Down the road: Vladar or Wolf?

[FanIn80]

Vladar has been really good. In fact, I'd be curious to see a ranking of the best backups in the league. I suspect he'd be at or near the top of that list.

Having said that, Wolf is a US goalie with one more season under contract. I don't think he'd have arbitration rights or anything, but at what point should we start worrying that he's going to ask to be moved to an org that has an NHL spot for him?

Nothing to do with panicking or anything like that. Just genuinely curious about how this could potentially play out. This seems like one of those decisions that wouldn't be a lot of fun to make as a GM.

[Toonage]

Wolf will be cheaper, team will move on from Vladar at the end of the year.

[Bonded]

Wolf doesn’t really have any recourse to pressure the Flames contractually and he has a long road to be a regular in the NHL. I bet it is pretty low priority on Tre’s list.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Sergeev

[Mindtravellee]

Depends on how Wolf, Chechelev and Sergeev go (if he'd go to the AHL next year.

Probably worth flipping Vladar and getting a strong AHL backup or another RFA on a 1 year (like Vladar)

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Purely depends on performance .. as long as the team retains the better NHLer.

[Moneyhands23]

Trade Vladar as an RFA after this season. Hopefully he is worth a 2nd rounder! Then wolf is the back up for 2 years before markstrom is moved or takes the 1B roll for his last year.

[activeStick]

When was the last time the Flames were in this situation? Elite number 1 who is years away from losing his position. Very good number 2 capable of winning most of the games given to him as backup. Prospect goalie playing at an elite level maybe a year away from being NHL ready.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by activeStick

When was the last time the Flames were in this situation? Elite number 1 who is years away from losing his position. Very good number 2 capable of winning most of the games given to him as backup. Prospect goalie playing at an elite level maybe a year away from being NHL ready.

Never. Not in my time watching this franchise at least.

I think Wolf is the guy of the future over Vladar though.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Easy, Vladar this year, Wolf for the rest. Wolf and Markstrom imo are the tandem next season.

[Kipper_3434]

Wolf is incredible for a young goalie. I hope he gets a few games this season.

[SuperMatt18]

Too early to say either way, but we shouldn't discount keeping both and moving Markstrom in 2 years.

In two years Vladar will be 27, Wolf will be 23, and Markstrom will be 34 and turning 35 in the January of that season.

If you could move the 2 x $6M that Markstrom would have left and move forward with the tandom of the two younger goalies that seems like the right long term move. Especially if Wolf and Vladar continue to impress.

[Delthefunky]

tough call, I think Vladar is really good, and getting better. agree with keeping both and re assessing a few years down the road, with the potential to trade Markstrom. also depends which version of Markstrom shows up in the playoffs this year.

[14Roman14]

Young goalies are such a crapshoot. We’ve had so many future number ones that were elite in junior and very good in the ahl only to fizzle away. It’s an amazing problem to have. I personally would overcook Wolf in the minors and keep Vladar and Markstrom as long as possible if both are playing well yet.
Who know with injuries, and slumps etc. Better to have too many options and great depth rather than trade one of them and then be scrambling to reaquire a good goalie, giving up good assets to do so. Wolf dominating the AHL and hopefully wining championships down there is not a bad thing and then he will be extra seasoned by the time he is called upon at the nhl level.
I can honestly say I have wondered the same thing a time or two but it generally all just works out in time if nobody panicks.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Too early to say either way, but we shouldn't discount keeping both and moving Markstrom in 2 years.

In two years Vladar will be 27, Wolf will be 23, and Markstrom will be 34 and turning 35 in the January of that season.

If you could move the 2 x $6M that Markstrom would have left and move forward with the tandom of the two younger goalies that seems like the right long term move. Especially if Wolf and Vladar continue to impress.

I didn't even think of this. I think it's a pretty interesting option.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Why not both?

[sa226]

Is size a concern with Wolf? I ask because I have no idea. Most of the top goalies of this era are big dudes. I kind of compare it to Carter Hart who after bursting onto the scene is really struggling.

Big goalies can get away with "blocking" shots every now and then, but smaller goalies pretty much have to be on all the time. Reflexes, reads etc all have to be on when you're facing NHL shooters every night.

I only bring it up because I think I read the size concern about Hart a couple years ago.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by activeStick

When was the last time the Flames were in this situation? Elite number 1 who is years away from losing his position. Very good number 2 capable of winning most of the games given to him as backup. Prospect goalie playing at an elite level maybe a year away from being NHL ready.

I think maybe Lemelin backing up Vernon for one season (86-87) was maybe the closest we've ever been to even a decent starter/backup combo, never mind also having a top tier prospect.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Wolf doesn’t really have any recourse to pressure the Flames contractually and he has a long road to be a regular in the NHL. I bet it is pretty low priority on Tre’s list.

Most elite goalies are starters by 23 or so. And nearly all goalies play in the NHL by the age of 21.

Evidently, if Wolf is any good, it's not as long of a road as you think.

[Duffalufagus]

There will always be trepidation with Wolf. He is not a big guy. And the AHL isn’t the show. Fair or not, I don’t see him getting a real shot unless he strings a few stellar AHL seasons together.