Former Bruins Goalie Might Be Joining Their Biggest Rival

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Austin Sabourin
June 8, 2023 (4:28 PM)

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According to Sportsnet's Eric Francis, there is speculation that goaltender Dan Vladar from the Calgary Flames could be between the pipes for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their opening game of the 2023-24 season.

While Flames' General Manager Brad Treliving has his focus on re-signing restricted free agent goaltender Ilya Samsonov, he is aware of Vladar's abilities and sees him as a potential fit for the Maple Leafs.

Vladar, who is 25 years old, appeared in 27 games for the Flames last season, achieving a 14-6-5 record with a 2.83 goals against average (GAA) and .895 save percentage. Serving primarily as the backup to Jakob Markstrom during his two seasons with the Flames, Vladar has accumulated 27 wins in 50 games.

Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager Craig Conroy faces several decisions regarding their goaltending situation moving forward.

The highly-regarded prospect, Dustin Wolf, has been exceptional in the American Hockey League over the past two seasons, boasting an impressive 75 wins in 102 regular-season games and knocking on the door of the National Hockey League.

Additionally, the Flames recently re-signed Oskar Dansk to a two-way contract, indicating that Conroy may need to make a move involving either Markstrom or Vladar this summer.

Vladar, a native of Prague, Czechia, is set to begin the first year of a two-year contract extension he signed in October, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $2.2 million.

Acquiring Vladar would be an attractive option for the Maple Leafs or other teams due to his manageable AAV, and it is likely that many general managers around the league would express interest in his services.

As seen on: Bladeofsteel