Todd Cordell: Flames prospect Dustin Wolf named WHL Goaltender of the Year

If he has a strong training camp, is there any chance he could start the year in the NHL as Rittich's backup? If he was to be the backup of someone playing 70 games and so essentially warming the bench, I'd say straight to the AHL for his development, but playing 25-30 games in the NHL as a backup might be good for him.

And since he'll be making only 800K, we might not really have a choice.....

If he has a strong training camp, is there any chance he could start the year in the NHL as Rittich's backup? If he was to be the backup of someone playing 70 games and so essentially warming the bench, I'd say straight to the AHL for his development, but playing 25-30 games in the NHL as a backup might be good for him.

And since he'll be making only 800K, we might not really have a choice.....
- redseerpf

There's zero chance he's in the NHL next year unless the Flames are trying to tank and want to make sure they maintain their streak of ruining all goalie prospects.

The Flames have no idea what they have in Wolf yet because junior hockey shows you almost nothing about how good a pro a goalie will be. If you look at the Del Wilson winners, there are a handful of names that turned into pros, but most of them were never seen again.

Have you already forgotten how much of a stud, can't miss prospect Parsons looked like in junior?

The likely scenario for Wolf is it takes a couple years to figure out if he has a future as a pro and then a couple more after that before he's in the league in any capacity.

There's zero chance he's in the NHL next year unless the Flames are trying to tank and want to make sure they maintain their streak of ruining all goalie prospects.

The Flames have no idea what they have in Wolf yet because junior hockey shows you almost nothing about how good a pro a goalie will be. If you look at the Del Wilson winners, there are a handful of names that turned into pros, but most of them were never seen again.

Have you already forgotten how much of a stud, can't miss prospect Parsons looked like in junior?

The likely scenario for Wolf is it takes a couple years to figure out if he has a future as a pro and then a couple more after that before he's in the league in any capacity.
- Hunkulese

1. I was only asking a question for the sake of conversation. Take a deep breath.

2. I specified "if he has a strong training camp". Not like I implied he was going to be handed the spot.

1. I was only asking a question for the sake of conversation. Take a deep breath.

2. I specified "if he has a strong training camp". Not like I implied he was going to be handed the spot.
- redseerpf

You were asking for the sake conversation but don't want to have a conversation about it. Got it.

I’ll be curious to see if we implement a similar strategy going into this draft. Two guys to keep an eye on are dylan Garand of Kamloops and Brett brochu from London.

Both goalies finished top 10 across the CHL in both GAA and SV% but due to their lack of size are projected to either be a late round pick or not get drafted at all.

I’ll be curious to see if we implement a similar strategy going into this draft. Two guys to keep an eye on are dylan Garand of Kamloops and Brett brochu from London.

Both goalies finished top 10 across the CHL in both GAA and SV% but due to their lack of size are projected to either be a late round pick or not get drafted at all.
- RedC21

I hope so. Always pick a goaltender in the 7th round.

You were asking for the sake conversation but don't want to have a conversation about it. Got it.
- Hunkulese

Do you ever think its not what you say but how you say it that irks just about everyone?
Food for thought...

If he has a strong training camp, is there any chance he could start the year in the NHL as Rittich's backup? If he was to be the backup of someone playing 70 games and so essentially warming the bench, I'd say straight to the AHL for his development, but playing 25-30 games in the NHL as a backup might be good for him.

And since he'll be making only 800K, we might not really have a choice.....
- redseerpf

Not a chance. No point in rushing him into the NHL worst idea possible for developing goalies. Let him dominate the WHL again and go on a mem cup run, play in the world juniors etc.

Not a chance. No point in rushing him into the NHL worst idea possible for developing goalies. Let him dominate the WHL again and go on a mem cup run, play in the world juniors etc.
- FLAM3SFAN

Playing in the WHL again would be pointless. He's been tender of the year two years in a row. Keeping him in the whl would actually be ruining his development.

Using him as Rittich's backup for 20-25 games wouldn't be rushing him. You obviously don't throw him to the wolves in hard games, you pick them carefully. And you can still loan him to Team Canada for the WJHC.

Do you ever think its not what you say but how you say it that irks just about everyone?
Food for thought...
- geta02it

☝️

Playing in the WHL again would be pointless. He's been tender of the year two years in a row. Keeping him in the whl would actually be ruining his development.

Using him as Rittich's backup for 20-25 games wouldn't be rushing him. You obviously don't throw him to the wolves in hard games, you pick them carefully. And you can still loan him to Team Canada for the WJHC.
- redseerpf

If you have a backup that you have to pick games carefully for, he shouldn't be a backup in the NHL, especially not on a contending team. It takes a generational talent to go from junior hockey to the NHL. Wolf isn't that.

Goalies don't develop as backups. The number one thing a goalie needs to develop is game action. Has there ever been a goalie who went from junior immediately to a backup role who was able to transition to a starter?

Has there ever been a goalie who went from junior immediately to a backup role who was able to transition to a starter?
- Hunkulese

Marc-André Fleury. Carey Price. Steve Mason. Carter Hart.

That's on the top of my head. I'm sure a little 5 minutes on google would do even more wonders.

Marc-André Fleury. Carey Price. Steve Mason. Carter Hart.

That's on the top of my head. I'm sure a little 5 minutes on google would do even more wonders.
- redseerpf

Maybe use those 5 minutes on Google to see that none of the goalies you mentioned went from junior to a backup role. You also mentioned 2.5 generational talent goalies. Mason is the only one even remotely close to being in a similar situation to Wolf and he played in 60 games as a rookie and then his career was kind of a disaster after that.

So if you think Wolf is destined to be a Hall of Famer and ready for at least 40 starts next year, sure he can play for the Flames.

Playing in the WHL again would be pointless. He's been tender of the year two years in a row. Keeping him in the whl would actually be ruining his development.

Using him as Rittich's backup for 20-25 games wouldn't be rushing him. You obviously don't throw him to the wolves in hard games, you pick them carefully. And you can still loan him to Team Canada for the WJHC.
- redseerpf

He was goalie of the year one year in a row. Carter Hart won it three years in a row, and his development's doing alright.

Likely starter of Team USA? Did Spencer Knight die or something?