[News] Wolf named AHL MVP and goaltender of the year

[Roof-Daddy]

Like I've said, it's such a shame that Markstrom and Vladar played so poorly this season. Should have been a solid opportunity to move one of then for a solid return to make room for Wolf next season.

Instead the Flames probably won't get much if they move Vladar.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

No jokes, you probably just net a 4th for Vladar right now. Or around that ballpark. His W-L record helps a bit.

Ideally I'd unload Markstrom for a smaller cap dump up front and run with the dark lord and the wolf.

Flames REALLY need to give up this dream around Markstrom and playing him more than he's earned.

[tvp2003]

I listened to Steinberg’s pitch on 960 for not trading one of the goalies (ie Vladar) and starting the season with Wolf in the AHL, but parachuting him in for games in the NHL. I can understand the logic as it keeps Wolf busy and gives him a bit of a parachute in the event he struggles with the Flames. However, I’m not sure that’s what’s best for his development, and more importantly, if Sutter is the coach I don’t think that would fly at all.

I would add, if the plan is to try and compete next year and it isn’t a total rebuild, then I think you play the goalie that gives you the best chance to win. If that means Wolf plays 50 games then thats what you do IMO.

PS Wolf have a great interview on 960, really like this kid and excited for what he might be able to do next year and beyond.

[Goriders]

Good thing we only gave him one game in the show this season

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Like I've said, it's such a shame that Markstrom and Vladar played so poorly this season. Should have been a solid opportunity to move one of then for a solid return to make room for Wolf next season.

Instead the Flames probably won't get much if they move Vladar.

I’m sure they get more than they paid for him. And they drop a couple million off the cap.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'm a firm believer that this organization's insistence on a player having to "prove it at the NHL level" without actually giving the player the opportunity to prove it at the NHL level has held back prospects in this org for a long time now.

At some point you need to play the player in the role they are best suited to at the NHL level and let them develop there.

I don't think for Wolf that means he needs to be a starter. But I do think for his development he needs to play at least 25 NHL games next season.

I think guys get more opportunities than people are willing to recognize or give the Flames credit for.

I can’t think of a prospect that’s really been held back in any way. If you earn it, you get your shot, and if play at an NHL level, you stick. Not much different than any other team that isn’t in full rebuild mode.

I have no doubt Wolf will get a fair shot. The hand wringing about it doesn’t make sense to me.

[dobbles]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think guys get more opportunities than people are willing to recognize or give the Flames credit for.

I can’t think of a prospect that’s really been held back in any way. If you earn it, you get your shot, and if play at an NHL level, you stick. Not much different than any other team that isn’t in full rebuild mode.

I have no doubt Wolf will get a fair shot. The hand wringing about it doesn’t make sense to me.

Of course we can't predict the future, but how many times have the Flames and other NHL teams wanted to make room for a young player only to send them back down because they are waiver exempt??? Its a reasonable worry for fans to have. And I would actually argue he is already NOT getting a fair shot. A fair shot would have been playing way more than 1 game this year. Again, he has shown to be the best in his league 4 straight years.

As for the hand wringing, you guys missed the playoffs because of bad goaltending! How much more important can it get? You already had the reigning AHL goalie of the year that had already shown he was on pace to do it again. All you had to do was call him up. Whether is was Treliving, Sutter, or someone else, the organization failed its fans this year with poor choices. Again, it's not as if the team was cruising along and trying not to make things worse. Certainly in the early season there was value in trying to get Markstrom back on the horse after that Edmonton series. That didn't work. There was value in learning what exactly Vladar was for the team. That proved to be not much either. Months ago the kid should have been up.

[PeteMoss]

I said it last year and I stand by it. He's the best Wolf in Flames history.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by dobbles

And I would actually argue he is already NOT getting a fair shot.

I think it was Bingo who said this but someone on the radio I believe said the team sat down with Wolf when he finished Major Junior and there was a two year plan to play in the AHL that they weren't going to deviate from.

If that is in fact the case then there's nothing unfair about it. They just stuck to the plan that both parties agreed to.

[blender]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Zellweger it's a bit early but I would be ecstatic if he was a Flames prospect.

Not to detract from the Wolf discussion, but wanted to chip in on Zellweger. He is playing outstanding hockey right now in the WHL. He is mobile and cerebral. He drives offense from the back end and he is solid in his own end. Great player. I've seen him live maybe 10 times since he came to Kamloops this season, and he never fails to impress. Ducks have a good one there.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think guys get more opportunities than people are willing to recognize or give the Flames credit for.

I can’t think of a prospect that’s really been held back in any way. If you earn it, you get your shot, and if play at an NHL level, you stick. Not much different than any other team that isn’t in full rebuild mode.

I have no doubt Wolf will get a fair shot. The hand wringing about it doesn’t make sense to me.

The proof will be in the pudding with Wolf. On one hand, I agree that the Flames have a pretty good track record of getting their recent top prospects into the NHL as high end contributors from Monahan, Gaudreau to Tkachuk and Andersson. They also appear to have somewhat fuddled high end prospects like Valimaki, Bennett and appear to be needlessly slow playing Pelletier this season.

The concerns about how they may handle Wolf are certainly warranted given the last few top picks have had varying degrees of success thus far (whether it is on the organization or not).

The argument could be made that anything short of moving Vladar to make room for Wolf next season at this point would be a mistake. This is as much of a blue chip prospect that the franchise has had since Tkachuk and IMO anything short of getting him into the full time backup role next season would be a unforgivable stalling of the momentum this kid has built as a pro.

[bdubbs]

Bring the Wolf to the big club. It is time to give him more NHL games.

[Poe969]

When is MVP announced?

[getbak]

It looks like the award announcements over the last couple of days came out just after 1:00pm MT, but the coach of the year one was at noon MT.

They always seem to come out right at the top of the hour, so if it's not in about 10 minutes, it will probably be an hour and 10 minutes from now.

[sureLoss]

Also named AHL MVP

https://twitter.com/user/status/1649485479190974471

edit: well it was tweeted but deleted after:

Spoiler!

edit 2: Wranglers now tweeting it

https://twitter.com/user/status/1649488256931885056

[iloveicedhockey]

Steinberg said the same

[Canada 02]

it is on the AHL website

https://theahl.com/wolf-adds-one-mor...-voted-ahl-mvp

[Canada 02]

At 22, Wolf is the youngest AHL MVP since Jason Spezza in 2004-05.

[tvp2003]

Dustin Wolf vs Johnny Gaudreau:

- Both undersized
- Both later draft picks (primarily because they were undersized)
- Both dominated at every level they played at prior to the NHL
- Both won MVP (or in Gaudreau's case, the Hobey Baker as top NCAA player)
- Both entered the NHL by playing the last regular season game
- Both are seemingly quite likeable amongst fans (especially as an "underdog")

Is that setting expectations too high? Could Dustin Wolf legitimately be the next "big" thing in Calgary?

I think for a team and fanbase looking for a bit of hope and optimism, he definitely brings that. The only thing he needs IMO is the opportunity and a bit of leash; you don't need to play him 10 games in a row but at least give him some regular games and the opportunity to compete for more.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

No jokes, you probably just net a 4th for Vladar right now. Or around that ballpark. His W-L record helps a bit.

Ideally I'd unload Markstrom for a smaller cap dump up front and run with the dark lord and the wolf.

Flames REALLY need to give up this dream around Markstrom and playing him more than he's earned.

Of all of the major underperforms Markstrom is the one I would try hard to move. Age and cap hit being the drivers. As well as it being a surplus position.