Why Flames should invest in Vladar to round out goalie tandem with Wolf

CALGARY — Dan Vladar wants to extend his time as a Calgary Flame.

And when you see the 27-year-old Czechia native stand on his head, like he did Sunday in Vegas, you realize there’s plenty of merit in keeping the pending UFA in town.

Not just because he consistently gives his team a chance to win every time he starts, but because of the way he helps shield Dustin Wolf from the most daunting of situations.

While the duo has split starts evenly with 18 apiece, there’s no question Vladar has had much tougher assignments.

It’s reflected in his stats (6-7-5, 3.20 GAA, .890 save percentage), which are far inferior to Wolf’s (11-5-2, 2.70, .912).

None of this is to take away from the phenomenal rookie campaign Wolf has authored, which is worthy of early Calder Trophy consideration.

He’s been sensational — a star in the making — and has confirmed his status as the club’s goalie of the future.

But what fails to get recognized by fans who grouse every time Vladar is given a start is how well the Flames continue to foster Wolf’s growth, which has plenty to do with how he’s used vis-à-vis Vladar.

While Wolf has faced juggernauts like Florida, Boston (twice), Winnipeg and Dallas, 11 of his 18 starts have come against teams currently sitting outside a playoff spot.

Only seven of Vladar’s starts have come against such teams. 

When and where those starts have come is equally as telling.

Vladar has been given the formidable task of starting the second half of all four back-to-backs, which are particularly hard on a team like the Flames whose dependence on work ethic makes an evening with tired legs a big issue.

The team is 1-3 so far this year in those starts, which includes the 3-0 loss in Vegas Sunday where only Vladar’s brilliance kept the game close most of the night.

Eleven of Wolf’s starts have come at home, where he and the team have compiled impressive stats.

Vladar has started eight times at the Dome.

Ask GM Craig Conroy how Vladar has helped foster Wolf’s growth and he’ll point to the open competition.

“They push each other,” said Conroy, who deserves credit for trading Jacob Markstrom to open the door for such successful platooning.  

“Wolf wants to be an NHL starter, and Dan hasn’t been a starter in the NHL either, and that’s his goal.

“They’ve been going back and forth and I know it’s weird that everybody in the market wants just, ‘This is the person.’ But going back and forth has been really good for us.”

Both guys remain active, engaged and support one another as part of a healthy environment fostered by goalie gurus Jordan Sigalet and Jason LaBarbera.

Together, they’ve been the biggest reason the low-scoring Flames sit just one point outside of the playoffs.  

Even with the knowledge Wolf will undoubtedly start more and more games as the years go on, it's easy to understand why Vladar wants to extend his stay in Calgary. 

“I told Connie (Conroy), I told Backs (captain Mikael Backlund), I told everybody in here I want to stay, I want to re-sign and I want to stay here as long as I can,” said the six-foot-five, 209-pound Vladar.

“I love this city, and this is the team that gave me the opportunity to play in the NHL, and I just don’t want to leave.

“I’ve made lots of friends here and even outside the rink I have a couple good buddies. Me and my family love it here and we basically know every single restaurant in the city already. For me, I would be more than proud to stay here as long as I can.   

“At the same time, I’m not the one making the decisions.”

Conroy admits he has a tough one to make with Vladar, complicated by the fact he has the top goalie in the AHL, Devin Cooley, signed to a one-way contract (at $775,000) for next year.

“It is tough, because he’s done a great job for us. Both goalies have, so there’s no issues,” said Conroy, who currently pays Vladar $2.2 million annually.

“It’s going to come down to, once you do the contract negotiations, everybody has got an idea of where they are at and what the price is.  

“You have to do something that works for both sides.”

Vladar is aware there will be plenty of speculation he could be traded before the trade deadline, and purposely avoids social media as it’s “one of those things that’s out of my control.”

The reality is, very few goalies are swapped at the deadline, since demand typically isn’t high.

It would be a stretch to suggest that with his numbers, the Flames could trade him and recoup the third-round pick they gave up to get him from Boston in 2021.  

Given how good he’s been for and with Wolf, the smart money says Vladar will get his wish and sign a contract extension before the deadline.

Howls of protest from Wolf’s pack of fans would predictably ensue.