Phantoms appear to be putting a plan in place without Alexei Kolosov

Add even more fuel to the fire regarding the status of Alexei Kolosov.

Again, we won't know until September if Kolosov plans to stay home. The rumors are likely true if he is not seen at Flyers training camp.

But the Lehigh Valley Phantoms appear to be putting a plan in place just in case they don't have him on the roster next season. Along with Cal Petersen and Parker Gahagen, the team will be signing Keith Petruzzelli to an AHL deal according to Inside AHL Hockey's Tony Androckitis.

Petruzzelli has floated between the AHL and ECHL in his early career, all in the Toronto Maple Leafs system. This past season was the first year he only played for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. He put up his worst numbers in the AHL during his 17 games. Petruzzelli posted a 3.55 GAA and a .867 SV%. Six goaltenders appeared in at least one game for the Marlies so not having the consistent play likely didn't help.

Phantoms add goaltending depth, possible contingency plan for Kolosov?

This is not a guarantee that Kolosov is not coming over. He is under contract with the Flyers and cannot play anywhere else without their permission. He can force their hand, of course. It would probably have to end in a contract termination and not a loan, though. One of the rumors floating around is that Kolosov wants the Dinamo Minsk management to help get him out of his NHL deal.

The main crux of the rumor was that Kolosov felt homesick while over in Lehigh Valley. It was a new place and an entirely new culture. He also was not getting much playing time, though that was to be expected. And who knows if Ivan Fedotov going right to the NHL was a problem for him. That part we won't ever know. But imagine being somewhere where you barely speak the language and have no one to talk to. Most players on the Phantoms roster were from the United States or Canada.

Being put up in a hotel is not an unusual circumstance for new players to face. But doing it with the above factors as well? It's no wonder Kolosov would feel uneasy with his surroundings.

At this moment, the Reading Royals do not have a goaltender signed for next season. If Kolosov does come back to North America, it would be easy to stash Gahagen or even Petruzzelli in the ECHL. That's without the Royals making any goaltending signings of their own. They would likely make at leasy one signing before the season.

This could all turn out to be nothing but rumors. The Flyers and Kolosov disregarded the initial rumors. And they expect Kolosov to come to training camp in September.

Hold on folks, this has been a wild ride.