Despite the deja vu analogy, the 2024-25 Calgary Flames seem to be on a potential playoff run as the season heads into the final spring season stretch. With a 26-21-8 record and 60 total points, the Flames are just three points behind the second wild card holder Vancouver Canucks at the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
With the regular season resuming this coming weekend, the Flames have a legitimate chance at gaining ground on the Canucks. However, an upcoming grueling road schedule will test to see if Calgary truly is a contender or simply fade into the back of the Pacific Division at playoff crunch time.
Will Dustin Wolf stay as the Flames' primary goaltender during this playoff push?
Dustin Wolf looks to stay on track as the present and future of the Calgary Flames as the netminder in chief at the Saddledome. With a 19-11-3 overall record and a .912 save percentage, combined with a 2.63 goals against average, Wolf has entered the realm of consideration for the Calder Trophy as the top NHL rookie this season.
More importantly, Wolf has inspired confidence within the Flames' organization and his long-term presence in Calgary seems to be a lock at this point. There are signs, however, that Wolf has been overused protecting the pipes, and his recent four-game losing streak shows that he cannot carry the Calgary playoff hopes squarely on his shoulders.
Calgary may put backup goalie Dan Vladar on the trading block
With Dustin Wolf elevated to the everyday starting goalie, the Calgary Flames may be in a trading mood to send backup netminder Dan Vladar to any willing trade partners before the NHL trade deadline. Vladar is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) after this season and his two-year, $4.4 million dollar contract may be attractive for other teams to pick up as other NHL franchises scramble annually to find veteran goalies towards the end of the regular season.
In addition, top goaltender prospect Devin Cooley is making his presence known with the AHL Calgary Wranglers and Cooley's 18-9-3 record, along with his 2.31 goals against average and .924 save percentage screams for a promotion to the big club at any time. If and when Cooley does get the full call-up, it will be interesting to note that a Canadian NHL team will rely on two native California goaltenders to defend the pipes for them.
Calgary is the master of their own hockey destiny the remainder of this season.
Despite the analogies to last season's lat collapse, the Calgary Flames are still firing on most of their cylinders as the season resumes this weekend. With a solid goaltender and solid performances from the remaining lineup on the ice, the Flames are within striking distance of moving into a wild card position in the Western Conference.
The remaining 27 regular season games may seem like a long stretch but spring is just around the corner and so too are the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flames have the power to be in control of their own destiny at this point and have to make a business decision to stay on the ice come mid-April or watch the playoffs from the comfort of their living rooms.