It has been a great start to the season for the Calgary Flames. They currently have a 12-6-3 record and are second in the Pacific Division. When noting that the Flames are retooling, they are undoubtedly exceeding expectations early on.
However, while this is the case, the Flames are still creating some buzz in the rumor mill. NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently released his latest Trade Targets Board for Daily Faceoff, and a Calgary Flames goaltender, Dan Vladar, made the list.
Here is what Seravalli said about Vladar as a potential trade candidate:
"Very quietly, 23-year-old Dustin Wolf has entered the Calder Trophy conversation. And third goaltender Devin Cooley has been, well, on fire with a sterling .953 save percentage for the AHL’s Wranglers. That leaves Vladar as the obvious trade piece, now in the final year of his deal before becoming a free agent."Frank Seravalli
Vladar, 27, is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), so it is easy to understand why Seravalli included him on his list. If the 2015 third-round pick is not in the club's long-term plans, he could be a decent trade chip for the Flames to part ways with nearing the deadline.
Vladar could generate some interest as we get closer to the deadline, too. He is quietly having a decent season with the Flames, and the truth is in his stats. In 10 appearances, he has a 4-4-2 record, a 2.67 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage. With numbers like these, Vladar could be a solid trade target for teams looking to improve upon their goaltending depth.
Nevertheless, Vladar is a clear player to keep an eye on in the rumor mill from here. If he continues to play well as the season rolls on, he could net the Flames a decent draft pick or prospect in a potential move.