The drama surrounding goaltender Alexei Kolosov’s alleged refusal to return to the Philadelphia Flyers has given fans plenty to talk about and debate, with many placing the blame for the situation squarely on the shoulders of Flyers GM Danny Briere.
The thing is, it’s not so black and white.
It cannot be overstated that the general public does not know the details of the situation. No one from Kolosov’s camp has commented on the reports, and the only thing the Flyers have said is that they fully expect the young goaltender to participate in preseason camps (which he is contractually obligated to do).
A source said Kolosov felt “isolated” during his time with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, lending credence to reports that Kolosov was dealing with severe homesickness following his arrival in the U.S. in April. Apparently he was also disappointed with his playing time, only appearing in two games at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Per AHL source, Alexei Kolosov said #Flyers At the end of his time in Lehigh Valley he didn’t want to go back
“They put him alone in the hotel and he felt isolated, especially because his English is not good.”
Explains AHL negotiations for Gahagen & Petruzzelli. @InsideAHLHockey
-Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) July 27, 2024
It’s understandable that a young player might feel out of place in a new country and a new league, especially when many people on the Phantoms don’t speak his language, but people seem to think that Briere and the rest of the Flyers’ front office have “abandoned” Kolosov in a hotel and dusted off the situation. In what world would it be any Does the NHL front office do that with a new player, let alone a front office that has consistently shown how much it cares about making its players comfortable in the organization?
The narrative that the Flyers just “ghosted” Alexei Kolosov in Lehigh Valley is hard to believe for two reasons…
1- Kolosov and Fedotov have the same agent, so he knew Fedotov was coming
2- PHI made it clear that Kolosov would not come to the NHLSomething doesn’t add up. #LetsGoFlyers
– Brandon J. Sommermann (@B_Sommermann) July 27, 2024
As for limited playing time, it’s natural to be dissatisfied with so few minutes, but Briere stated from the beginning that Kolosov would begin his Flyers career with the Phantoms, and that Ivan Fedotov (who arrived at the same time) would take on backup duties at the level. higher.
Kolosov and Fedotov have the same agency representation, and Briere has always made a point of being transparent with his players about what the expectations are for them and what responsibilities they will have within the team. Kolosov may not have agreed with his placement, but it’s not like Briere promised him a spot on an NHL roster and then switched at the last minute. He would have been aware of the plan since before his arrival, and if he’s expressing frustration because he thought he deserved better, that’s his fault—not Briere’s.
And if Kolosov really is that unhappy with his placement in the AHL, the goaltending situation within the Flyers is still precarious enough that he could have a real shot at some NHL minutes if he proves himself worthy with the Phantoms.
Related: The confusing offseason saga of Flyers’ Alexei Kolosov
It can be a tedious and frustrating thing to endure, but he’s far from the first player to try this path for The Show. Many current Flyers (Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Bobby Brink, etc.) had to pay their AHL dues before earning a spot on the main roster. It’s counterproductive to get fed up after two games and give up on your NHL aspirations, but if that’s really the case again, this is in Kolosov.
As general manager, Briere has a certain responsibility in overseeing the prospects’ journey, but when prospects decide on a course of action and resort to childish and immature tactics to try to get their demands met (see also: Cutter Gauthier), Briere has made it very clear that he has no interest in bending the knee. He didn’t give in to the nastiness of a top prospect like Gauthier, so it’s extremely doubtful he would tolerate the antics of a less-elite talent like Kolosov.
Related: REPORT: Alexei Kolosov Informed Flyers He ‘Didn’t Want to Return’ to AHL
The blame game is exhausting, infuriating, and is nothing more than a breeding ground for shock-value, click-bait hypocritical opinions. The off-season can be tedious for many hockey fans, and a saga like this allows for the kind of pot buzz and keyboard wars that will carry fans through the slow summer months.
However, these current debates lack nuance and understanding and simply attack the easiest target available, rather than making an effort to see both perspectives and draw an informed conclusion. When the preseason hasn’t even started yet and fans are already catastrophizing with their torches and pitchforks in hand, the problem may run deeper than just the front office.
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