Dustin Wolf heads into the new season with a little extra fuel in the tank.
After being left off the USA Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp invite list, the Flames goaltender has every reason to come out firing. Four names got the call instead—Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman, and Joey Daccord. So where does Wolf stack up against them?
The Numbers Game
Here’s a look at how each goalie finished last season:
Connor Hellebuyck – The clear-cut number one. He dominated with the Winnipeg Jets, posting 47 wins (47-12-3), a 2.00 goals-against average, and a sparkling .925 save percentage. That kind of season wins you hardware, and it did, winning the Hart and Vézina Trophies.
Jake Oettinger – Solid and steady with the Dallas Stars. He posted a 36-18-4 record with a 2.59 GAA and .909 SV% while handling a heavy workload. Not flashy, but certainly reliable.
Jeremy Swayman – A down year in Boston. His numbers slipped to a 3.11 GAA and .892 SV% and a 22-29-7 record, which stands out in the wrong way compared to this group.
Joey Daccord – Respectable season in Seattle. A 27-23-5 record with a 2.75 GAA and .906 SV% put him right in the middle—not elite, not poor, just consistent.
Dustin Wolf – Calgary’s young netminder quietly put up a very strong rookie season: 29 wins (29-16-8), a 2.64 GAA, a .910 SV%, and three shutouts. He was good enough to earn a spot on the All-Rookie Team and even finished as a Calder finalist.
Where Wolf Fits In
If you’re stacking them up, Wolf isn’t on Hellebuyck’s level just yet—that bar is set ridiculously high. But compared to the rest? He’s right there. In fact, his numbers line up almost evenly with Oettinger, and they’re a step ahead of both Swayman and Daccord. For a first-year starter, that’s impressive company.
The Snub Factor
Wolf admitted he hasn’t “heard anything or been told anything” about why he wasn’t invited. Honestly, that might be the best thing for Flames fans. A motivated Dustin Wolf is exactly what Calgary needs between the pipes.
He knows he has to prove himself from the start, and that chip on his shoulder could be the edge that keeps him locked in all season.
Wolf may have been overlooked by Team USA, but he’s already proving he belongs in the same breath as their chosen goalies. If he builds on his rookie campaign, it won’t be long before leaving him off a list like this looks like a mistake - and for the Flames? That kind of fire is the best thing they could ask for.