Flyers' Russian prospect facing challenges leaving the KHL
When drafting the highly-touted Russian prospect Matvei Michkov, the Philadelphia Flyers knew there could be difficulties in bringing him over to North America, especially with the current political climate. While the Flyers don't yet have definitive news on Michkov, the organization is facing a similar challenge with goaltending prospect Ivan Fedotov.
Arrested on charges of evading required military service last year, Fedotov has clearly expressed a desire to leave Russia and join the Flyers organization. However, with war and a quickly evolving political situation, the KHL team CSKA Moscow is staking a claim to his contract - trying to keep him in Russia.
It's a break in a long-standing agreement between the KHL and NHL, where a UFA player to sign were they please. Despite the agreement officially being cancelled by the NHL last season in response to the war in Ukraine, the agreement stood in principle, that is until now.
If Russia and the KHL try further measures to retain Fedotov, blocking his rightfully earned path to the NHL, it will significantly harm relations between leagues - and the quality of hockey in North America. NHL teams will be more reluctant than they already are of selecting KHL players in the draft or free agency, and for the Flyers, could present challenges for bringing over Matvei Michkov. Hopefully, a diplomatic solution can be reached to do what's best for the players, giving them the agency to choose what league to play in.
