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NHL organization accused of mistreating top Russian goalie prospect

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Jim Precourt
July 28, 2024 (9:21 PM)

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The Philadelphia Flyers haven't had the best luck with prospects recently, highlighting Cutter Gauthier and the trade to the Anaheim Ducks. Well, another one just left, and it's a goalie.

Alexsi Kolosov left the Flyers organization. He will be going back to Russia. The reasons, though, are unacceptable, and valid for him to want to leave.

According to reports, the Flyers left Kolosov alone in a hotel during his time with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms down in the AHL, which was his first run in the USA. He could barely speak any English and had to fend for himself.

Per AHL source, Alexei Kolosov told #Flyers at the end of his stint w/ Lehigh Valley he did not want to return

"They put him in the hotel by himself & he felt isolated, especially since his English isn't great"

Put yourself in Kolosov's shoes for a minute.

You're ~5,000 miles from home in a different country where you can't speak the native language or communicate with anyone.

You're the 3rd goalie getting minimal practice reps in AHL. What do you do the other 22 hours of the day?

Not to mention you watch Ivan Fedotov go straight to the NHL with #Flyers & get a big contract extension shortly after the season ends.

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Kolosov also added he left because «the team had no direction.»

Goaltender Alexei Kolosov cites «nonexistent team culture» and «a lack of direction for the franchise» as his rationale for leaving the Philadelphia Flyers and returning to Dinamo Minsk (KHL) 😳😳

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Seems Alexei Kolosov is on track to return to Russia, after an ever-brief AHL stint. Interesting testament to his time in the US below

Kolosov, 22, has been a dazzling KHL starter for the last 3 years. He's a top goalie prospect in RU and will, Im sure, earn more NHL love soon

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Kolosov was a 3rd round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, selected by the Flyers. The 22 year old put up respectable numbers this season in the KHL with the Dinamo Minsk on loan, having a .907 SV% and a 2.39 GAA. He also saw two games in the AHL this year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. However, the Belarusian goaltender didn't perform well, having a .885 SV% and a 3.03 GAA.

Hopefully the best comes for Kolosov with this change of direction in his career.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

A trade price has just been confirmed: Patrick Laine's days in Columbus numbered

A teammate may have just said it all about Sidney Crosby remaining in Pittsburgh

It has just been confirmed for Leafs' Mitch Marner and the Chicago Blackhawks

POLL
JUILLET 28 \| 47 ANSWERS NHL organization accused of mistreating top Russian goalie prospect Do you think the goaltender made the right move returning home?
Yes	36	76.6 %
No	11	23.4 %
List of polls

NHL organization accused of mistreating top Russian goalie prospect

The Philadelphia Flyers haven't had the best luck with prospects recently, highlighting Cutter Gauthier and the trade to the Anaheim Ducks. Well, another one just left, and it's a goalie.

Do you think the goaltender made the right move returning home?