The Calgary Flames are facing a conundrum when it comes to their goaltending situation. They have three capable netminders in the mix but only two available spots on the roster. Currently, Dan Vladar, who has a history with the Bruins, and Jacob Markstrom hold the starting positions. However, the emergence of Dustin Wolf in the AHL has been nothing short of impressive.
General Manager Craig Conroy is considering the possibility of trading Vladar, primarily because of his reasonable contract. But if a trade doesn't materialize, Wolf, despite his undeniable talent, might find himself back in the AHL due to waiver exemption rules. Conroy places significant emphasis on the importance of young goaltenders getting game time instead of merely observing from the bench during practice.
While Vladar and Markstrom have been reliable in their performances, Conroy understands that circumstances in the NHL can change rapidly. One such variable is injuries, which can create unexpected opportunities.
Interestingly, injuries have indeed struck some other NHL teams, with the Tampa Bay Lightning losing Andrei Vasilevskiy for 8-10 weeks and the Colorado Avalanche starting the season without Pavel Francouz.
As the Flames navigate this goaltending puzzle, Conroy's phone may soon be ringing with inquiries from other teams. The resolution to this situation remains uncertain, but the Flames are certainly not short on options.
