Calgary Flames goalkeeper Dan Vladar has 4 teams to find bigger roles – Hockey writer – Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames’ back-up goalkeeper Dan Vladar did his best to bring him back to the contract, but has officially chosen to test the free agent market. The 27-year-old is very aware that staying in Calgary will see him play Dustin Wolf as second place, and he is looking to open up the market, hoping to find a bigger role.
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Although Vladal’s professional numbers aren’t exciting, there are always some teams in the NHL who want to improve their goalkeeper. Whether Vladar can help remains to be seen, but it is not shocking to see another team roll dice at him. Having said that, here are four teams that can offer him a bigger role.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers could not return it in the goalkeeper duo in their third year, right? After a disappointing playoff playoff year ago, the Oilers chose the duo of Skinner and Calvin Pickard in 2024-25. Although they are not the main problem, neither has enough benefits to help the Oilers achieve their ultimate goal.
Most people hope that if they do change the goalkeeper, they will get the real first place, and Vladar is not. That said, if they just wanted to switch things up and believe Vladal had at least upgraded Skinner, it might make sense to bring him in.
Columbus blue jacket
The Columbus Blue Jackets need goalkeepers as they ship backup Daniil Tarasov to the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Now, they’re all Elvis Merzlikins left, who has really struggled in recent seasons. If the blue jackets show interest, they might be the best chance for Vladar, not just more time to play, but to be a digital interneter.
Blue Jackets are expected to have some big fluctuations in the free agent market this year, so their targets may be higher than Vladal. That said, there is no top goalkeeper to compete for, so Vladal will likely get some consideration. From his point of view, adding a blue jacket makes sense in the world.
Pittsburgh Penguin
The Pittsburgh Penguins desperately need the help of the goalkeeper. They were forced to bury $5.375 million goalkeepers in the American Hockey League (AHL) in part of the 2024-25 season, instead opting for a duo with Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist.
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Blomqvist doesn’t look out of reach in the 2024-25 NHL action, and Nedeljkovic is disappointed. Maybe they just hope Jarry rebounds, but his name seems impossible in the midst of trade rumors. But it doesn’t make sense to enter reconstruction, sign or trade orders for high-paying high-end network machines. Instead, they might consider signing someone like Vladar with Nedeljkovic.
Philadelphia Flyer
The Philadelphia Flyers is another team that needs goalkeeper help next season and beyond. Samuel Ersson didn’t start quality at all, and Ivan Fedotov’s statistics show that he might not even be ruled as an NHL-level backup.
The flyer needs to improve greatly in the crease, and like a blue coat, the goal may be higher than the goalkeeper with Vladal’s identity. That said, if they can’t land the big fish they want, they’ll likely be gambling on the current flame goalkeeper, hoping he can continue to improve his game.
Vladar doesn’t have many options
While these four teams may give Vladal more chances to play, no one else is there. The truth is, what he did wasn’t showing off his own substitute, not at the NHL level, and he didn’t even thrive in the role. That said, a bigger opportunity, perhaps along with one of these four teams, could lead him to prove to the world that he has the ability to be a digital goalkeeper.
