Ivan Fedotov Named Flyers’ Nominee for Masterton Trophy
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov has been selected as the team’s nominee for the 2025 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The award, voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA), is presented to the NHL player who best embodies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport.
Fedotov’s journey to the NHL has been far from ordinary. Drafted in the seventh round in 2015, he spent years playing in various Russian leagues and was with CSKA Moscow during the 2021–22 season. After the season ended, he signed an entry-level deal with the Flyers in May 2022. However, his move to the NHL was put on hold when he was detained by Russian authorities in July 2022 for allegedly evading military service. He was sent to serve at a remote base near the Arctic Circle.
After completing his service and resolving contractual disputes with the KHL, Fedotov’s deal with CSKA Moscow was terminated in March 2024. Shortly afterward, he officially joined the Flyers and made his long-awaited NHL debut on April 1, 2025, in a game against the New York Islanders. Coming in as a backup, he saved 19 of 21 shots, earning praise from then-head coach John Tortorella despite the team’s overall poor performance that night.
This season, Fedotov has faced challenges on the ice as well, posting a 6-13-3 record with a 3.12 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage. Still, it’s his remarkable resilience and commitment that led to his nomination.
If Fedotov were to win, he would become the fifth Flyer to receive the Masterton Trophy. The most recent winner from Philadelphia was Oskar Lindblom in the 2020–21 season, honored for his comeback after battling cancer. Other former Flyers recipients include Bobby Clarke, Tim Kerr, and Ian Laperriere.
The award was named in memory of Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who tragically died after sustaining a head injury during a game in January 1968. Each NHL team puts forward one nominee, and the PHWA selects the final winner.
