5 goaltenders the Calgary Flames could target in free agency

The Calgary Flames will have a new look in net for the 2024-25, as the departure of Jacob Markstrom to New Jersey will provide chances for top prospect Dustin Wolf and incumbent backup Dan Vladar to claim the Flames’ crease.

But let’s be honest, folks: Wolf has played 18 NHL games in his career and Vladar had hip surgery in the spring, so the Flames might be looking for an insurance policy. (Heck, general manager Craig Conroy has all but admitted that they are.)

So here are five goaltenders that could fit the bill for the Flames: five netminders that have NHL experience and could be reliable insurance policies as the third man up, but would also be effective top goalies for the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers. (Stick taps to Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg for posting a few target names on his social media!)

Comrie is 28 and has played a lot of pro hockey, racking up 57 NHL games and 214 AHL appearances. He’s bounced around a bit lately – in part due to his waiver status and potential – but he’s shown a lot of promise at the AHL level, and he could be a really effective third man on the depth chart.

After three seasons in the minors, Cooley got a chance to play in the NHL this past season – he was the third-stringer with Buffalo and then moved onto San Jose. He’s only 27 and he’s only played six games, but he’s 66 games in the AHL and has shown flashes of really strong play at times.

This would be a homecoming of sorts for Driedger, who spent three seasons with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen during his junior years. Since going pro, he’s played 67 NHL games and 192 AHL games. He’s been really effective in the AHL for Coachella Valley over the last few seasons, while an injury and challenging first season with the Seattle Kraken seemed to have him slotted below the NHL level in that organization. He seems like he could be a good “buy low” contender on a short-term deal.

The 29-year-old Lankinen may be the most established NHL netminder here, as he’s essentially been a backup with Chicago and Nashville since moving to North America from Finland. He’s played 112 NHL games (and 40 in the AHL), so he could be more of an option to challenge Wolf or Vladar rather than insulate them. But considering Conroy has indicated he wants everybody on the Flames roster to earn their gigs, creating some internal competition may be the goal.

Slightly less established than Lankinen, the 30-year-old Stolarz has been circling the NHL for a few years but just hasn’t quite locked in a role long-term. He backed up Sergei Bobrobsky with Florida’s Stanley Cup team, but his upward mobility seems limited there. He’s played 108 NHL games and 155 AHL contests, and like with Lankinen, adding him would be more about competition than insurance.