[News] Wolf up, Markstrom day-to-day with LBI (2024-01-16)

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I saw a chart a couple weeks back where both Wolf and Vladar were among the worst in the league for Goals saved above expected, and Wolf's numbers if prorated per 60 minutes would be particularly bad. Small sample size, but Wolf does have a fsircwsys to go at the NHL level yet. Hopefully they found some things for him to work on from his last stint and have improved those.

Wolf has 6 career NHL starts. Stats don't mean much in that sample size. Especially 23/24.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Two things...

First: Markstrom has been insanely good as of late. Like, Vezina good.

Second: Play Wolf like he's the starter while Marky's out. Nothing against Vladar, but this is yet another opportunity to finally see what "NHL Wolf" looks like. Let him play. Give him the net and tell him it's his until Markstrom's back, and then let's see what we have.

I second this.

Wolf is waiver eligible next season and will need to clear at that point. He will basically HAVE to be full time then.

Team needs to start building him towards that by giving him some starts. Every time Markstrom needs a few days of maintenance, you need to get Wolf into a game IMO.

Vladar's days here are numbered and his numbers have flatlined so it's hard to justify making him the defacto starter in Jacob's absence. With Wolf, you're preparing him for full time duty as the backup, and I think that's important.

Always earned, never given. So if Vladar is your guy I sure hope he's earning the net at least, otherwise they'd better be giving the kid an equal shots at some starts. None of this justifying starts solely by "experience".

[Enoch Root]

pretty good bet that either Vladar or Markstrom is gone by the trade deadline

100% certainty that one of them is gone before next season

[FanIn80]

This friggin team, man. Just when they pull me back in with their more exciting play and staying in the hunt, they tell me to f off again by calling Wolf up to ride the bench.

What exactly is the benefit of playing Valadar? This isn't a back to back, it's not a regularly scheduled start for the backup. Are we keeping Wolf or not? Why isn't he playing?

It feels like I'm overreacting, but if there was ever a time to really take Wolf for a spin, this is it. Stop screwing around.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

This friggin team, man. Just when they pull me back in with their more exciting play and staying in the hunt, they tell me to f off again by calling Wolf up to ride the bench.

What exactly is the benefit of playing Valadar? This isn't a back to back, it's not a regularly scheduled start for the backup. Are we keeping Wolf or not? Why isn't he playing?

It feels like I'm overreacting, but if there was ever a time to really take Wolf for a spin, this is it. Stop screwing around.

I think it's for the remote possibility he nudges his trade value from nil to a 6th or something.

Which is totally not worth delaying the coming of Wolf for... at all.

[FanIn80]

Yeah maybe... but then, we've also got Dube bumped up the the top line, when this was a great opportunity to see how Zary handles top line duty and/or if he works with other players besides Kadri.

[stemit14]

I actually think the management group has a lot of faith in Wolf… while most of us here (myself included) want to see him playing a solid chunk of games right now, I think the flames are trying to protect him a little. We’ve seen what happens to so many young goalies when they are given too much too soon. Levi in Buffalo is a great example this year. We see so many teams protect young players at other positions based on matchups and face-offs… it’s important to do the equivalent with goalies IMO.

I’ll be fine with the flames trading Markstrom if it’s for a hall of a return… but his contract right now works out really well for the development of Wolf into an NHL starter. If Vladar is traded before the deadline, they could give Wolf some protected starts for the rest of this season - give Wolf the “easier” or low-scoring teams on any back-to-backs. Not because of Wolf's ability but because in the few games he’s played so far, the flames have been very poor defensively in front of him. He could use some games to get confident at this level.

Something similar could be done next year for the first 25-30 games with Wolf as Markstrom’s backup. Start to give him tougher opponents in the back half of the season. Have him play a decent amount of games for a typical backup… 25-30 games throughout the year. Hard to know right now what kind of team Calgary will be next year… if Hanifin, Tanev and Lindholm are all gone and it turns into a full rebuild, that first year can be very tough on a young goalie that’s behind a young team. Having Markstrom around could be very valuable to protect Wolf’s development.

In the 2025-2026 season (Markstrom’s last under this contract), he could split the season pretty evenly with Markstrom. With Markstrom being the “starter” for the first half of the season and Wolf being the “starter” for the second half of the season. In the 2026-2027 season, Wolf is the starter with a reliable veteran backup signed that can play 25-30 games - maybe it’s Markstrom one a one-year deal.

This long-term plan could go faster or slower depending on both Wolf and Markstrom's performances. But this is how guys like Demko and Shesterkin have been developed from promising goalie prospects to top 10 goalies in the NHL.

[dino7c]

With the Wranglers in town I'm thinking Markstom wasn't really all that hurt...no point in sitting on the bench with Wolf can do it

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by dino7c

with the wranglers in town i'm thinking markstom wasn't really all that hurt...no point in sitting on the bench with wolf can do it

load management is alive and well here in Calgary.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

This friggin team, man. Just when they pull me back in with their more exciting play and staying in the hunt, they tell me to f off again by calling Wolf up to ride the bench.

What exactly is the benefit of playing Valadar? This isn't a back to back, it's not a regularly scheduled start for the backup. Are we keeping Wolf or not? Why isn't he playing?

It feels like I'm overreacting, but if there was ever a time to really take Wolf for a spin, this is it. Stop screwing around.

Winning

[FlamesAddiction]

I have no evidence to back it up or anything, but I was just thinking about how at the end of the last couple of seasons, it seemed like there were always a few players who were playing through injuries over the course of the season and it didn't help. Maybe this is the kind of injury where in past years, certain coaches would have still insisted they play, but Huska has a different tolerance for it. I hope anyway.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I have no evidence to back it up or anything, but I was just thinking about how at the end of the last couple of seasons, it seemed like there were always a few players who were playing through injuries over the course of the season and it didn't help. Maybe this is the kind of injury where in past years, certain coaches would have still insisted they play, but Huska has a different tolerance for it. I hope anyway.

He shared his philosophy today in the PG Presser.

If you don’t feel right and can’t contribute 100%, take the time and recover.

His expectations and communication with his players is very clear and supported. He’s got that rooms pulse loud and clear.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Yeah maybe... but then, we've also got Dube bumped up the the top line, when this was a great opportunity to see how Zary handles top line duty and/or if he works with other players besides Kadri.

Or… keep intact the chemistry that is working (ie: don’t disrupt it) and minimize changes for what will likely be very short term. The team is rolling, and I fully support the plan to minimize any impact on it at the moment.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Yep, I see 2 points I draw a line lol.

Markstrom
Oct .901sv%, 2.88GAA
Nov .894sv%, 2.98GAA
Dec .921sv%, 2.20GAA
Jan .941sv%, 2.02GAA

Markstrom and the D shaved an entire goal against per game from the start of the season.

At that pace he hits a 1.00 sv% in April. That works out nicely for the "just get in and see what happens" plan.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Wolf has 6 career NHL starts. Stats don't mean much in that sample size. Especially 23/24.

LOL, I would extend that further and say that for the Flames, stats don't mean much for a goalie when the team is front is mediocre at best

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Sec214

He shared his philosophy today in the PG Presser.

If you don’t feel right and can’t contribute 100%, take the time and recover.

His expectations and communication with his players is very clear and supported. He’s got that rooms pulse loud and clear.

What an absolute 180 from last year. Gotta admit, Conroy and Huska are doing one fine job in year one after the tire fire of last year. Pretty incredible.

[gvitaly]

Wolf's assigned back to the Wranglers.

[Freeway]

Wolf is waiver exempt next season.

[getbak]

I hope this means Markstrom is good to go and not just a cap saving move since the team has today off.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CSharp

LOL, I would extend that further and say that for the Flames, stats don't mean much for a goalie when the team is front is mediocre at best

Right, but I don't think there is any question that Wolf has been the third-best goalie to play for the Flames this season. On the other hand, that is also fine—nothing to stress over. Wolf is still very young, and he has a long way to go yet, and with lots of room to get there. People get so impatient with goalies.

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