Player Discussion Dustin Wolf

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
I believe this is Wolf's last season of waiver exemption.
It's not.

1700277243643.png
 
Interesting. Still can't imagine him not being a full time NHL player next year, but it's nice to have options.
That's why we're not in a rush, I also foresee him being on the roster full-time next year. But I think we should pick up (assuming Vladar is traded) someone like Domingue, Rittich, Subban, Stalock, Pickard... etc to be the starter for the Wranglers for insurance just in case... I'd also still bring Dansk back if Sergeev doesn't turn pro this summer.
 
adding this here as well as the Wranglers thread because I think it's fun and involves Wolf

I love the relationship between Wolf and Solo...

After each game (maybe just wins?), Wolf stand on the middle of the blueline, Solovyov goes into the crease leans over the crossbar for a bit... then he moves back with Wolf's water bottle and sprays it in teh crease as if he's christening the crease and then then meet at the gate.
 
That's why we're not in a rush, I also foresee him being on the roster full-time next year. But I think we should pick up (assuming Vladar is traded) someone like Domingue, Rittich, Subban, Stalock, Pickard... etc to be the starter for the Wranglers for insurance just in case... I'd also still bring Dansk back if Sergeev doesn't turn pro this summer.
There's all kinds of variables and it seems unlikely that we'll move a goalie, without getting one back. If all sakes out the way it appears to be headed, cap space won't be an issue. We could very well even take on a comparable Vladar contract, bury it and save face contractually by giving Vladar opportunities elsewhere. Seems like Wolf will, most likely be the guy for the Wranglers playoff run this year.
 
I like the 2 way. Gives the flames flexibility.

If Vladar is on a heater or the flames have a tough stretch they can put wolf in the AHL to get some games in and keep fresh or get some confidence back.

Good move conny
 
Good deal for us! I don't count on him being in the NHL after his contract expires but happy to be proven wrong.
 
I like the 2 way. Gives the flames flexibility.

If Vladar is on a heater or the flames have a tough stretch they can put wolf in the AHL to get some games in and keep fresh or get some confidence back.

Good move conny
Two way contracts are only about salary, Wolf was waiver exempt this season even if he had a 1-way deal. The only difference being he will make 275k instead of 850k in the AHL if demoted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bert Mckrakken
Good deal for us! I don't count on him being in the NHL after his contract expires but happy to be proven wrong.
In 2 years time he will be 25 years, 4 months old. 11 goalies played 10 games this year at that age or older, 9 played 20+, and 2 were starters.(42 games or up). Zero played more than 55. If Wolf is a quality backup in 2 years time he’s quite literally still on a quicker path than the majority of goalie prospects.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Figgy44 and Lunatik
Really hope he pans out, I like seeing small goalies succeed. As it stands right now though, it's a long ways to be worried about whether he will live up to expectations imo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Figgy44
I am curious about the psychology for a young player like him from California. Does the allure of eventually signing to a team in your home state to play in front of friends and family every night (or close to it) carry a ton of water down the line when he has to make that decision?

Any other American market for that matter is also up for debate.



Or is there a sense of loyalty for an organization that took a chance (albeit late round) on you?


Now it's finally paying dividends in your favour after patiently dominating the ahl as much as you could. Of course you're only being showcased (not as a future trade chip) because the team is in "re-tool" mode without a clear #1 (before the season started anyway).



His gaa/pct numbers won't be great on this team for awhile with our current d corps (watch him prove me wrong), but he continues to pass the eye test brilliantly and has had some decent goal support this yr to help with the wins total.


I've been team Wolfie for a long time now and am excited to see him continue to grow. I can only hope he decides to put pen to paper when the time is right for the long term.


For now the platoon mode Huska has is fine. I'd prefer Wolfie to get a 48/34 type split, but easing him into the NHL season grind is just fine even if most of us fans see more upside to him being the long term starter over Vladar.
 
Wolf seems like a lot less of a flight risk than the other Americans we've had. I doubt he really cares that much as long as he gets to play. I think he'll only want out if he doesn't get the playing time he wants and it's not like we have anyone who can block him at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flames23
I am curious about the psychology for a young player like him from California. Does the allure of eventually signing to a team in your home state to play in front of friends and family every night (or close to it) carry a ton of water down the line when he has to make that decision?

Any other American market for that matter is also up for debate.



Or is there a sense of loyalty for an organization that took a chance (albeit late round) on you?


Now it's finally paying dividends in your favour after patiently dominating the ahl as much as you could. Of course you're only being showcased (not as a future trade chip) because the team is in "re-tool" mode without a clear #1 (before the season started anyway).



His gaa/pct numbers won't be great on this team for awhile with our current d corps (watch him prove me wrong), but he continues to pass the eye test brilliantly and has had some decent goal support this yr to help with the wins total.


I've been team Wolfie for a long time now and am excited to see him continue to grow. I can only hope he decides to put pen to paper when the time is right for the long term.


For now the platoon mode Huska has is fine. I'd prefer Wolfie to get a 48/34 type split, but easing him into the NHL season grind is just fine even if most of us fans see more upside to him being the long term starter over Vladar.
Hellebuyck extended in Winnipeg. There's no rule saying it can't happen. We just got bitten a few times in a row and it is a legitimate risk with any American player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flames23
Loyalty is a two way street. If the Flames offer Wolf a longterm deal and show him that he's a core piece, he'll stay. Just like Brady Tkachuk in Ottawa.

But if the Flames bridge him because they're still stuck in the 90's, then they open themselves to the possibility of Wolf using his leverage to leave. Just like Matthew Tkachuk.

Same story for Zary. How Conroy & the Flames approach the second contracts for both these players is going to be a major litmus test for whether they're serious about being eventual contenders and if Conroy learned anything at all from Treliving's many many mistakes. They at least need to be gunning for max 8 year deals asap, especially with the league wanting to lower the max term.
 
Loyalty is a two way street. If the Flames offer Wolf a longterm deal and show him that he's a core piece, he'll stay. Just like Brady Tkachuk in Ottawa.

But if the Flames bridge him because they're still stuck in the 90's, then they open themselves to the possibility of Wolf using his leverage to leave. Just like Matthew Tkachuk.

Same story for Zary. How Conroy & the Flames approach the second contracts for both these players is going to be a major litmus test for whether they're serious about being eventual contenders and if Conroy learned anything at all from Treliving's many many mistakes. They at least need to be gunning for max 8 year deals asap, especially with the league wanting to lower the max term.
The only reason Tkachuk had the leverage he did was because we bridged him to the year before UFA, with a salary structure that gave him a lot higher of a qualifying offer than usual. He had the option of just accepting the qualifying offer which we have to tender to keep his RFA status, which was a 1 year 9 million contract and walking himself to UFA. Not saying bridging Wolf is the right move, just that the average RFA has little to no leverage and the Tkachuk situation was unique and a bad move by Treliving.
 
Surprisingly good article on ESPN about goaltenders' Calder trophy chances

tldr: voters expect much more from rookie goaltenders than rookie skaters, and goaltenders often play small number of games in their first years making them ineligible for Calder for the first full season.
 
Surprisingly good article on ESPN about goaltenders' Calder trophy chances

tldr: voters expect much more from rookie goaltenders than rookie skaters, and goaltenders often play small number of games in their first years making them ineligible for Calder for the first full season.

Calder Wolfie watch engaged!
 
Flames will give Wolf 6 years easily and Wolf will stay.

Again, this notion that American's are flight risks is completely false. Gaudreau wanted to re-sign the summer prior, Treliving is a dipshit and said no. Tkachuk wanted 8 years, Treliving wouldn't trade Frolik to clear cap space so he bridged him and Tkachuk saw the writing on the wall of the team and wanted out because the team was being run by monkeys. If the team was actually competitive I highly doubt Hanifin leaves.

Everyone wanting out isn't because we're in Canada, it's because our team was run by monkeys.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Vladar traded by the TDL and Wolf gets full reigns the last 20+ games. His GAA is still somewhat high, but his SV % is a fair bit better than Vladar and he has the wins as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iggys Dome
Wolf will definitely stay for the next contract. RFAs that have a chance to make life changing money never give that up. Harder to say beyond that, I could still see him being a tad bitter about not getting more opportunity earlier down the road. Once again the Flames did not pull out the red carpet for their young stars and once again they’ll probably lose him in FA.
 
Wolf is 23 and playing his first full season in NHL. Not a lot of goalies become starters earlier, so I dont think he has anything to complain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iggys Dome

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad