The San Jose Sharks are going to make some changes this summer, and one of their biggest needs might be bringing in a backup goaltender as Yaroslav Askarov takes over as the starting netminder for the 2025-26 campaign.
According to a recent report from Frank Seravalli, the Sharks have some serious interest in a goaltender who played in Alberta last season.
Dan Vladar, who spent the 2024-25 season with the Calgary Flames, has been linked to both the Sharks and the New Jersey Devils, but it sounds like he could be leaning towards heading to San Jose, or at least, that's how the report made it sound.
"This season is the coming-out party for Yaroslav Askarov," Seravalli said. He continued: "Outside of NJ, Vladar has been rumored to go to San Jose to play with Askarov, and they share the same agent."
Vladar, who is 27 years old, played 30 games this past season, winning 12 games and posting two shutouts with a 2.80 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .898 save percentage (SV%). Throughout his career, he has 49 wins in 105 games played, posting a 3.00 GAA and a .895 SV%, adding four shutouts.
He probably isn't the best option on the open market this summer; however, bringing him in on a decent deal could be exactly what the Sharks need. If he is happy playing in a tandem, and only going in when Askarov needs a rest or gets injured, they should have no issue signing him to a deal this offseason.
