The Calgary Flames announced today that they have recalled netminder Dustin Wolf from the American Hockey League and that Dan Vladar is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
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 0.927 save percentage, good for second in the league, and has four shutouts in 28 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.
Vladar has been okay for the Flames as well this season. Nothing outstanding, but very serviceable in a backup role. In 16 starts this season, the Czech netminder has a 0.888 save percentage, going 7–7–2. He sits 61st in the league in save percentage of the 67 goalies that have played more than 10 games, but these numbers do not show how hot and cold he has been this season.
What to expect going forward?
This is a very tumultuous time for the Flames. There is a growing chance that the Flames move Jacob Markstrom, as the market for him appears to be very hot. Without Elias Lindholm in Calgary, there seems to be less incentive for Markstrom to want to be in Calgary than there was a couple of weeks back. However, the tandem of Wolf and Vladar does not bode for success for the Flames, who appear to want to make the playoffs.
Vladar’s injury does not seem like a long-term one, with the netminder likely injured in practice. He has not appeared since a January 20 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Expect him to be back in the lineup shortly.
Is Wolf ready for real NHL games? The answer probably is yes, given how good he has been at the AHL level. Do the Flames trust him in that net with Vladar behind or beside him? That’s the more challenging question. 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.
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