Flames goalie-of-the-future Dustin Wolf: ‘That is positively the chance I’ve been hoping and ready for’
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Chit-chatting with reporters for the primary time since previous to the NHL’s commerce deadline, stalwart netminder Jacob Markstrom was understandably tired of revisiting the hypothesis about his future with the Calgary Flames.
“It’s been a aid not speaking to you guys,” Markstrom stated with a playful grin. “We glance ahead now.”
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Wanting ahead is strictly what the C of Crimson has been doing.
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Wanting ahead, that’s, to seeing extra of prized puck-stopping prospect Dustin Wolf.
Wanting ahead to what the Flames’ goaltender-of-the-future could possibly be able to.
We now know that Wolf will likely be spending the remainder of this season on the big-league degree.
Whereas Markstrom returned to apply Thursday after lacking a four-game chunk with a lower-body damage, the Flames introduced that backup twine-minder Dan Vladar has been shut down due a hip challenge that has been bothering him for fairly a while. Vladar will bear surgical procedure subsequent week.
The 22-year-old Wolf harassed that “you by no means need to see a man go right down to damage,” however that is the kind of prolonged NHL audition that he has been ready for. He stays on emergency recall earlier than rejoining the AHL’s Wranglers for his or her playoff push.
“That’s precisely what it’s — it’s a superb alternative for myself to be on this locker room and to be round these guys for the following month and hopefully extra,” stated Wolf, who received two of his three begins throughout Markstrom’s newest damage absence, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens earlier than getting the Alex Ovechkin expertise in Monday’s loss to the Washington Capitals. “Clearly, that is the place I need to be, as a lot as I probably can. I’ve been up and down quite a bit all 12 months, so there hasn’t been an entire lot of time to regulate to the place my ft are at.
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“That is positively the chance I’ve been hoping and ready for. Now’s the prospect to make the most of it.”
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The plan is Markstrom will likely be between the pipes for Saturday’s showdown with the Canucks in Vancouver (8 p.m. MT, CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), however you may anticipate to see loads of Wolf over the ultimate 14 video games on the schedule.
How precisely the Flames divvy up crease duties will possible rely upon how lengthy they will stay related within the Western Convention wildcard race. As Markstrom put it: “We will’t actually look that a lot additional … Now we have to win this recreation Saturday after which see what the opposite groups do.”
“He’s proven everybody that he can cease the puck and he’s enjoying nice hockey for years now,” Markstrom stated of his new crease counterpart — a man who’s 12 years youthful, six inches shorter and has 450-some fewer begins on the prime degree. “Clearly, I do know the transition. It’s a distinct recreation. It takes time. For me, it took nearly 10 years to form of determine every thing out. You need to play video games to get higher and be taught, and I feel he’s been doing nice when he is available in right here and performs.”
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For the following 4 weeks, Wolf is worked up concerning the alternative to job-shadow a former Vezina Trophy finalist.
There are some who imagine that Markstrom, who ranks among the many league leaders in objectives saved above anticipated, must be as soon as once more be shortlisted for that award.
“He’s a world-class goaltender for a motive,” Wolf stated. “He’s, in my thoughts, most likely Prime-5 within the league and the way in which he handles himself off the ice is tremendous vital and I feel that’s a giant motive why he has performed so lengthy on this league and I’m certain he’ll play many extra years. I’m tremendous excited to be round him each day for the following month and form of choose aside his recreation and see what works properly for him. Granted, I don’t have the construction that he does, however attempt to be taught as a lot as I can.
“He makes certain he involves the rink, makes certain his physique is in the suitable situation and clearly it exhibits on the ice, as a result of he’s been excellent on the market. And now I get to observe it from shut up.”
That kind of internship is not going to solely profit Wolf, the AHL’s two-time goalie-of-the-year, however ought to profit a corporation within the early levels of a retool.
Markstrom, who’s signed by way of the top of the 2025-26 marketing campaign at an annual cap-hit of US$6 million, will definitely be topic to extra commerce rumours this summer season. Whether or not the Flames are keen to buy their go-to goaltender would possibly rely upon if Wolf, who turns 23 subsequent month, can capitalize on this prolonged alternative to erase any doubt that he’s prepared for primetime.
“We gotta look ahead now,” Markstrom repeated after Thursday’s apply. “Everybody on this room is gonna be right here now. I’ve a contract for 2 extra years, and I’m simply excited to be again enjoying.”
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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