[Signing] Vladar signs 2 year extension with Flames ($2.2 mil AAV)

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

It just makes sense for Wolf to get NHL games.

He's going to get NHL games regardless. Just not as many as he would have if Vladar was traded in the summer.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

...I'd rather not lose Wolf over waiver status...

How do you imagine this could even happen?

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How do you imagine this could even happen?

Pretty easy. Flames claim that he's ready to play in the NHL or at least give games. Multiple Flames staff have said as much. But he's not up with the big team because the 'plan' is to take advantage of his waiver status currently to keep both Vladar and Markstrom.

If I'm Wolf (I'm not, never claimed to be), if the year goes poorly for Vladar and Markstrom, I'm wondering to myself why I'm not up with the team to help them. I want my shot to show I can compete and help the team. But having Vladar in the way prevents that. Sure, maybe I flounder but give me a chance with a good amount of games to do so.

Are the Flames going to run with 3 goalies until Vladar gets traded? What if Vladar or Markstrom return to form during the year and the Flames are in a tight playoff race again? Do I get any ice time during that? Being third option kind of sucks for someone who looks like he could be a gem.

Maybe when it comes time for me to sign a contract I decide I'll go to an org that will give me the chance to prove it.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

Pretty easy. Flames claim that he's ready to play in the NHL or at least give games. Multiple Flames staff have said as much. But he's not up with the big team because the 'plan' is to take advantage of his waiver status currently to keep both Vladar and Markstrom.

If I'm Wolf (I'm not, never claimed to be), if the year goes poorly for Vladar and Markstrom, I'm wondering to myself why I'm not up with the team to help them. I want my shot to show I can compete and help the team. But having Vladar in the way prevents that. Sure, maybe I flounder but give me a chance with a good amount of games to do so.

Are the Flames going to run with 3 goalies until Vladar gets traded? What if Vladar or Markstrom return to form during the year and the Flames are in a tight playoff race again? Do I get any ice time during that? Being third option kind of sucks for someone who looks like he could be a gem.

Maybe when it comes time for me to sign a contract I decide I'll go to an org that will give me the chance to prove it.

In 3 years when he hits UFA status ?

[Yeah_Baby]

Wolf is an RFA at the end of the season, still under Team control.

[bdubbs]

Ah my mistake. Wolf will get his games then. I have high hopes for the kid so it's easy to get a bit worried about him not getting a shot.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Wolf is an RFA at the end of the season, still under Team control.

People really should check into this stuff before they start mapping out their conspiracies.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How do you imagine this could even happen?

You won't lose him over waiver status soon, but the risk is still there for him to stagnate after two unheard of seasons in the AHL. The same risk is also there that he gets fed up with waiting to make the NHL and earn an NHL paycheque and perceives his development as stalled.

The whole thing is just so bizarre in my pov. This isn't a stanley cup contender by any means, but it could be an elite team if a goalie like Wolf explodes and turns into one of the best in the NHL. It also could be in relatively the same spot it is now if he's just average. Get Vladar out of here and get the goalie of the future on track to be the starter you hope he can be. It's turning into a wasted year for Wolf when you know and are hearing he has very little left to learn or prove in the AHL level.

[Erick Estrada]

Man I didn't think the calls for Wolf would come this early. Markstrom hasn't been terrible and Vladar hasn't even played.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Man I didn't think the calls for Wolf would come this early. Markstrom hasn't been terrible and Vladar hasn't even played.

It's people projecting Philips two point night the other day on to the tender situation.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

You won't lose him over waiver status soon, but the risk is still there for him to stagnate after two unheard of seasons in the AHL. The same risk is also there that he gets fed up with waiting to make the NHL and earn an NHL paycheque and perceives his development as stalled.

The whole thing is just so bizarre in my pov. This isn't a stanley cup contender by any means, but it could be an elite team if a goalie like Wolf explodes and turns into one of the best in the NHL. It also could be in relatively the same spot it is now if he's just average. Get Vladar out of here and get the goalie of the future on track to be the starter you hope he can be. It's turning into a wasted year for Wolf when you know and are hearing he has very little left to learn or prove in the AHL level.

I’ll suggest you go back and watch/listen to Wolf’s media availabilities at the start of training camp. He’s well aware of the situation and has given no indication whatsoever that’s he’s dissatisfied. He’ll get playing time this year.

There’s a lot of people dreaming up scenarios and catastrophizing things here.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Wolf is going to get his games in.


I look at Vladar right now as a safety net. This team is trying to win now, not rebuild. If Markstrom falters again like he seemed to last year, then at least you have a more experienced guy to take that pressure off.


If Wolf falters in his starts, then you don't end up in a situation where you are afraid to play the backup (a.k.a the majority of the Kiprusoff years). Your starter runs out of gas, and your kid you are trying to develop instead regresses from sitting on the bench and suddenly has confidence issues.


I will complain when Wolf hasn't played zero games by the end of November. I do think he is ready for NHL games, and I do think with having the Wranglers in Calgary, having Vladar in the organization is an actual valuable asset for at least the first half of the season. I actually want to see Wolf do well, and I want to see him get lit-up a couple of times and see how he responds at the NHL level before I want Vladar unloaded. That's Vladar's worth to the organization IMO. Once I see that Wolf has bounced back after a terrible outing (and there will be - even Kipper had them), then that's when I feel that the Vladar security blanket can be lifted.


Also, depth is never a bad thing in net either. Look at Vegas. I am not sure that Dansk is a guy I want playing a long stretch of games, and making Wolf/Markstrom feel pressured to return ahead of schedule. All of this has value to me.



As long as Wolf gets in around 15-20 NHL games this season (+ enough games in the AHL to maintain a starter's workload for his development), I am happy with that. I think whether or not Vladar is retained in Calgary will depend on how well Wolf does in ten of those. If Wolf excels, then Vladar suddenly becomes a hindrance, rather than an asset. However, at this point, I would argue that he is actually a very important asset to the Flames at the moment.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

You won't lose him over waiver status soon, but the risk is still there for him to stagnate after two unheard of seasons in the AHL.

I don't see it. Wolf is still very young, and already has a strong track-record of elevating his performance pretty consistently. I would worry more about him "stagnating" if 1) he was already a year-or-two older and with more professional experience, or 2) the AHL team was not located in the same building with the NHL team. His waiver status for this year seems like a complete non-issue insofar as his own self-perception and feelings are concerned, since it is obviously a fixed limit with a hard deadline that ends after this season. As I have said before, it would be foolish for the team to not take advantage of the situation while they comfortably can.

The same risk is also there that he gets fed up with waiting to make the NHL and earn an NHL paycheque and perceives his development as stalled.

Come on. If there is any risk here at all, it is miniscule because Wolf knows exactly what is going on, and he knows that his place on the team is cemented no later than next season. With his demonstrated mental fortitude I can't imagine how he would jeopardize his NHL future that he is on the brink of entering. This makes no sense. What is going to do? Quit?

The whole thing is just so bizarre in my pov. This isn't a stanley cup contender by any means, but it could be an elite team if a goalie like Wolf explodes and turns into one of the best in the NHL. It also could be in relatively the same spot it is now if he's just average. Get Vladar out of here and get the goalie of the future on track to be the starter you hope he can be. It's turning into a wasted year for Wolf when you know and are hearing he has very little left to learn or prove in the AHL level.

After GAME #3 it is "turning into a wasted year for Wolf"? Wow. Talk to me after Game #50 if Wolf has yet to see any further NHL time. Otherwise, don't waste our time with your hilariously premature panic.

[bdubbs]

I mean I admitted my mistake. Go on and keep calling out the one time I didn't do my research before I posted if it makes you feel better though. Sure is sunny around the forum these days.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Man I didn't think the calls for Wolf would come this early. Markstrom hasn't been terrible and Vladar hasn't even played.

All it took is for an “insider” who has had a lot to say about the flames over the years and never been correct to say he heard there is interest in a trade to get everyone debating Wolf again

[Paulie Walnuts]

How does it work with Vladar on the roster to call up Wolf and play him?

Does it have to be an injury or just scratch one of the goalies and send one of the forwards down?

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Man I didn't think the calls for Wolf would come this early. Markstrom hasn't been terrible and Vladar hasn't even played.

You'd think our new coach would have started someone other than 1-8-1 lifetime against the Caps....

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

People really should check into this stuff before they start mapping out their conspiracies.

Not checking stuff is pretty much a conspiracy theorist's raison d'etre.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

You'd think our new coach would have started someone other than 1-8-1 lifetime against the Caps....

Maybe one of the forwards could actually try a deke on a penalty shot or SO attempt rather than shoot pucks at the goaltender or off the post? I'm not sure Vladar in net changes the fact that the Flames still aren't very good at the individual skills part of the NHL.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I even think it’s wishful thinking, to expect they call up Wolf for a game here and there and then return him to the Wranglers by November

Even if he is capable of playing at the NHL level, what would they realistically do this for? Have a guy who practices and plays AHL players, parachute him in to a NHL game, and then what happens?

The team needs to clean up their play before you consider interrupting the big club to cater to a goaltending prospect