Flame News & Rumors: Vladal, Kirkland, Hascar, etc. – Hockey Writer – Calgary Flame
In this version of Calgary Fire News and Rumors, Dan Vladar will not return to the organization in the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, Prospect Matvei Gridin was named the Quebec Navy Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Rookie of the Year. In other news, head coach Ryan Huska finished 11th in the Jack Adams Award vote. Last but not least, it sounds like Flames and Justin Kirkland are interested in extensions.
Vladal may test free agents
Once their 2024-25 season is over, one of the immediate problems facing the Flames is the future of Dan Vladar. The 27-year-old goalkeeper has been a backup for the organization for the past four seasons, but will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) during the offseason.
Vladal has been pretty underperformed in his NHL career so far, with an average of 2.98 goals per game (GAA) on 105 appearances. Still, it seems he is strongly considering heading to the free agent market for more game time.
“The flame is preparing for his open market,” Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg said recently. Flames speak. “Flame has put the offer on Dan Vladar’s table and no consensus has been reached so far.”
If Vladar does go to free agents, the Flames will need to find other options to support Dustin Wolf next season. Devin Cooley is a potential in-house solution, he released a 2.94 GAA with the Calgary Wrangler in 2024-25 and showed up with the .904 SV%. He was locked on stock in 2025-26 with a block of $775,000.
Gritine named QMJHL Rookie of the Year
In Matvei Gridin, the flames seem to have real prospects. The 19-year-old is the second of two first-round picks in 2024 and won the 28th place. In the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, he scored 38 goals and 83 points in 60 games.
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Last season, Gridin chose to continue his junior high school career in QMJHL and continue his upward trajectory. In 56 games, he scored a team lead with 36 goals and 79 points in his game against Shavenigan’s sexual cataracts. As a result, he won the Sidney Crosby trophy and won the league’s best performing rookie.
Huska wins Jack Adams vote
Entering the 2024-25 season, the Flames are expected to be one of the bottom teams in the NHL. They have just entered a reorganization era and are expected to have a huge fight in the summer after traded several veterans later in the 2023-24 season. Instead, they missed the playoffs only.
Head coach Ryan Huska played a big role in this regard as he was able to get his team in a defensive priority. This is not the sexiest style, but it is a necessary condition for the success of the flame. Many people in the league have noticed it, as Huscar won four votes in the Jack Adams Award, which is enough to see him rank 11th in the head coach.
Flame and Kirkland are interested in expanding
It felt like a long time ago, it was hard to remember that it was still only in the past season, and Justin Kirkland quickly saw himself becoming a fan favorite in Calgary. The 28-year-old was finally able to take a full-time role in the NHL, and then the ACL’s tears ended his season in early December.
Kirkland will be UFA in less than a month, although his return to the organization (perhaps their fourth-tier center) doesn’t seem to be without problems. The 28-year-old recorded 2 goals and 8 points in 21 games in the Flames last season.
Related: Fire News & Rumors: Zary, Prosvetov, Andersson, etc.
“Craig Conroy talks about people who want to be a member of the Calgary Flame, and I can tell you Kirkland wants to be a member of the Flame,” Steinberg said. Flames speak. “The flame wants him to keep it.”
Looking forward to the flame
The biggest thing to keep an eye on Flames fans for the time being is Rasmus Andersson, who can trade in the draft. In addition to Andersson, note that these two pending UFAs, as well as the remaining few restricted free agents (RFAs), should make the next few weeks, and even months.
