The Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League are awaiting a decision on a strange contract battle over goaltender Ivan Fedotov. The dispute is between the NHL and the KHL, as the netminder was signed by the Russian league's CSKA this summer, even though the Flyers believe he has a contract with them.

The NHL and Philadelphia Flyers submit Ivan Fedorov’s contract should be tolled based on missing last season due to military service in Russia. The IIHF is now considering the submission.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 30, 2023

Fedotov signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Flyers last May, but sat out last season after being arrested in Russia and performing military service for the year. The Flyers and the NHL have submitted to the IIHF that Fedotov's contract should be paused ("tolled") and rolled over to this season due to the circumstances surrounding him and his inability to play over the past year.

The Flyers, in fact, announced in June of this year that his contract would be applied to the 2023-24 season, but a few weeks later, CSKA signed him to a two-year deal to play in the KHL. Fedotov said he wanted to play in the Russian league to get himself back into top form for a run at the NHL.

He has yet to play in North America since being drafted in the 7th round in 2015, but the Flyers believe that he's ready to make the leap, having signed him to the ELC last year.

His agent, JP Barry, says that Fedotov will abide by the IIHF's ruling. They're expected to make a decision any time now.

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