The Calgary Flames’ star rookie has been awarded one of the National Hockey League’s monthly honours.

On Saturday morning, Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January.

Wolf started 10 of the Flames’ 13 games in January, posting a 7-3-0 record with a 2.32 goals against average and .922 save percentage. He led all NHL rookie goalies in starts and wins during the month. Only four NHL goaltenders (of any experience level) had more wins than Wolf in January: Dallas’ Jake Oettinger (9), Washington’s Logan Thompson, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck and Detroit’s Cam Talbot (all with 8). That’s it.

Per the league’s announcement, Wolf edged out Ottawa goalie Leevi Merilainen, Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes, Montral defenceman Lane Hutson and Detroit forward Marco Kasper for the honour.

The fourth-from-last player selected in the 2019 NHL Draft, Wolf has emerged as, well, a really good goalie. He was the goalie of the year in the Western League twice (2019-20 and 2020-21) and in the American League twice (2021-22 and 2022-23), and spent last season split between the Flames and the AHL’s Wranglers due to several injury call-ups to the NHL.

This season, with Jacob Markstrom’s departure to New Jersey, Wolf was given a chance to grab hold of the Flames’ net. He’s done so. Through 29 starts this season, he’s gone 19-8-2 with a 2.51 goals against average and .917 save percentage. He’s emerged as one of the top young goalies in the NHL and, along with Hutson and San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, one of the leading contenders for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top first-year player.

The Flames host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night at the Saddledome, with Wolf expected to start his 30th game of the season.