The Calgary Flames tended to a major contract before the calendar turned from July to August. They’ve re-signed Dustin Wolf to a two-year extension. With the potential to outright earn the Flames’ starter spot in the 2024–25 season, Wolf is now signed through the 2025–26 season and will remain a restricted free agent upon contract expiry.
Wolf’s contract details
The new extension for Wolf is a two-year deal with an average annual value of $850K. Further, the deal is two-way in the first year and one-way in the second year. This means that Wolf’s salary may fluctuate next season depending on whether he’s in the NHL (likely) or AHL (unlikely); in 2025–26, he’ll be earning the full NHL contract value. However, in 2024–25, his AHL salary is set at $275K but he’s guaranteed a minimum $375K. In theory, he should be trending much closer to the full $850K than he does the $375K.
This is a big step for the Gilroy, California goaltending product. With a career total of 18 NHL games, Wolf still has to prove that he’s an NHL-calibre goalie, but the Flames are showing a strong belief. He’s done it all at every other level and he remains Calgary’s—or rather, one of the NHL’s premier goaltender prospects. This new contract paves the way for his NHL development as he should be taking the reins sooner rather than later.
It’s Wolf season
While it’s felt as if Wolf has been knocking on the doorstep of the NHL for the past several years, he’s still just 23 years old, well far away from most elite NHL goaltender projections. As a top prospect entering the NHL on a rebuilding team, he should have plenty of time to figure out his game with little to no pressure.
This is about as ideal as it gets for Calgary’s bigger picture. If all goes well, Wolf can be looking at a big pay raise in two years when he transitions from a goaltender in development into someone who can backstop the Flames right into Stanley Cup contention.
Get your Wolf X Blasty merch to show your support of Wolf everywhere you go!
View all the available Wlasty products here!
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
You must be logged in to post a comment.