Quote:
Originally Posted by dobbles
That is why I keep coming back to this thread. It just makes no sense to me that Dustin Wolf's growth isn't more important than the return you might get for Vladar. Last year they were really conservative with using Wolf. They had a great chance when Markstrom had a baby. And I would hate to see it continue this year where Wolf is sent down at times because there isn't room for him.
He has shown the last 2 years that he is too good for the AHL. So if you send him down there just because its convenient, you are telling him, and the team, that not matter what you do to earn your time, its never enough. Wasn't that a big thing around here? Always earned?
And if the worry is getting enough starts, as long as you give him chances and he earns more, I doubt there will be a problem. Again, its not like the goalie situation is great right now.
And you guys love to bring up the mental side of it. That the organization has been open about a plan and communicated it to Wolf. That is well and good, but what is the organization telling him by sending him down after he accomplished everything in that league? What is the organization saying when he gets his weekly AHL check instead of an NHL one? Are they really showing him that they believe in him? I challenge all of you think think if you were in a position in your career where you have killed it and your organization doesn't put any faith in you. Doesn't give you the shot you have earned and deserve. Most of us would start looking for a new job. At the very least we would have a pretty sour opinion of the organization.
Last bit... I truly hope all of this is hypothetical and he gets a true chance this year and never goes back down. Most of my argument is against all the posters that say "hey the AHL team is here too and he's waiver exempt so we can send him down whenever". I think that is a silly attitude to take with the best prospect you have for the reasons above.
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The best thing for Wolf right now is to play as many games as possible. Nobody is saying the return for Vladar is more important than Wolf’s development. You don’t just throwaway one of Markstrom or Vladar for the opportunity to sit Wolf on the bench of 55 games.
There is perfectly clear path that allows you to do the following:
1) Have Wolf play a starter’s workload that includes games in both the AHL and the NHL. If you trade Vladar before camp then Wolf won’t be playing a starter’s workload this season.
2) Buys evaluation time for all three goalies. The organization can see where each guy is at mentally and physically. You say Markstrom and Vladar aren’t great, but Markstrom is 1 season removed from being a Vezina finalist and Vladar is only 4 years older for Wolf. Still young for a goalie.
3) Gives Conroy some time to make a trade. Teams will run into injuries and eventually someone will meet his asking price on Vladar. Who knows, maybe even one our 3 goalies could get hurt. If the goal is to compete this season (and it is) why would you give away the depth? Conroy needs to build a reputation as GM that won’t accept less than his asking price, other wise he will get walked all over.
I don’t think anybody expects the Flames to roll with 3 goalies all season, but for a month or two while they see how it plays out? I don’t think it’s a problem at all.
Also your insistence that Wolf will be offended or jaded by this plan is a bit silly to me. I would think a professional athlete (especially one of his caliber) has a much greater mental fortitude than that.
If Wolf blows the doors off camp and is head and shoulders better than Vladar by all means make a trade, but there is no reason to force one before camp has even started.