With regular starting netminder, Jacob Markstrom, out for the next few days with a lower-body injury, the Calgary Flames have recalled top goalie prospect Dustin Wolf to fill the crease void. This will mark the third call-up for Wolf this season, with the other two coming as emergency loans in early November and December, respectively.
For Wolf, it is hard to name a more anticipated goalie prospect throughout the league. Last season playing for the Flames AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, Wolf rather famously produced a 42-10-2 record in 55 games, maintaining a .932 save percentage and 2.09 goals against average. His production over the course of last season was good enough to earn him the Les Cunningham Award, Aldege Bastien Memorial Award, Harry Holmes Memorial Award, President’s Award, and First Team All-Star honors.
Although his numbers are technically down this year in the AHL, he is once again getting off to a tremendous start. In 23 games played for the Wranglers, Wolf is once again carrying a solid 16-6-1 record, while carrying a .929 SV% and 2.27 GAA. Throughout his previous two call-ups to the Flames, Wolf has managed to play in five games, touting a 1-2-1 record with a .893 SV% and 3.46 GAA.
In recent weeks, there have been conflicting reports throughout the NHL that Calgary may entertain offers for Markstrom at this year’s trade deadline, although the proposed deal would require a large amount of assets headed back to the Flames. At any rate, whether it be by moving out Markstrom for a massive return, or finding a landing spot for backup goalie, Daniel Vladar, the sense around Calgary is that the Flames will need to make a move in the near future to clear out a full-time role for Wolf at the NHL level.