Flames may have new trading partner for Dan Vladar
While there has been a lot of Calgary Flames trade speculation this off-season, one player that has flown under the radar a bit is Dan Vladar. The 26-year-old is set to enter the first year of a two-year, $4.4 million extension, but could be moved in the near future given the emergence of goaltending prospect Dustin Wolf.
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The Flames by no means want to give Vladar away for nothing, but they need to do everything in their power to make sure Wolf is in the NHL this season, as he has the potential to make it to the American Hockey League (AHL) level. But there is nothing left to prove. , Although Vladar’s 2.83 goals-against average (GAA) as well as his .895 save percentage (SV%) last season do not reflect this, he is a capable backup netminder at the NHL level, with the potential to still develop further. Is. If he is put on the market, teams will show interest, and as luck would have it, a new team is looking to add a goaltender before the 2023-24 season begins.
Avalanche feared without Francouz
As first reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the Colorado Avalanche may need to find a short-term replacement for Pavel Francouz. The 33-year-old had abductor surgery this off-season and it looks like he will miss some time, although how long he might be out is still up in the air.
Francois spent three seasons as the Avalanche’s backup netminder. He appeared in 16 games last season, posting a .915 SV% and 8-7-1 record with a 2.61 GAA. He has played a total of 73 games with the Avalanche and has a strong 2.49 GAA and .919 SV%.
Pavel Francouz, Colorado Avalanche (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Francois figures to suggest that him going to Vladivostok would be a downgrade for the Avalanche, but that may not be the case. How strong a team the Avs have been over the years has been greatly helped by their goaltenders’ statistics. Philipp Grubauer and Darcy Kuemper have both seen their numbers decline since leaving the organization, while Alexander Georgiev’s numbers have improved significantly since joining the Avs last season.
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While it remains to be seen how long Francouz remains out of the lineup, the fact that the Avalanche are considering a trade for another goaltender suggests it may take some time for him to get back into the crease. . If that happens, he will be a candidate for long-term injured reserve (LTIR), and his $2 million cap hit will not count against the Avalanche’s maximum salary cap. This would allow Vladar to be brought in, as he only makes $200,000 more.
Flames have potential comeback options
What the Avalanche have to give up in return really depends on how badly Flames general manager Craig Conroy wants Wolf in the Flames’ lineup this season. The Avs have a first-round pick in next year’s draft, but nothing after that until the fourth round. They’re certainly not going to make the first move for Vladar, and it seems unlikely that Conroy would be willing to settle for just the fourth spot.
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Given that the Flames are eager to change things up this coming season, Conroy may be more interested in a roster player who can help the team now rather than a pick. This could lead to interest in a player like Logan O’Connor. The 27-year-old is a staunch winger who has a team-friendly $1.05 million cap hit for the next two seasons.
Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames (Amy Irwin/The Hockey Writers)
Another man who might catch their attention is Ben Mayer. The 24-year-old can play both center and wing, and was able to play 39 games with the Avalanche last season with an additional six in the playoffs. He is not as assured as O’Connor, but is still growing as a player.
Regardless of the returns, Conroy should consider calling up the Avs. Not only is Vlad likely to receive assets in return, but moving him would open the way for Wolf to spend the entire 2023-24 season on the Flames roster. From the AVS’ point of view, they will get a reliable temporary replacement at an affordable price. This is the kind of deal that can prove to be a win-win for both parties.
Source: thehockeywriters.com