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Calgary Flames Insider Predicts Landing Spot For Goaltender In 2023-24

By Nathan Smith

VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 8: Dan Vladar #80 of the Calgary Flames during warm-up prior to their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 8, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 8: Dan Vladar #80 of the Calgary Flames during warm-up prior to their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on April 8, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) /
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The Calgary Flames off-season got underway very quickly this off-season, as the team moved on from both General Manager and Head Coach, and after naming Craig Conroy as the new GM, the Head Coach search is expected to wrap up very, very soon. Then, after all this chaos, the Flames need to pivot towards the on-ice product, and with so many decisions to make, the chaotic nature of this off-season is expected to continue, and likely get much wilder.

While a lot of the focus will shift towards the pending free agents like Tyler Toffoli, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and others, the goaltending position is one the Flames need to make a decision on, with AHL MVP Dustin Wolf, who started the final game of the regular season, expected to get every opportunity to have a role on this team in 2023-24. Trading Jacob Markstrom would save the Flames a lot of money, but given his history of great performances and massive contract, it’s unlikely that he’ll be moved, meaning that the odd man out in all of this is Dan Vladar, who signed a two-year, $2.2 million AAV deal with the team, meaning that he could be a solid option for goaltender-needy teams.

One of those teams, according to Flames reporter Eric Francis are the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have recently hired former Flames GM Brad Treliving, and given that it was Treliving that signed Vladar to that contract, it makes sense if a connection is there. Francis reportedly believes that Dan will be the starting goaltender for Toronto on opening night 2023, and given the rumoured connection with Calgary to William Nylander, this could be another asset for Calgary to throw into a potential trade, but right now, it’s seemingly just speculation.

In 27 games for Calgary this past season, Vladar ended with a 14-6 record, 2.87 GAA and an .894 save percentage, but for a Leafs team that have struggled for elite play in between the pipes for years, he may be a solid answer for them, and with the connection to Treliving, keep an eye on the Maple Leafs and the Flames this off-season.

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