Flyers GM Briere on Kolosov’s Absence: ‘We Have to Move On’

With two days until the Flyers begin main training camp in preparation for the 2024-25 season, the roster revealed for the start of camp once again included a notable and expected absence. Alexei Kolosov was not on the roster again, as an offseason saga continues. 

Speaking prior to the opening of camp, GM Danny Briere extensively addressed the situation.

“I guess we can still hope that he decides to show up at some point, if he wants to play hockey,” Briere said. “We hope that he changes his mind and decides to come, but it’s not looking like it at this point. It is what it is. We have to move on.”

Kolosov, 22, signed his entry-level contract on July 8, 2023, but was loaned to Dinamo Minsk in the KHL last season. He played in 47 games with a 2.39 GAA and .907 save percentage. He played in two AHL games late in the season, posting a 3.03 GAA and .885 save percentage.

After the season concluded, Kolosov returned to Europe and expressed desire to not return to North America for the upcoming season. Briere noted how the Flyers plans were different.

“The way we saw it is probably start in the American League. Most teams around the league use their third goalie or fourth goalie. So he’d be in a competition with the guys we have to play some games this year,” Briere said. “I think, on his end, it’s more about he wants to be guaranteed a spot in the NHL. If not, he prefers to stay over there, and that’s not the way we see it. 

“We agreed last year to loan him back for one year, cause he wanted to stay home, but at some point, you sign a contract. We want him here. We want him to start integrating himself to the game the way it’s played here in North America, learning the language, and all of that. I guess he doesn’t see it that way at the moment.”

Briere also noted that the coaching staff and players with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms did their part in trying to make Kolosov feel welcome and integrate him into the team culture. Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere had also addressed this on Monday, stating that multiple requests from teammates to take Kolosov to dinner were declined by the young netminder.

“Some of our players and coaches and development guys went above and beyond to help him integrate with the team,” Briere said. “I feel bad for some of the leaders, Garrett Wilson and Louie Belpedio. These guys went out of their way to try to have him fit in. They would ask him to go to dinner, stuff like that. I talked to some of the guys, they all said he was fine. He was great around the rink, they liked him as a person. There didn’t seem to be any issues. 

“I believe in the leadership of those guys. Same thing with our coaches. When you hear things like that, you have to take it with a grain of salt. He had some really good people to work with around him. I get it, he might be homesick. But that’s the life of a professional hockey player. You’ve got to adapt, and if you want to play hockey, that’s just how it is.”

So what does that mean for the future? Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that the Flyers asking price in any trade is high, reportedly a second-round pick. Additionally, other NHL teams are being cautious with Kolosov’s availability, wondering if he even wants to play in the NHL at all. 

“Yeah, we do wonder at this point because he doesn’t show that he wants to come,” Briere said. “That was the understanding last year. When we signed the contract, he asked us to loan him back for one year, so he can keep developing one more year and then he’d come over. We’re here now, and he’s still saying the same thing. That’s part of the reason it’s time for him to step up and respect the contract that he signed.” 

At the present, the Flyers also have no intentions of loaning Kolosov to the KHL again or tolling the contract for another year, which could mean Kolosov’s hockey career is at a standstill. While the Flyers still hope there’s potentially a change of heart from Kolosov, they are trying to move forward.

“All we know is he’s under contract with us. The way we see it, if he wants to play hockey, he has to respect his contract. For us, we have no interest in loaning him back. We want him to develop here. There’s a great opportunity in front for our goalies right now. We have young goalies in net. We have Cal Petersen that’s fighting for a spot as well. So we just thought it would be a great opportunity for him at this time. It’s too bad that he’s not willing to come over.”

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.