Dan Vladar comes off IR and Jacob Markstrom is still a Flame, leaving no room for Wolf
Short and not so sweet. Calgary Flames goaltender of the future Dustin Wolf was returned to the AHL on Friday after the toughest NHL start of his young career.
With fellow netminder Dan Vladar coming off Injured Reserve and Jacob Markstrom still a member of the Calgary Flames, Wolf was the odd man out as the team practised ahead of Saturday’s matinee against the Detroit Red Wings at the Saddledome.
Wolf has outgrown the AHL, but still has a huge jump ahead of him to make it as a starter in the NHL. That was clear during a disappointing 6-3 loss to the lowly San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Despite being outplayed by the Sharks, the Flames were only down 3-2 heading into the final 20 minutes. A couple of quick tallies in the third, and three goals in an 11-minute stretch squeezed out any hope of one of those Calgary Flames comebacks.
"I wasn't super pleased with the goals in the third, and those are the times where you need a couple saves to give the group some life," Wolf told reporters post-game.
"It's one of those where you make some saves, and next thing you know, a couple are in your net. You got a couple bounces that don't go your way. That's the nature of hockey and the National Hockey League - it's a hard league to play in."
That it is. And he’ll get his opportunity. But as long as the Flames have both Markstrom and Vladar healthy, the winning environment of the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers is the best place for the 22-year-old.
Head coach Ryan Huska had no concerns Wolf would learn from the 25-save performance. It was a hard lesson to digest and the young goalie was visibly upset and emotional as he spoke.
“I think these are games and days that you'll look back on," he said, voice cracking. "They suck but it's a great opportunity to evaluate yourself as a player and a person and come back stronger."
That’s the hope. In seven NHL games this year, Wolf has an .887 save percentage and 3.47 goals against average.
It’s hard to imagine that improving if Markstrom is traded along with top defencemen Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.