While they have not been able to hold down a playoff spot, the Philadelphia Flyers have been a largely competitive team this season, and a significant reason for that has been the excellent play provided by netminder Daniel Vladar. The team signed Vladar, a longtime backup, this summer to compete with Samuel Ersson for the No. 1 role on the team, and he’s run away with it. In 35 games, Vladar has a .907 save percentage and 2.42 goals-against-average. Vladar has one more year remaining on his deal at a $3.35MM cap hit, and The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz asked Vladar about the prospect of signing an early extension with the team. Vladar made it clear that it was too early for those questions, saying “It’s too far ahead. I’m living my life day by day, week by week.”
Given Vladar’s success this season, it’s likely the Flyers have interest in locking him into an extension before his current deal expires. He won’t turn 29 until August, meaning he isn’t just a short-term stopgap option for Philadelphia. The team has some talented goalie prospects in its system, such as Carson Bjarnason, Yegor Zavragin, and Aleksei Kolosov, but keeping Vladar is the kind of move that can help the development of those players, rather than hinder it, because of how his presence helps keep those young goalies from playing too much, too early in their NHL career. The key factor related to Vladar’s situation is likely to be cost. Kurz pointed to the recent extension signed by Minnesota Wild starter Filip Gustavsson as a comparable deal (five years, $6.8MM AAV), but it should be noted that Gustavsson had more extensive experience as a No. 1 goalie when he signed that deal.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- As the Vancouver Canucks chart their course through an uncertain competitive future, one veteran name drawing interest ahead of the trade deadline is that of winger Conor Garland. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, Senators head coach Travis Green is a “huge backer” of Garland, dating back to his own days as head coach of the Canucks, and as a result “it would be no surprise if the Senators checked in on” Garland. The 29-year-old has seven goals and 26 points in 49 games this season, and would instantly plug in somewhere in Ottawa’s top-nine. The main area of contention regarding a Garland trade is likely to be his contract, as his six-year, $6MM AAV contract kicks in next year. That contract has a full no-move clause attached.
- With the Calgary Flames sitting near the bottom of league standings, the focus for the rest of the season is undoubtedly on maximizing the growth and development of the team’s younger players, something that will be especially true after the trade deadline. One player poised to get an increased opportunity on the ice is 25-year-old winger Adam Klapka, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis. Klapka is already a success story for the Flames’ player development team, as the massive 6’8″ has blossomed into an NHLer since signing as an undrafted player out of the Czech Extraliga. But the Flames, including head coach Ryan Huska, appear to believe there is room for Klapka to provide even more value on the ice. Under contract for an additional season at a $1.25MM cap hit, Klapka will be one of the players to watch in Calgary moving forward, as he’s poised to gain a greater role once the Flames make their trade deadline moves. Through 57 games this season, he has notched five goals, 12 points, and 215 hits.
Vladar will likely be looking for a even tandem position or a 1a spot. Not sure if he’s there but he’ll deserve the opportunity in another year and a half for a little while at least.
Garland got grossly overpaid for a middle 6 winger, but with the salary increase he might fit in somewhere accordingly.
Klapka is another Pospisil. Likely overrated mid 6 player on a lower ranked team.
These are all just personal opinions as well. Not statements as a certain other poster may claim.