Latest news with #DustinWolf
National Post
5 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The depth chart in the crease
As we enter the final week of our position-by-position series tracking the Calgary Flames Retool, it's time to look at goaltenders. Article content It's a spot where a lot of ink has been spilled recently, whether that was about trading Jacob Markstrom a year ago to Dustin Wolf winning the starter's job and emerging as a Calder Trophy contender. Article content Article content Wolf's emergence puts the Flames in a nice spot for the foreseeable future, but it doesn't mean there aren't questions. Article content Here's a look at where the organization stands at goaltender, from top to bottom: Article content 1. Wolf's next step Article content There isn't much mystery about who is going to be starting in the crease for the Flames for the foreseeable future. Dustin Wolf 's fantastic rookie season has brought clarity to the position and you could comfortably argue that it has fast-tracked the retool as you don't want to waste his prime years. Wolf went 29-16-8 last season, with a 2.64 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage, earning himself a Calder Trophy nomination. Only three goalies — Stuart Skinner, Jordan Binnington and Alex Nedeljkovic — have earned Rookie of the Year nominations over the past 10 years, so Wolf is in nice company. He'll have to prove he can do it again and again, year after year, but that's true of every goalie. Assuming he does, the Flames have a franchise cornerstone already in place. He's a restricted free agent next summer, so getting a new deal in place will be a top priority for the organization over the next 12 months. Article content Article content 2. Vladar's future Article content After Dan Vladar 's end-of-season media availability, the conversation around the Ed Whalen Media Centre at the Saddledome was cautiously optimistic about the Flames' backup of four years reupping for another stint. There hasn't been any news since and with Vladar set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, it gets more likely by the day that the Flames will be looking for someone else to fill the backup duties behind Wolf. There's absolutely still an argument for bringing Vladar back if a deal can get done. He shouldn't be too expensive, worked well with Wolf last year and already understands the team's culture. Article content If Vladar and the Flames do mutually decide to go their separate ways, who could find themselves backing up Wolf next year? There are a few contenders. Devin Cooley was the best goalie in the AHL for the first few months of last season and while his numbers dropped in the back half, he still finished the season with a 2.94 goals-against-average and a .905 save percentage. The 28-year-old has six games of NHL experience and will want to be competing. There are rumours the Flames are a leading contender to sign Russian shot-stopper Ivan Prosvetov, too, as he eyes an NHL return. The free-agency market for goaltenders is sparse this summer, with Jake Allen being the best of the bunch.
Edmonton Journal
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The depth chart in the crease
There isn't much mystery about who is going to be starting in the crease for the Flames for the foreseeable future. Dustin Wolf 's fantastic rookie season has brought clarity to the position and you could comfortably argue that it has fast-tracked the retool as you don't want to waste his prime years. Wolf went 29-16-8 last season, with a 2.64 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage, earning himself a Calder Trophy nomination. Only three goalies — Stuart Skinner, Jordan Binnington and Alex Nedeljkovic — have earned Rookie of the Year nominations over the past 10 years, so Wolf is in nice company. He'll have to prove he can do it again and again, year after year, but that's true of every goalie. Assuming he does, the Flames have a franchise cornerstone already in place. He's a restricted free agent next summer, so getting a new deal in place will be a top priority for the organization over the next 12 months.
National Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Emergence of two righties provides hope on wing
The most encouraging storyline of the 2024-25 season for the Calgary Flames was the emergence of Dustin Wolf. Article content Article content You need a stud goalie if you're going to win in the NHL and the Flames look like they've got one. Put a checkmark next to that box. Article content Is it possible, though, that two right-handed wingers breaking through would be the second-biggest development? Article content Only a year ago, the — completely correct — consensus was the Flames were severely lacking on the right. There were times late in the 2023-24 season when Andrei Kuzmenko was the only right-handed forward playing on a nightly basis for the team. Article content Article content Here is what my colleague Wes Gilbertson wrote when he broke down the Flames' depth chart on the wing around this time last year. Article content 'He could have company in Matt Coronato, who seems ready for a full-time gig. There is opportunity, too, for the towering Adam Klapka.' Article content Twelve months later, those words seem prescient. Article content A big part of the Flames' retool is developing youth at every position and there might not be a spot on the ice where the Flames are further ahead in doing that than right wing — other than between the pipes. Article content Coronato not only proved he was ready for a full-time gig this season, he was an offensive driver who showed real star potential. In his first full NHL season, the 22-year-old was third in team scoring with 47 points, including 24 goals. Article content And it felt like he was only scratching the surface of what he can do as an NHLer. Selected 13th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Coronato was rewarded with a seven-year contract that will pay him $6.5 million US annually, securing his place as a core piece of the Flames' future. Article content Article content 'I think now he kind of knows what he needs to do, how to score, where he needs to go on the ice, find those quiet areas, when to leave the zone early to maybe get some chances off the rush,' Flames GM Craig Conroy told Postmedia after the signing. 'And he's only going to get more and more comfortable with that. And as he does, as an organization, we're hoping the (goal) totals go up too.' Article content Article content If there were question marks around Coronato last spring, they revolved entirely around how long it might take him to fully find his feet at the NHL level. Fortunately for the Flames, he appears to be a quick learner. Article content There's still plenty to prove, but his play this season suggests there's lots of reason to feel optimistic. Klapka played in 31 games for the Flames, scoring six goals and adding four assists, but was especially good coming down the stretch when he was moved into a first-line role on the right of Nazem Kadri.
Calgary Herald
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Emergence of two righties provides hope on wing
The most encouraging storyline of the 2024-25 season for the Calgary Flames was the emergence of Dustin Wolf. Article content Article content You need a stud goalie if you're going to win in the NHL and the Flames look like they've got one. Put a checkmark next to that box. Article content Is it possible, though, that two right-handed wingers breaking through would be the second-biggest development? Article content Only a year ago, the — completely correct — consensus was the Flames were severely lacking on the right. There were times late in the 2023-24 season when Andrei Kuzmenko was the only right-handed forward playing on a nightly basis for the team. Article content Article content Here is what my colleague Wes Gilbertson wrote when he broke down the Flames' depth chart on the wing around this time last year. Article content Article content 'He could have company in Matt Coronato, who seems ready for a full-time gig. There is opportunity, too, for the towering Adam Klapka.' Article content Twelve months later, those words seem prescient. Article content A big part of the Flames' retool is developing youth at every position and there might not be a spot on the ice where the Flames are further ahead in doing that than right wing — other than between the pipes. Article content Coronato not only proved he was ready for a full-time gig this season, he was an offensive driver who showed real star potential. In his first full NHL season, the 22-year-old was third in team scoring with 47 points, including 24 goals. Article content Article content And it felt like he was only scratching the surface of what he can do as an NHLer. Selected 13th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Coronato was rewarded with a seven-year contract that will pay him $6.5 million US annually, securing his place as a core piece of the Flames' future. Article content Article content 'I think now he kind of knows what he needs to do, how to score, where he needs to go on the ice, find those quiet areas, when to leave the zone early to maybe get some chances off the rush,' Flames GM Craig Conroy told Postmedia after the signing. 'And he's only going to get more and more comfortable with that. And as he does, as an organization, we're hoping the (goal) totals go up too.' Article content If there were question marks around Coronato last spring, they revolved entirely around how long it might take him to fully find his feet at the NHL level. Fortunately for the Flames, he appears to be a quick learner.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Wolf, Hutson, Celebrini named Calder Memorial Trophy finalists
Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf, Montreal defenceman Lane Hutson and San Jose centre Macklin Celebrini are the finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player selected "as the most proficient" in his first year of NHL competition. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Calder Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. Wolf, who had a 2.64 goals against average and three shutouts in 53 games for the Flames, paced rookie netminders with 29 wins — 14 more than the next-closest player and one shy of the franchise rookie record established by Mike Vernon in 1986-87. The Flames just missed the playoffs this season. Wolf, a seventh-round selection (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL draft, made at least 25 saves in 35 of his 53 total appearances and allowed two or fewer goals 25 times. The 24-year-old is Calgary's first Calder Trophy finalist since 2014-15, when Johnny Gaudreau ranked third in voting. Despite missing a dozen games, Celebrini recorded 25 goals and 38 assists for the Sharks. He ranked second in goals and assists among the NHL rookie leaders and third in points. At 18 years, 308 days on the final day of the regular season, he became the third-youngest rookie in NHL history to lead his team in scoring, behind just Sidney Crosby (18 years, 254 days in 2005-06 with Pittsburgh) and reigning Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard (18 years, 276 days in 2023-24 with Chicago). Celebrini also established Sharks records for assists and points by a rookie. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 NHL draft is San Jose's first Calder Trophy finalist since 2010-11, when Logan Couture finished second in voting. Hutson became the fourth defenceman in the NHL's modern era (since 1943-44) to lead rookies in scoring, joining Bobby Orr (13-28—41 in 1966-67 with Boston), Brian Leetch (23-48—71 in 1988-89 with the New York Rangers) and Quinn Hughes (8-45—53 in 2019-20 with Vancouver). Hutson's 60 assists matched Larry Murphy (1980-81 with the Los Angeles Kings) for the most by a rookie defenceman in NHL history, while his 66 points trailed only Murphy (16-60—76 in 1980-81 with Los Angeles), Leetch and Gary Suter (18-50—68 in 1985-86 with Calgary) for the most by a rookie blueliner. No rookie, regardless of position, has registered more assists for the Canadiens in a single season. The 21-year-old Hutson is Montreal's first Calder Trophy finalist since 2012-13, when current teammate Brendan Gallagher placed second in voting.
