Future of Flames Goaltending

[madmike]

With Wolf dominating the AHL for a second year, what are the Flames options in goal next season?

Markstrom is underperforming and only halfway through a 6-year, $36-million deal. If he continues playing as he has, he’s untradeable. Or tradeable only if the Flames eat a good chunk of his salary, which I doubt they do. If he picks things up, the Flames likely wouldn’t want to deal him.

Vladar is an above average backup on a great contract. In a trade he’d bring back some decent value because of his age and potential as a starter.

I’d love to see Markstrom out of the picture and a Vladar/Wolf split, but I don’t think that’s realistic unfortunately. My best guess would be a Vladar deal in the offseason, setting up a Markstrom/Wolf battle for the starter’s position next season.

As much as I wouldn’t really want to trade Vladar, I’m not sure the Flames have a lot of other options.

[getbak]

My prediction is the Canucks trade Demko and then overpay to bring fan-favourite Markstrom back.

Wolf and Vladar next season in Calgary.

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by getbak

My prediction is the Canucks trade Demko and then overpay to bring fan-favourite Markstrom back.

Wolf and Vladar next season in Calgary.

I'm not sure if I see this as realistic, especially a Canucks overpay after such a poor season by Markstrom, but I sure like the idea of it!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by schteve_d

I'm not sure if I see this as realistic, especially a Canucks overpay after such a poor season by Markstrom, but I sure like the idea of it!

The thing to remember is, the Canucks are run by idiots.

[PepsiFree]

Markstrom for Pettersson

[Naitix]

All I know is that Wolf should be the back-up next year, do not care what they need to do to make that happen

[Buff]

I'm fairly confident in Markstrom bouncing back next year. I'm
very confident in Vladar continuing to grow. I'm very confident in Wolf handling the backup duties next year.

I think the option is to trade Markstrom in the off season. The problem is how good Markstrom gets down the stretch. I'm not confident he will bounce back this season. Can't easily trade him if he keeps on as he has been.

I feel like we'll have all three goalies in camp next year and left with trying to figure out which one to trade.

[Erick Estrada]

I get the feeling they will come back with Vladar and Markstrom next season but I'm sure the Flames would listen if teams called them in the offseason regarding Markstrom. It would be more of a salary dump trade as given his play I can't imagine teams would be offering much in return. Going with Vladar and Wolf would open up salary cap room to add a scoring winger. I suppose it comes down to how ready they think Wolf will be and if they think another season of the AHL will be good for him. He's only 21 years old after all so there's no risk of over ripening him at this stage.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Wolf is gone on TDL.

[Naitix]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Wolf is gone on TDL.

Would be the biggest mistake

[ForeverFlameFan]

I’d love for Markstrom to be traded for cap space to hunt for better forwards, but that’s just too good to be true. He’s a good locker room guy, he’s great friends with Lindholm, and still has 3 years left on the deal. I doubt he gets moved. Either him or Vladar need to be gone by the 2024 offseason because at some point Wolf needs NHL reps.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Wolf is gone on TDL.

I worry you might be right. I can see the Flames dumping youth for over-priced vets in a last-ditch effort to build a Cup contender out of a bunch of random trade acquisitions the fans don’t really care about.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Wolf is gone on TDL.

Just won’t happen.

Markstrom and Vladar are poor/mediocre. As much as we may mock the Flames, they rarely make outright poor decisions when they are properly informed about players.

Trading Wolf would be an outright poor decision.

I imagine one of Marky/Vladar will end up in a trade either this summer or early next season when Wolf makes it apparent he is the leader of a pack.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Wolf is gone on TDL.

Top 5 pick? anything less is a fireable offense

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Wolf is gone on TDL.

Hahaha no he isn’t. GMs don’t trade young, controlled, potential starters.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Markstrom for Pettersson

Which one?

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Hahaha no he isn’t. GMs don’t trade young, controlled, potential starters.

Potential? Wolf is about to win his 4th straight goalie of the year award, not sure but I doubt that has ever been done from age 17-21 or any age for that matter, if the Flames trade him for nothing less than a top 5 pick in this deep draft or serious star power I want all management fired including ownership.

[TheScorpion]

If the Flames trade Wolf at the deadline they deserve to miss the playoffs

[dino7c]

I don't want to trade Wolf either but I don't think he is as highly rated around the league as people here seem to think

2023 top 5 pick value...IDK

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Wolf is gone on TDL.

Unless another team is making an even dumber move and giving up a player on the level of Alex Debrincat that has to be a big no.