The Flyers on Sunday pared their roster down another post to 36 when they announced goaltender Eetu Mäkiniemi has been loaned to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League, leaving the training camp roster at 36 players.
The move isn’t a big surprise as both goaltenders Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov are more than likely going to be the starter and backup goaltenders, respectively. It’s also not a coincidence that the Flyers might want to see Alexei Kolosov a bit more this week in practices and possible game action after the goaltender returned to the Flyers following a bit of a soap opera in the last few weeks. The Flyers have three games in four nights to close out the exhibition season: an away game Monday night against the Islanders, the following night in Boston against the Bruins before returning home on Thursday night against New Jersey to wrap the preseason up. So it’s possible Kolosov gets a taste of action with the big club before he’s sent down to Lehigh Valley.
Mäkiniemi was given a professional try out invite with the Flyers in late August. The Finnish goalie, 25, made the most of his opportunity in training camp, appearing in the game against Montreal and holding his own through the first half of the game. He then gave way to Cal Petersen and the Habs ended up routing the Flyers 5-0. On Sept. 24 the Flyers signed Mäkiniemi to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Finnish keeper making the $775,000 if he were to remain with the Flyers and $200,000 if he stayed in the minors.
The signing of Mäkiniemi might have been the catalyst for Kolosov to return to Philadelphia and get back in the swing of things. What is clear is that the four goaltenders the Flyers (and Lehigh Valley) are counting on this season and looking towards the immediate future with are Ersson, Fedotov, Kolosov and Mäkiniemi.
The Flyers have Sunday off following Saturday night’s exciting 3-2 overtime win against the Bruins.
