[News] With the 214th OA pick, the Flames select G Dustin Wolf

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

He's also RFA and his agent will likely be pushing for a one way deal. Not sure how they don't give it to him.

One of the goalies will get moved this summer.

The Flames need to get Wolf into a decent string of starts before the end of the year - 5 or 6 starts in a span of the final 12 to15 games. Not only does it help the team evaluate him at the NHL level, but it also gives Wolf a clear indication of what he needs to work on to be fully ready next year. This is mainly learning how to work through screens and traffic and you can't really do that until you've had a decent amount of starts to begin figuring it out.

At this point, Vladar should not even be in the conversation for more action given his performance over the last 2 seasons. I doubt there's a single team that doesn't have a better or lateral option. Getting rid of him likely won't be an easy sell given the bloated contract he's on for a below average backup.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Feed Wolf to the wolves.

Sink or swim. It's showtime.

[Bingo]

Plus we live in an era with advanced stats (public and team private) to add some colour to a goaltenders start.

It's no longer 6 goals on 33 shots for a .818 night.

You can look at 6 goals vs 7.3 expected and talk the kid out of the tree.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Tuco

Will they shelter Wolf? Getting lit up might shake his confidence.

If his confidence is that fragile, he'll never make it anyway.

[RedHot25]

Yup, I agree with the last few comments. I'm a big supporter of time in the minors, appropriate times to get in a game or two, etc, but at the same time, now seems like a great time to get Wolf a fair number of games. It's never going to be absolutely perfect, but this is a good time to give it a shot.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Yup, I agree with the last few comments. I'm a big supporter of time in the minors, appropriate times to get in a game or two, etc, but at the same time, now seems like a great time to get Wolf a fair number of gay. It's never going to be absolutely perfect, but this is a good time to give it a shot.

Appreciate the shoutout but I’m not sure inviting him to the Pride parade is really going to make a difference.

[RedHot25]

Haha that's an amazing typo!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Appreciate the shoutout but I’m not sure inviting him to the Pride parade is really going to make a difference.

Too many Russians on the team - Pride parade is off.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

As pointed out after that game, he has those in the AHL as well. He has games where nothing goes right and games where he’s lights out. When he was sent down after that game he posted a .967 the day after.

I’m fine with waiting until next season but the next step in Wolf’s development is finding a groove in the NHL, which is going to have to mean he stays up for a while and plays games regularly. We can’t be afraid to play him because he got shelled by San Jose.

Disagree. You can't put him out there again and have another disaster game. Two in a row at NHL level and it messes with his head. I think it's good he had a rough outing vs SJ. Put some time between that game and the next. Gives the team more reason to let him stay in the AHL without him chomping at the bit and pick the right moment to bring him up.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Disagree. You can't put him out there again and have another disaster game. Two in a row at NHL level and it messes with his head. I think it's good he had a rough outing vs SJ. Put some time between that game and the next. Gives the team more reason to let him stay in the AHL without him chomping at the bit and pick the right moment to bring him up.

Why hasn’t it messed with his head in the AHL?

EDIT: if anything, the longer you wait the more you’re saying to him that one bad game is going to push his opportunity further and further down the road. That’s some awful pressure.

[Roof-Daddy]

Last three seasons in the AHL:

47 GP / 2.35 GAA / 0.924 S%
55 GP / 2.09 GAA / 0.932 S%
35 GP / 2.43 GAA / 0.923 S%

It's time to get this kid more NHL games

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Last three seasons in the AHL:

47 GP / 2.35 GAA / 0.924 S%
55 GP / 2.09 GAA / 0.932 S%
35 GP / 2.43 GAA / 0.923 S%

It's time to get this kid more NHL games

No, you can't put this kid under the huge pressure after his last disaster of a game!! You have to make him win ANOTHER goaltender of the year award before he can go in for one more. Too much pressure.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Disagree. You can't put him out there again and have another disaster game. Two in a row at NHL level and it messes with his head. I think it's good he had a rough outing vs SJ. Put some time between that game and the next. Gives the team more reason to let him stay in the AHL without him chomping at the bit and pick the right moment to bring him up.

This is the absolutely perfect time to give him a ton of leash and let him blow a few games. Beyond what the players put on themselves — and most of them have probably accepted no playoffs at this point — there’s zero pressure to win. He’ll want to win but if he’s brought up with the understanding that he’s there to learn the NHL game, win or lose, blowouts won’t mess with his head like if he was blowing games at the beginning of next season (or if they were in a playoff hunt).

Wolf is also a thick-skinned fighter. He's been discounted his whole career and he’s thrived. The mental side is probably not much of an issue.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Plus we live in an era with advanced stats (public and team private) to add some colour to a goaltenders start.

It's no longer 6 goals on 33 shots for a .818 night.

You can look at 6 goals vs 7.3 expected and talk the kid out of the tree.

Except his GA vs. expected GA is really bad this year, albeit in a small sample size.

I wouldn't be throwing him to the wolves quite yet with so many new dman on the team. Let's give them a chance to settle in a bit.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Why hasn’t it messed with his head in the AHL?

EDIT: if anything, the longer you wait the more you’re saying to him that one bad game is going to push his opportunity further and further down the road. That’s some awful pressure.

He's lost four in a row.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

He's lost four in a row.

I mean getting shelled in the AHL.

Gave up 6 in October. Followed it up with a .966 and a shutout.

Gave up 6 in January. Followed it up with a .970 and a shutout.

Even if you think the San Jose game messed with his head, he went down and immediately put in a .967 and .939 in 2/3 games right after. You’re suggested this losing streak that started four games later is because of the San Jose game? Make it make sense.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

I'd argue losing 4 in a row has more to do with the team in front of him than the play of Wolf himself. The Wranglers are depleted at both forward and defense.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

I'd argue losing 4 in a row has more to do with the team in front of him than the play of Wolf himself. The Wranglers are depleted at both forward and defense.

Agreed, Wranglers were awful last night

Went to the game,

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

I'd argue losing 4 in a row has more to do with the team in front of him than the play of Wolf himself. The Wranglers are depleted at both forward and defense.

When the Wranglers are your AHL team and your NHL team, ugly results will follow all around.

It's tough fighting a two-front war.

[Tuco]

Wolf rides the pine tonight. Sheltered it would seem.