Flyers’ Alexei Kolosov Making Surprise Return to North America

According to multiple reports and from the words of agent Dan Milstein, top Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Alexei Kolosov is suddenly returning to North America to participate in training camp and the NHL preseason.

Kolosov, 22, previously chose not to report for the Flyers for the annual development camp in July or for rookie camp and training camp in recent weeks after having played two games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL last season.

Milstein, who recently started representing Kolosov, has confirmed that the Belarusian goalie is on his way back to Philadelphia.

“Alexei Kolosov flies to Philadelphia, there is no disagreement between the player and the club. We made a certain decision. I can say that Alexei will participate in the training camp and in the Flyers’ games,” Milstein told Championat correspondent Pavel Panyshev.

Flyers fans may recall that Finnish goalie Eetu Makiniemi just signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia on Wednesday and was expected to share the crease in the AHL with veteran Cal Petersen, so it would appear there is now a wrinkle in those plans once Kolosov returns.

Further to that point, Flyers general manager Danny Briere felt in his training camp press conference that Kolosov wanted “to be guaranteed a spot in the NHL,” and Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov currently occupy those two roster spots.

There is always the possibility that the Flyers carry three goalies during the regular season and figure out a rotation, but that is less likely.

An immediate solution to some of these concerns is obviously not forthcoming, but it appears that, for all intents and purposes, Kolosov is giving the NHL dream and life in North America one more shot.