‘He wants to be better than everybody else’: Dustin Wolf leads the way in Stockton

[TheScorpion]

Figured this place could use some good vibes.

This piece had been in the works for a while and today seemed like as good a time as ever to get it finished and published.

‘He wants to be better than everybody else’: Dustin Wolf leads the way as the Stockton Heat chase the Calder Cup

Link: https://flamesnation.ca/2022/05/27/d...stockton-heat/

Excerpts:

In late December 2021, with Dan Vladar on the shelf due to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols, Wolf received the call to go home to Seattle and back up Markstrom for a game against the Kraken.

Markstrom faced just 22 shots as the Flames defeated the Kraken 6–4. Wolf absorbed everything from the bench while sitting only feet away from the coach who guided his hometown team to a pair of championships.

“When I was up there, his message was to just take it in and enjoy it,” Wolf said. “It’s pretty awesome to be considered, that there’s a chance you could be playing for not only Darryl, but the Flames.”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to know Dustin since he was 15 years old in my time with him in Everett,” Love said. “I think the one thing that really sticks out for me about Dustin, and what he’s been able to do for our group this year as a 20-year-old first-year goaltender, is his preparation and his mindset.

“He’s a competitive kid, he wants to be good, he wants to be better than everybody else.”

Forget being the AHL’s top rookie goaltender in 2021–22. Wolf was named the AHL’s top goaltender, period. (He also earned a spot on the AHL’s end-of-season First All-Star Team and All-Rookie Team).

Wolf led all AHL netminders in wins (33), ranked fourth in save percentage (.924), and finished with the second-most minutes played (2,809:37). He’s also the only goalie who has yet to record a loss in five or more playoff games this year.

Hope you enjoy it.

Wolf and the Heat will be back in action tonight for Game 3 against Colorado — my preview is here.

[Burning Beard]

Thanks for posting this man. Good to see some positive vibes. Stockton doing well hopefully bodes well for the future here.

[GranteedEV]

Such a shame we can't just Shesterkin him into the NHL because the Flames are the Flames

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Such a shame we can't just Shesterkin him into the NHL because the Flames are the Flames

While I understand your pain, Wolf just turned 21. Shesterkin was 24 when he made his NHL debut.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Such a shame we can't just Shesterkin him into the NHL because the Flames are the Flames

Its a shame that they’re allowing him to develop?

[lazypucker]

I hope Wolf will be the next MAF, have a long and successful NHL career.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

While I understand your pain, Wolf just turned 21. Shesterkin was 24 when he made his NHL debut.

And after several years in the KHL.

Silly comment.

[djsFlames]

Hopefully we're sitting on a Shersterkin/Oettinger and can wash the taste of that Markstrom series in net out in the next couple years.

Hopefully we line up the Oilers again and he stones them just like he did their shoddy little farm team of undeveloped waste.

[EVERLAST]

Thanks for the updates , stories your Time....scorp.
Wolf doing what he's done is pretty cool when you consider what happened with Tyler Parsons and the high hopes we all had for him...and heck going back as far as Leland Irving.

[madmike]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Such a shame we can't just Shesterkin him into the NHL because the Flames are the Flames

As great a season as he had, he did fade a bit in the second half. Definitely better to give him some time to develop. Wolf is 21. I think Shesterkin was 23 when he debuted in the NHL.

EDIT: Never mind. I see someone else posted above.

[rooster]

Originally Posted by Mitch

Its a shame that they’re allowing him to develop?

This franchise has ####ed up many more goalie prospects then they developed.

[Zoller]

Wolf has a chip on his shoulder after being passed over at the draft due to his height.

I have no doubt he'll carve out a career in the NHL.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by rooster

This franchise has ####ed up many more goalie prospects then they developed.

Or they just didn't pan out.

Wolf will get the call when he's ready. Rushing him you only risk hurting his development.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Apparently when you "Shesterkin" a goalie prospect it means doing the opposite of how the Rangers developed Shesterkin.

Fascinating

[Kovaz]

Saros is the template to follow here.


Dominate the AHL in year 1
Start year 2 in the AHL, steal the backup role as an injury callup

2 years as a backup
2 years in a 1A/1B
Vezina calibre starter in his 7th pro year



Markstrom still has 4 more years under contract, Vladar still has 1. The schedule lines up perfectly for Wolf to have another strong AHL year, start 2023 as the backup and spend 3 years transitioning from backup to 1B to 1A to starter.


The best thing you can do for a young goalie, IMO, is put them in a situation where there's another starting-calibre goalie to take some of the pressure off. Having the fate of the team depend on a young goalie that's never been a full-time starter is a very high-risk approach.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by rooster

This franchise has ####ed up many more goalie prospects then they developed.

That's pretty much true of every franchise.

The thing with goalies is you spend years trying to develop the right guy and then when one hits, you can ride him for a decade. So, your hit-rate is naturally going to be low.

Look at the Devils, they've basically only developed one goalie in their history (with a few guys who had decent, but unspectacular careers), but what a one goalie that was.

[kipperiggy]

I don’t know a lot about prospect watching. What are the chances Wolfie is our future #1? Aren’t goalies usually a crapshoot?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by kipperiggy

I don’t know a lot about prospect watching. What are the chances Wolfie is our future #1? Aren’t goalies usually a crapshoot?

They are, but Wolf is as good of an AHL rookie goalie prospect as I've ever seen.

[kipperiggy]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

They are, but Wolf is as good of an AHL rookie goalie prospect as I've ever seen.

I need hope after that disasterous round 2 performance

[1_Flames_Fan]

Does anyone know how I can watch the AHL playoff games on TV? Is there any US networks that show them? I'd like to check out the Heat games next round.