(Header/feature image courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) When the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] acquired goaltender Dan Vladar from the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/players/recent-goalie-acquisition-dan-vladar-ready-to-compete-with-flyers-i-m-super-confident] this offseason, the move registered as more of a soft rumble than a seismic jolt. Vladar, 27, has largely flown under the radar in a backup role behind Jacob Markström and, more recently, Dustin Wolf. But the Flyers saw something worth investing in—a still-developing goalie with untapped upside, prototypical size, and the kind of technical base that can be molded into something more under the right guidance. That guidance, in Philadelphia, will come from Kim Dillabaugh—a holdover from John Tortorella’s coaching staff and a coach with a quiet but substantial reputation for refining goalies’ mechanics, consistency, and confidence. And if there's a path forward for Vladar to evolve from a platoon option into a legitimate tandem partner—or more—it runs through Dillabaugh’s tutelage and a clearer sense of identity in the Flyers’ evolving crease. By the Numbers: The Vladar Profile Vladar’s career numbers don’t leap off the page, but they also deserve context. Through 105 NHL games, he’s posted a .895 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average, but much of that sample came in inconsistent usage patterns. The 2024–25 season, his best stretch to date, saw him put up a .898 SV% in 30 games—not staggering, but far from catastrophic. His underlying numbers paint a more nuanced picture. In limited stretches, Vladar has graded out as an average or slightly below-average goaltender in goals saved above expected (GSAx), a metric that accounts for shot quality. He tends to struggle against lateral attacks and broken plays—think royal-road passes, rebounds, and slot-line one-timers—but shows poise and economy against straight-line rushes and point shots. At 6-foot-5, Vladar is a large goaltender who doesn’t need to over-challenge to fill the net, but he often does. One of the knocks on his game is that he can be overly aggressive in his positioning, which leaves him vulnerable to backdoor passes and dekes in tight. When his reads are clean and his movement is compact, he looks like a starting goalie. When he’s chasing the game—particularly in scramble scenarios—he can look overwhelmed and out of sync. Strengths: Athleticism, Size, and Rebound Control Let’s start with the positives. Vladar’s size and athleticism are legitimate NHL-caliber traits. He moves well for his frame, and when he trusts his angles, he can appear calm and controlled in net. His glove hand is solid, and his rebound control has improved significantly over the past two seasons. He does a good job of deadening shots into his chest and directing low shots to the corners, limiting second-chance chaos. On film, one of Vladar’s biggest strengths is how well he reads point shots through traffic. He has an upright stance that allows him to see over screens and, when he's tracking well, he’s difficult to beat cleanly from distance. That matters in a Flyers system that emphasizes net-front defense and shot blocking but still gives up volume. He’s also shown flashes of above-average puck handling—he’s not quite a third defenseman like Devon Levi or Mike Smith in his prime, but he can assist in breakouts and dump-ins, which is a valuable tool in Tortorella’s transition-conscious system. Weaknesses: East-West Movement and Game Management Vladar’s primary areas of concern lie in his lateral movement and recovery tracking. When forced to move laterally in the crease—especially against quick puck movement—he can lag a half-second behind the play. This leads to desperation saves, or worse, overcommits that leave the net exposed. His post integration on wraparounds and low plays is still inconsistent, which is particularly notable given the growing league-wide emphasis on low-to-high puck movement and short-side attacks. Another area where he can improve is game management. Vladar sometimes loses his technical structure during long defensive-zone shifts. Instead of staying within himself and trusting his positioning, he’ll overreact to screens or bite too hard on initial puck movement. These issues can compound into snowball periods—stretches where he’ll allow two or three quick goals and struggle to reset mentally. This is precisely where Kim Dillabaugh’s influence could be transformative. The Dillabaugh Effect If there’s one consistent hallmark of Dillabaugh’s coaching tenure in Philadelphia and Los Angeles before that, it’s this: he builds goaltenders from the inside out. Technical discipline, mental resilience, and routine management are his calling cards. Consider what he's done with Sam Ersson, whose positioning and rebound control have quietly evolved into a foundational strength over the last year, especially in the context of having a suddenly intense workload with—through no fault of Ersson's—inadequate preparation to handle it all. For Vladar, Dillabaugh’s value could lie in two core areas: 1. Pace Control and Poise – Helping Vladar rely less on raw athleticism and more on proper positioning. That means fewer over-challenges, less wasted movement, and a better read-react rhythm. 2. Post Play and Recovery Structure – Refining his RVH mechanics and post integration could limit short-side leaks and awkward recoveries—areas where Vladar has been exposed at the NHL level. With Dillabaugh’s guidance, Vladar doesn’t need to become a Vezina finalist. He needs to become more predictable—to his defensemen, to his coaches, and to himself. The Tandem Question: Can Vladar–Ersson Work? The Flyers have made it clear: they’re not handing the net to any one goalie in 2025–26. This is a transitional season, a developmental year, and the goal is to see who steps up. Sam Ersson, who carried the load admirably last year, returns with a chance to seize a true 1A role. But he’s not immune to slumps—and the organization would benefit from true internal competition. Enter Vladar. For a tandem to work, you need complementary styles and mentalities. Ideally, one goalie provides a safety valve when the other falters. They push each other in practice, support each other off the ice, and offer differing looks in-game. Vladar and Ersson could provide that blend. Ersson plays a controlled, economical style—sharp edges, calculated pushes, and sound puck tracking. Vladar is looser, more explosive, and can steal games when he’s dialed in. That contrast can work if both are on the same page with goalie coaching and communication. It’s worth noting that Ersson has thrived under Dillabaugh’s system and might serve as an internal model for Vladar to emulate. What’s more, both goalies are under contract and relatively inexpensive—allowing the Flyers to evaluate without long-term cap constraints. The Ceiling and the Question Ahead Dan Vladar is not a sure thing just yet. He’s not a young franchise goalie-in-waiting, and he’s never been handed the net for a full season to prove otherwise. But he is a compelling bet—a talented goaltender with room to grow, a manageable contract, and a frame and skill set that could flourish under structured coaching and consistent usage. And the Flyers don’t need him to be elite. They need him to be stable. They need him to push Sam Ersson, to give them a chance on back-to-backs, and to offer a sense of calm in net. With the right coaching influence and a clearer game plan, Vladar could reach a level he hasn’t yet found. And if he does? The Flyers may have secured a piece of their future crease—one that arrived without a ton of fanfare, but who could prove essential in the slow, deliberate march back to playoff contention. Bottom Line In a league where goalie development is unpredictable and opportunity often outweighs pedigree, Dan Vladar is a bet worth making. And in Philadelphia, where change is the only constant at the moment, he just might find what he’s been missing all along: a system that believes in him and is willing to give him the right opportunities to truly show his stuff.
