Flames’ Dan Vladar on track to be healthy in time for 2024-25 training camp

According to Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy, goaltender Dan Vladar should be healthy and back to full strength ahead of training camp next season.

Vladar, 26, underwent hip surgery back in March and it’s common for the recovery time to be in the 4-6 month mark. Vladar is coming off a down season where he posted a 8-9-2 record, along with a 3.62 goals against average and .882 save percentage. It was his worst statistical season of his career.

With Jacob Markstrom recently dealt to New Jersey, Vladar is in line to battle it out with youngster Dustin Wolf for the starter’s crease in Calgary. Wolf is one of the Flames’ top prospects and has been lights out at the American Hockey League level, but unfortunately for the Flames, his production hasn’t quite translated yet to NHL results. Wolf saw 17 games of action last season in Calgary and posted a 7-7-1 record.

Vladar, on the other hand, has one season left on his contract at $2.2 million, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 season. There’s no doubt he’d like to put the surgery behind him and start fresh come training camp in September. With Markstrom out of the picture, there’s certainly a giant opportunity for him to take the starter’s job and run with it.

Calgary finished last season with a 38-39-5 record, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs by 17 points in the Western Conference and ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals against per game. Conroy and the company are hopeful that a healthy Vladar and a bigger role for Wolf can help turn things around for the Flames.