Brett Holmes-Imagn Images
Few goalies have accomplished as much this early in their hockey career as Calgary Flames netminder Dustin Wolf.
Being the best goalie in the WHL, CHL, AHL is already outstanding. Being named the AHL’s MVP in 2022-23 is another level. A world juniors gold medal with Team USA certainly looks nice as well.
The Flames have a very intriguing goalie with Wolf. He is still only 23 years old, yet it felt like he already outgrew the AHL. It took Calgary trading their No. 1 netminder, Jacob Markstrom, to the New Jersey Devils in the off-season to allow Wolf to transition to the NHL.
That said, it is imperative the Flames develop him the right way. They must put Wolf in the best situations to succeed, gain confidence and adjust to the NHL. Putting too much responsibility or pressure on Wolf right away won’t do him or the team any favors. And thanks to Dan Vladar and a roster that’s surprising the NHL right now with a 4-0-1 start, the red-hot Flames have gotten the best out of Wolf.
Most wins in a goaltender’s first 20 career NHL games – @NHLFlames franchise history (1972-73 to present):
10- Dustin Wolf (Via Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat of CHI)
9- Pat Riggin
8- Dan Bouchard
8- Reggie Lemelin
8- Mike Vernon
8- Joni Ortio
8- David Rittich
8- Dan Vladar
7- Trevor Kidd pic.twitter.com/hFlvHvFChv— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 16, 2024
A quick look at the stats suggests Wolf is heavily outperforming Vladar. Wolf has a .944 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average in two games, while Vladar has an .890 SP and 2.63 GAA. Wolf also has 1.1 goals saved above expected, which considers shot quality, while Vladar has a minus-0.3 rating in that regard, per moneypuck.com.
But instead of putting Wolf in net on the road in rivalry matchups against the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, Vladar got the nod. While Vladar allowed five goals on 24 shots against the Canucks, he did what he had to do while facing limited shots in the second and third periods to support Calgary’s three-goal comeback. Vladar’s outing against the Oilers was much better, stopping 25 of 26 shots against the Stanley Cup runners-up.
Even in the Flames’ overtime loss against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, Vladar stopped 21 of 23 shots, including 0.56 goals saved above expected, which is about as much any team can ask for from their goaltender.
Wolf, meanwhile, started in net at home against the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks, two rebuilding clubs in…