Markstrom trade opens door for goalie prospect Wolf to jump into starter spot for Flames
Is he big enough to make it? Can he translate the success he's had at other levels of hockey into the NHL? It looks like the Calgary Flames are about to find out what they've got in top prospect Dustin Wolf.
Wolf, who turned 23 at the end of the regular season, is going to get a shot at the starting job in the Calgary crease in the fall.
With fellow puck stopper Dan Vladar coming off hip surgery, the top minutes are Wolf's to lose. Barring the addition of a veteran goaltender to compete with the youngster.
The Flames cleared out former starter Jacob Markstrom this week with a long-anticipated trade to the New Jersey Devils, saving most of the 34-year-old's $6-million AAV.
Wolf hasn't been overly impressive at the NHL level so far. But the sample size is still very low. He has just 18 games with the Flames and won just seven of the 17 he played as a rookie fill-in this past season. His 3.16 goals-against average and .893 save percentage were less than stellar — but keep in mind he played a lot after Vladar's surgery was announced and the team had traded away half of it's top six defenders in Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin.
With a young lineup and uncertain defensive corps, there may be a lot of growing pains on the path ahead, but Calgary Flames GM warned this week that he still doesn't plan on rushing Wolf.
That’s the one position you want to be careful with is goalies" Conroy told the Flames website after the deal. "You never want to rush him and put him in a situation where it actually hurts their growth.
"So, you know, we’ve still got some decisions to make, but it gives both these guys a great opportunity to play more games in the NHL this year.”
The American Hockey League's top goalie for two years running and league MVP last season has nothing left to prove in the minors. As for his lack of size, his stunningly quick lateral movement and agility, athleticism, and anticipation negate that perceived deficiency to a large degree.
We'll find out soon enough whether the Flames' seventh-round draft pick from 2019 can prove doubters wrong once again.