The International Ice Hockey Federation recently sanctioned Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov, CSKA Moscow, and the Russian Federation. Fedotov is prohibited from participating in any IIHF competitions, including the Olympics, for a period of three years.
Fedotov, a 2015 NHL draft seventh-round pick, signed a one-year entry-level contract with the Flyers in 2022. His North American debut was delayed due to an arrest in Russia for evading military service, causing him to miss the entire 2022 season. He would later sign a two-year deal with his former KHL team, CSKA Moscow, in July 2023.
The IIHF had discovered that Fedotov breached international transfer rules by playing in the KHL while under an active NHL contract with the Flyers for the 2023-24 season. Initially facing a four-month ban, the suspension ended in December 2023, yet Fedotov continued competing.
The CSKA Moscow then ended Fedotov’s contract in March, allowing him to join the Flyers as a backup to Flyers’ goalie Sam Ersson. Fedotov then played three games with the Flyers, earning a .811 save percentage. On April 23, he secured a two-year, $6.5 million contract with Philadelphia.
The recent sanctions included a two-year ban on all international transfers for CSKA Moscow until August 10, 2026. If Fedotov moves from the NHL to a club under IIHF jurisdiction, he faces a six-month suspension from playing at the club level. The Russian Ice Hockey Federation was also fined 1 million Swiss francs for its role in Fedotov’s transfer violation.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been excluded from IIHF events, with the ban now extended to the 2024-25 championship season.
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