The Calgary Flames announced today that they have recalled netminder Dustin Wolf from the American Hockey League, and that Jacob Markstrom is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Markstrom left practice abruptly yesterday and was replaced by the shooter-tutor.
A very hot and cold news release
This is very bittersweet news for the Flames. On the one hand, Wolf is the Flames’ goalie of the future and should almost certainly be in the NHL right now. Now in his third full season in the AHL, the Gilroy California-born prospect has a 0.929 save percentage, good for second in the league, and has four shutouts in 23 starts. He is the reigning AHL MVP and has won the AHL’s Goalie of the Year award two years in a row. He was also named to the AHL’s All Star Classic earlier this month.
But on the other hand, Markstrom has been the Flames’ best player over their last stretch. He has not posted a save percentage of less than 0.900 in any of his last seven games, and you have to go all the way back to November 30th to the last time he posted a save percentage below a 0.850. Markstrom has been a major factor as to why the Flames have been as good as they have of late.
What to expect going forward?
This does not feel like a long recall. Markstrom being designated as day-to-day likely means Dan Vladar gets the start tonight with Wolf serving as the backup. After Markstrom left practice on Monday, Coach Ryan Huska noted that this was a maintenance issue, adding further support to the idea that this is just a precautionary measure.
The Flames play again Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs and then Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers in the Battle of Alberta. Expect Markstrom to be back for one of those two games.
As for Wolf, the question is when not if he becomes an NHL netminder. The Flames will need to find a way to make room for him at the NHL level, and that means exploring moving one of their two current goalies. Time will tell how this situation gets resolved.
