The biggest storyline heading into Calgary Flames training camp was in the crease. Which two goalies were going to start the season as the goaltending tandem?
Enter the three combatants. Dustin Wolf. Dan Vladar. Devin Cooley.
On the surface it looks like it’s going to be a tight, three-way battle for two positions on the opening night roster.
But I don’t think it should be much of a battle. Wolf and Cooley should be in the NHL to start the season with Vladar as the odd man out.
The Calgary Flames need to ask themselves “who is going to be part of the future in net?” The answer to that question is Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley, not Dan Vladar.
Vladar only has one year remaining on his contract before becoming a UFA in the summer of 2025. Both Wolf and Cooley are signed to one-way contracts next season. That tells me it’s unlikely the Flames will re-sign Vladar.
And when you think about it, why would Vladar even want to sign in Calgary knowing that Wolf and Cooley are on one-way contracts? It would be a tough situation for Vladar to step into if he wants to be guaranteed to play in the NHL in the 2025-26 season. And would the Flames want to create a second straight season of a goaltending controversy?
Knowing Vladar likely isn’t in the long-term plans for the Calgary Flames, why would they put him in the NHL this season ahead of Wolf and Cooley?
There are a couple risks you run by having Vladar in the NHL.
The first risk is potentially losing Cooley on waivers for nothing. The Flames were among multiple teams trying to sign Cooley in the off-season, so you know there is a market for his services. And the Flames are very high on Cooley’s potential. They think he’s just starting to come out of his shell and is on the verge of breaking out as a full time NHL goaltender. Do you want to risk losing someone who could potentially become the long-term starting goalie for the Flames?
The other risk you run is upsetting your prized young goaltender in Wolf by sending him to the minors when he doesn’t deserve to go down there. Wolf has proved he is too good for the AHL. The Flames know it. Their fans know it. And Wolf certainly knows it. What would Wolf’s reaction be if the Flames decide to send him to the AHL? I can’t imagine he would be happy about it. It’s important for the Flames to have a good relationship with one of their top prospects.
Another thing to consider is we know what Vladar is in the NHL. He is a capable backup who might one day be able to be a 1B on a team. He’s trending towards not being a full-time starting goalie. We know this based off his three seasons with the Flames. He’s had plenty of chances to step up and show he is a starting goalie, and it hasn’t happened yet.
What we don’t know is just how good Wolf and Cooley could be. Both Wolf and Cooley have a higher ceiling in the NHL then Vladar. The Flames should do everything they can to work with those two to get them to realize their potential and hit that ceiling as soon as possible. Do that in the NHL starting this season.
The Flames should explore a trade for Vladar and move him by the end of training camp. Calgary gave up a third-round pick to acquire Vladar in 2021. A lot of Flames observers believe they need to hold on to Vladar until they can get back a mid-round draft to pick via trade because of asset management. But that third-round pick used to acquire Vladar is a sunk cost. It shouldn’t be part of the equation when deciding what to do with the 27-year-old goalie.
The Flames shouldn’t create a goaltending controversy and hold all three goalie’s hostage over a mid-round draft pick. Make the trade if it is available. If they can’t move Vladar and his $2.2 million cap hit for an asset, then put him on waivers.
This article isn’t meant to rip Vladar. He’s a great person and a decent NHL goalie who has a future in the league as a backup or maybe even a 1B.
This is about finding and developing the goalie of the future for a rebuilding Calgary Flames team. Unfortunately, Vladar isn’t going to be that guy.
It’s time to give Wolf and Cooley the crease and let them decide who is going to be in the crease long term.
