a silver medal at the Olympics and being an instrumental piece in helping his team win the Gagarin Cup.
What happens from here on out will be monitored like a hawk as there are still a few things that have to be settled between player and team.
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