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Flyers: Ivan Fedotov continues to impress in KHL

By Ariel Melendez |
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 11: A hockey net sits on the ice prior to the arm-ups and the game between the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 11, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - SEPTEMBER 11: A hockey net sits on the ice prior to the arm-ups and the game between the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on September 11, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The 2015 seventh round pick continues to open eyes and has helped strengthen the Flyers goaltending pool.

What was potentially a shot in the dark pick back in 2015, Ivan Fedotov is making Ron Hextall look like a genius. The former Flyers GM took Fedotov with the 188th pick during the 2015 NHL Draft. His numbers were impressive in the MHL, but he was still very young.

Goaltenders usually take the longest to develop which is a good reason why we haven’t seen Fedotov is North America just yet. He signed an extension to remain in the KHL for the time being. But the numbers continue to impress as he gets more playing time.

It’s not only his overall numbers that are solid. He never seems to have a bad game. Fedotov has hardly ever given up two goals in a game and almost never posts a below .930 SV%.

He has played considerably less games than some of the other top goaltenders in the league. But his save percentage remains up there with them. Among goaltenders who have played less than 10 games, he ranks third in both save percentage and goals against average.

Both goaltenders above him have played in fewer games. The one above him has only appeared in two contests. So even with the different amount of games, Fedotov is among one of the best goaltenders in the league regardless.

He has appeared in eight fewer games than Traktor Chelyabinsk‘s starting goaltender, Roman Will. So the sample size between the two is off, but Fedotov does have the better numbers between the two. Thus far, he has posted a 1.54 GAA and a .945 SV%.

It will be awhile before we see him on the North American ice. But he has been developing quite well over in the KHL. And as one of four Flyers goaltenders to be playing right now, he will have a lot of eyes on him for the time being.

Fedotov has a chance to climb up the Flyers depth charts if he is able to keep up this pace. His numbers year by year suggest that he is only going to get better. At 23 years of age, he is certainly in the midst of his prime.

At this rate, the late round goaltender could see himself with a NHL career at some point. There’s still a lot of time, but the positive signs are there for Fedotov and the Flyers.

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