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The NHL’s preseason is in full swing and gamers are getting their first style {of professional} competitors for the 12 months. Of course, most rosters have younger gamers battling for spots, however many people use the chance to shake off the rust and get again into recreation form. Unfortunately, as with all high-level sport, as quickly as play begins the potential for harm does as effectively.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning, this has come full swing. Their beginning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has simply recently undergone again surgical procedure to restore a lumbar disc herniation and can miss at the very least the primary two months of the common season. This is a large blow as he has lengthy been thought-about a high three-to-five goalie within the league and is closely leaned on every season by the Lightning. Now the workforce has solely backup Jonas Johansson, prospect Hugo Alnefelt, and journeyman Matt Tomkins at their disposal.
This is the place the Calgary Flames are available. They at present discover themselves within the actual reverse state of affairs; they’ve too many NHL-calibre goaltenders. 33-year-old Jacob Markstrom occupies the beginning position, 26-year-old Dan Vladar is the backup, and ready within the wings is back-to-back American Hockey League (AHL) Goalie of the Year Dustin Wolf. Wolf is able to make the transition to the Flames however has no area to take action. Sure, the Flames may roll with three goalies because it has been finished earlier than. However, this course of is painful and makes it troublesome to get all concerned netminders satisfactory taking part in time. A commerce makes extra sense. Wolf is the Flames’ goalie of the long run and Markstrom makes a whopping $6 million per 12 months which is subsequent to unattainable to commerce, making Vladar the odd man out. Here is why Vladar to the Lightning is probably the most logical.
Lightning Fill the Gap
Vladar is a really adept add and would complement the Lightning’s crease fairly effectively. A 3rd-round collection of the Boston Bruins again in 2015, he was satirically acquired by the Flames in 2021 for a third-round choose. In 2022-23, he made a career-high 27 appearances and had a 14-6-5 report to indicate for it. In a number of stretches of the Flames’ season, Markstrom struggled and Vladar took over, retaining the workforce within the thick of issues with comparatively stable play. His underlying numbers aren’t unbelievable, with a profession 2.85 goals-against common (GAA) and a .899 save share (SV%), however he simply appears to make well timed saves and win video games (29 in 55 profession appearances). Vladar would instantly turn into the Lightning’s greatest goalie with “Vasy” on the shelf.
Johansson is an unproven commodity, particularly if tasked with a starter’s workload. The 28-year-old has solely appeared in 35 profession matches within the NHL, with an 11-13-4 report to associate with a 3.32 GAA and a .887 SV%. Alnefelt has performed one NHL recreation wherein he surrendered three targets on simply ten photographs, and Tomkins has by no means performed within the huge leagues. The Lightning merely can’t depend on the trio to maintain them afloat for 2 complete months in an uber-competitive Atlantic Division. Organizations such because the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, amongst others, added extra items and shall be trying to overtake groups just like the Lightning, who’ve made the playoffs seven years consecutively.
Make Way for Wolf
At simply 22 years of age, Wolf has dominated the AHL, achieved every little thing as an beginner, and is broadly thought-about the very best skilled goalie outdoors of the NHL. He was the recipient of the AHL’s MVP award final season after main the league in wins, shutouts, GAA, and SV%. The immensely proficient younger man acquired to make his NHL debut within the comparatively meaningless season finale final season in opposition to the San Jose Sharks. His workforce had already been eradicated from playoff competition and have been overwhelmingly distraught, however Wolf nonetheless made probably the most of it, stopping 23 of 24 photographs in a 3-1 victory.
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Wolf is within the ultimate 12 months of his entry-level contract and can doubtless need to get extra of a style of the present earlier than locking in long-term with the Flames. He has confirmed to be too good for the AHL and due to this fact the subsequent rational transfer is for him to be an NHL backup. Moving out Vladar provides him mentioned alternative and permits him to spend high quality time studying from a former Vezina Trophy candidate in Markstrom. If all goes effectively, Wolf will accumulate an increasing number of taking part in time and ultimately swap roles with Markstrom over time.
Money is Tight; Potential Return
Unfortunately for each groups, out there capital is scarce. The Lightning at present have negative-$73,000 in cap area, accounting for the contract of Brent Seabrook happening long-term injured reserve (LTIR), whereas the Flames have negative-$213,000. However, defenseman Oliver Kylington was declared to be out of coaching camp and will as soon as once more be out for a while as he was final season. In addition, younger ahead Jakob Pelletier was just lately hit into the boards awkwardly in a preseason recreation in opposition to the Seattle Kraken. He is slated to bear shoulder surgical procedure and shall be out indefinitely. Those two contracts may doubtlessly be placed on LTIR to provide the Flames area for trades, and Vasilevskiy happening LTIR will repair the issue for the Lightning.
With a little bit of wage cap retention on behalf of the Flames, the Lightning may doubtlessly maintain Vladar round when Vasilevskiy inevitably returns as effectively. New basic supervisor Craig Conroy might not be so eager to take action nonetheless, and the Lightning could must flip one in every of Vladar or Johansson in a subsequent deal to stay beneath the cap. Also, the Flames ought to get a choose and a serviceable participant for his or her efforts. The Lightning’s 2025 second-rounder or 2024 third may do the trick alongside somebody like defenseman Haydn Fleury. Fleury is on an affordable one-year deal and might be seventh defenseman or fast call-up from the minors. Therefore Vladar (retained or not) for Fleury and a second or third-round selection is our mock proposal.
Ultimately, the Lightning could elect to roll with what they’ve or attempt to get a less expensive, lesser-quality goaltender from one other group. Waivers shall be in full impact very quickly and they are able to scoop up a netminder with out shedding any property. However, in the event that they need to keep alive of their division and the Eastern Conference usually, they might must chew the bullet and get a extra family identify to assist out. This proposition offers the Lightning their man while additionally giving the Flames cap area, assistance on the backend, draft capital and a path for his or her goalie of the long run to succeed.
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