Dustin Wolf is giving the Calgary Flames everything they could have expected and more in his rookie season.
The 23-year-old, who has dominated the AHL the past three seasons, is quickly beginning to make a name for himself at the NHL level, having put up an impressive 2.36 goals against average (GAA) along with a .925 save percentage (SV%) and a 7-2-1 record.
Wolf carried on right where he left off following his first career shutout last Friday, kicking aside 28 of the 29 shots he faced in Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout win over the New York Islanders. To little surprise, he’s being rewarded for yet another stellar performance.
“He’s seeing the puck well, and I think he’s feeling really good about where he’s at,” head coach Ryan Huska said following today’s morning skate. “Keeping him going is something that makes sense for us. We know we’re going to get a good one out of him tonight.”
This will mark Wolf’s third straight start, a trend we have not yet seen from the Flames this season.
While Dan Vladar has been good in his own right, it’s been clear since the second that Jacob Markstrom was traded that the starting role was Wolf’s for the taking. There were questions as to how he would perform this season, given that he struggled at times during his brief 17-game stint in 2023-2024, but he’s quickly proven he’s more than ready for the NHL.
Tonight will serve as arguably Wolf’s best test to date, as he and his Flames teammates are set to take on a high-powered offence in the New York Rangers.
The Rangers have been viewed as a Stanley Cup contender for the last several seasons, and they are just that once again. Their 12-4-1 record has them seventh in NHL standings, while their 3.59 goals per game ranks fifth.
Should Wolf fare well tonight, there will be even more buzz surrounding his name in Calgary and throughout the entire NHL community. Though only November, many are already starting to throw his name in the Calder Trophy conversation, further proving just how good he’s been in the early going.
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