Markstrom trade analysis: Welcome to the NHL, Dustin Wolf

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This is an opportunity for Calgary’s goaltender-of-the-future to finally be their goaltender-of-right-now

Published Jun 19, 2024  •  Last updated 59 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

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It’s no knock on the outgoing goalie, but Calgary Flames fans should already be focused on another guy.

The Flames made a deal Wednesday with the Devils, announcing that workhorse netminder Jacob Markstrom — the starter at the Saddledome since 2021 — has been traded to New Jersey, ending months of speculation about a swap between the two sides.

In return for Markstrom, and an agreement to retain 31.25 percent of his remaining salary, the Flames received a top 10-protected first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and defenceman Kevin Bahl, who should immediately be a regular on the blueline in Calgary.

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They also open up a full-time roster spot for prized puck-stopping prospect Dustin Wolf.

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That is, perhaps from the Flames’ perspective, the best part.

It’s past time for Wolf, who turned 23 in April, to have a permanent spot in the home locker room at the Saddledome.

Wolf gained some valuable experience during the 2023-24 campaign, being tapped for a grand total of 14 starts at the top level. He capped his latest call-up with four consecutive victories, leaving little doubt that he is ready for primetime.

Sure, some will continue to insist that Wolf is too small to be an NHL stalwart, but we’re not betting against him.

Wednesday’s trade certainly won’t improve the Flames’ chances of earning a playoff invite next spring. The opposite, actually. Markstrom reinforced this past season that he is still among the NHL’s elite netminders. If not for his performance, Craig Conroy & Co. might be headed to Las Vegas next week with a top-5 selection in the 2024 NHL draft.

For that reason, many in Calgary were feeling a bit disappointed.

Some were hoping that Markstrom would stick around as the backbone for this retooling team. At 34, you can understand why he was angling for an opportunity to suit up for a could-be contender.

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When asked about his best memories in Calgary, he mentioned the birth of his son and then a dominant run in 2021-22, when the Flames rolled to a Pacific Division pennant with 50 wins. As he put it: “That’s a feeling I want to get back to.”

Others, meanwhile, were hoping for a bigger haul for one of Conroy’s best trade chips, such as New Jersey’s first-rounder this summer at No. 10 overall or one of their top-flight prospects. With one goal in 82 loggings with the Devils this past season, Dahl is much more a role player than an edge-of-your-seat sort.

Just don’t underestimate the part of the return that wasn’t listed in Wednesday’s press release — an opportunity for Calgary’s goaltender-of-the-future to finally be their goaltender-of-right-now. In limited showcases at the NHL level, Wolf has so far posted an 8-7 record with a 3.03 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Those numbers will improve as he gets more and more comfortable on the biggest stage.

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If training camp opened tomorrow, Wolf would be battling Dan Vladar for starting duties. (It’s a good thing that camp doesn’t open tomorrow, since Vladar is still recovering from hip surgery.)

While you want to be careful that one of your up-and-comers isn’t thrown to the … um … you know, there is nothing left for Wolf to prove with the AHL’s Wranglers. And if you’re committed to enduring the growing pains now so that you can reap the rewards later, the youth movement should apply to the crease, too.

So while Wednesday’s headline was a farewell to Markstrom, Wolf’s official welcome to the NHL also is a significant part of the story.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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