In only his second professional season, Wolf has nearly achieved all he can in the minors
In only his second professional season, Wolf has nearly achieved all he can in the minors
Dustin Wolf can not accomplish much more in the AHL in only his second professional season.
As the Calgary Wranglers head to the finish line of the regular season and prepare for the playoffs, with their next game on Friday at home against the San Diego Gulls, Wolf continues to shine in goal waiting for an NHL opportunity to come.
All while knowing he must bide his time, especially if the Flames do not have either Jacob Markstrom or Dan Vladar go down due to injury and the big club remains in the fight for a Stanley Cup playoff berth.
It is unfathomable to think for a second Wolf is not itching to show himself with the Flames, but the netminder who will celebrate his 22nd birthday next month is well-versed in patience.
Patience is how he pulled through two truncated WHL seasons with he Everett Silvertips because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patience is what it took to wait for the Flames to draft him in the seventh round in in 2019 despite being the WHL’s best goalie — and we do not need to go over the fact the reason is simply because Wolf is six-feet-tall in an era teams want goalies to be 6-6.
“Obviously you look up and want to be in the NHL, but as it sits right now, that’s not the focus. If I’m called up, then you turn your focus,” Wolf said. “Everybody here wants to be in the NHL, but everyone here wants to win a Calder Cup, too.”
Certainly the Wranglers are a contender for the crown last won by the Flames’ affiliate in 2001. They were the first club to clinch a playoff spot, and a huge reason has been Wolf’s performance between the pipes.
He built upon an impressive rookie season in which he was named the league’s top goalie and first-team all-star. This season, Wolf if tops in the league in goals-against average (2.17), save percentage (.930), wins (36) and shutouts (six). He has improved in all those statistical categories from last season.
More importantly, he has seen his game evolve forward under new Wranglers goalie coach Mackenzie Skapski.
“The other day we were watching clips comparing last year to this year and it was really noticeable to me where I’ve improved,” Wolf said. “We could see it with how I was controlling the play, my depth management, ability to move in the paint, even how I’m playing the puck, which is something I have to really work on.
“I was able to see my game has grown. You don’t really see it when you’re looking at things day-to-day, but comparing from then to now was very exciting.”
The Flames desperately need good news on the goalie front. Since the franchise moved to Calgary, only three goalies they have drafted have played more than 250 NHL regular season games: Mike Vernon, Trevor Kidd and Craig Anderson.
It is even uglier in that only one — Mike Vernon — played more than 200 games for the Flames. Kidd was the starter for only a few seasons in the mid-1990s before being traded. Anderson was drafted in 1999 but wasn’t signed by Calgary, selected two years later by the Chicago Blackhawks and is still playing in the league.
Before Wolf has the opportunity to be a success story among the organization’s horrific history of drafting and developing goalies, he will be looking to backstop the Wranglers to success.
Last season, Wolf and the Stockton Heat reached the conference final before bowing out. They are well aware of the opportunity to go further in the first year in Calgary.
“Our offensive production is better,” Wolf said when asked why he believed the Wranglers are better suited for a championship run. “We have a really good team five-on-five and on the power play. We have really good defensive personnel and our PK has been at the top of the league all season, but I really think our offence is better.”
Which means more opportunity for Flames to lay eyes on Wolf, whether he is donning the Flaming C or in Wranglers’ silks.
He would love the opportunity to show his stuff, regardless of the sweater.
“Come playoff time, I feel our fan attendance will increase. At least I hope because I know Calgarians love their hockey.”