Flames GM intrigued by goalie battle: 'Job is wide-open'
Flames general manager Craig Conroy is excited to see how the battle for Calgary's starting goaltender spot shakes out with training camp on the horizon.
"With (Jacob Markstrom) gone, the job is wide-open, and these guys know this is as good an opportunity as they're ever going to have to show what they can do and become an NHL starter," the executive told Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "Maybe I'm putting a lot of pressure on them, but look, they have to do what they have to do and prove, 'This is my job.'"
Conroy traded Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils in June after four seasons manning Calgary's crease, and the Swede leaves some big shoes to fill.
Markstrom was named a Vezina Trophy finalist during his second season as a Flame in 2021-22 and performed admirably behind a depleted Calgary squad this past campaign, ranking third in goals saved above expected at all strengths (28.93), per Evolving-Hockey.
There's a trio of goalies vying to step up in Markstrom's absence: promising rookie Dustin Wolf, familiar face Dan Vladar, and newcomer Devin Cooley.
Wolf has 18 games of NHL experience after making his debut at the tail end of the 2022-23 season. The 23-year-old appeared in 17 contests last campaign, logging a 7-7-1 record, an .893 save percentage, and a 3.16 goals against average.
Widely hailed as the Flames' goaltender of the future, Calgary selected him in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Wolf was declared the AHL's top goaltender in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023.
Vladar, meanwhile, hasn't played since March after undergoing season-ending hip surgery. He served as Markstrom's backup for the last three years, appearing in at least 20 games each season. He registered an .882 save percentage in 2023-24.
The 27-year-old said Thursday that he is "pain-free" and "excited for more playing time." The most experienced of the three goalies, Vladar played in 75 contests over the past four campaigns after the Boston Bruins picked him in the third round of the 2015 draft.
Finally, the Flames signed Cooley to a two-year pact as a free agent in July. He carries a $775,000 cap hit and the contract becomes one-way in 2025-26.
Cooley made his NHL debut in 2023-24, appearing in six games for the San Jose Sharks and posting an .870 save percentage and a 4.98 GAA. An undrafted late bloomer, Cooley is 27 years old and has spent the bulk of his career in the AHL and ECHL.
Whoever wins the Flames' starting job is in for a tough assignment following last season's mass exodus of pending UFAs. Conroy is looking forward to less "outside noise" plaguing his team this time around.
"We hear where everybody puts us. ... Internally, we have a belief that we've got really good veterans, and we have some young players that want to prove themselves, and they're hungry," Conroy said.
He added: "Playoffs are obviously the goal."