Team Wolf: Flames' Rookie Goalie Making Case For Calder Trophy

With an offense that’s sputtering along at a paltry 2.70 goals per game and a power play that ranks in the bottom half of the league, the Calgary Flames have remained in the playoff hunt thanks in large part to one individual: rookie goalie Dustin Wolf.

The 23-year-old Wolf holds a record of 18-7-2 in 27 starts this season and has put himself in the conversation for the Calder Trophy. This is undoubtedly so, because his record is one of the best amongst all NHL goalies this season, and the best among the league's rookie netminders.

He currently has an impressive .916 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average. It can be noted that Wolf’s GAA is lower than the Flames’ goals scored per game, further supporting the statement that he has almost singlehandedly kept Calgary afloat.

What stands out about Wolf is that he was the fourth-last pick in the 2019 NHL draft – 214th overall – and the last of 22 goalies to be selected. The fact that Wolf has played more games than all but two of those goalies alone is almost Calder-worthy on its own.

There have been three goalie Calder winners in the 21st century: Steve Mason (2008-09), Andrew Raycroft (2003-04) and Evgeni Nabokov (2000-01), all of whom have set the bar for Wolf.

But given how much of a rarity it is for goaltenders to win the Calder, it is safe to say the bar may be at a rather challenging height for the undersized netminder.

It also doesn’t help that other rookies – namely San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini, Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov and Montreal’s Lane Hutson – have been putting on a show in their own bids for the Calder. That is heavy competition.

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Wolf fans can keep their faith alive seeing that the former WHL Everett Silvertip has gone against the odds before and come out on top, winning the AHL’s MVP award with the Calgary Wranglers in 2022-23. He was the first goalie to win the award since Jason LaBarbera in 2003-04. (Ironically, LaBarbera is currently Wolf’s goaltending coach in Calgary.)

Regardless of the outcome, one thing is for sure: the sky is the limit for Dustin Wolf.

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