As the NHL regular season enters its final days, the Western Conference wild card spots are tightening up with each game being played by the playoff contenders in the Central and Pacific divisions. The Calgary Flames remain in the playoff conversation and with an overall record after 68 games played of 32-25-11, the Flames are within striking distance of the last playoff spot in the West.
Although sitting just one point behind the Vancouver Canucks and two points behind the St. Louis Blues, the Flames may just have a bit of an advantage up their collective sleeves, given the fact that they've also played up to two games less than their playoff rivals which could enable Calgary to gain some ground in the overall points race.
Dustin Wolf remains the anchor for the Flames' playoff hopes this season
A hockey writer couldn't come up with a better script this season than covering up the seeming Cinderella story of Dustin Wolf this year with the Calgary Flames. Coming from the hockey hotbed of Gilroy, California, Wolf is only the fourth NHL goaltender to originally hail from the Golden State.
If California doesn't seem like a breeding ground for hockey goalies, remember that Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks hails from San Diego and as hockey becomes more accessible as a sport of choice for American youth players, expect more NHL starters to come from states like Arizona (hello Auston Matthews), California, Nevada and Texas for that matter.
While there's a dearth of college hockey programs out west, remember that California has no less than three NHL teams and a large number of American Hockey League (AHL) franchises as well so the sport is alive and well in the Pacific time zone.
As far as the 2024-25 NHL season goes, Dustin Wolf couldn't find a better Cinderella story for himself. Already in the Calder Trophy running behind burgeoning superstar Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, Wolf has been the foundation of the Calgary Flames' playoff hopes this campaign.
The huge difference between players like Celebrini and Wolf is the simple fact that Macklin Celebrini was expected to be a star for the Sharks immediately given his first selection in the 2024 NHL draft. For Dustin Wolf, the road was a bit more winding to the NHL as he was drafted no less than 219th in the 2019 NHL draft.
After paying his dues in the Western Hockey League and then for a number of seasons in the AHL, Wolf finally got his chance last season with the Flames and appeared in 17 games with the big club. With the departure of starting netminder Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils after last season, the writing was essentially on the wal that Dustin Wolf, for all intents and purposes, is the man in Calgary set to defend the pipes on a nightly basis with Dan Vladar as the backup tandem.
As Wolf's fortunes go, so does the Flames' playoff hopes
One of the primary reasons that the Calgary Flames this late in the regular season are still in playoff contention is the simple fact that Dustin Wolf has built himself as the anchor for this franchise. Calgary isn't home to any NHL "superstars" but a lot of good, decent hockey players who seem to be rallying around the leadership of their rookie Californian goaltender.
With a 23-14-5 overall record and a solid .911 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average, Wolf is not only in the running for the Calder Trophy but may also be discussed by pundits for the Vezina Trophy for top goalie as well this season. Regardless of whether or not the Flames make the playoffs this season, the presence and play of Dustin Wolf will pay off for this organization for years to come.