Major update from the Flames on goalie Jacob Markstrom

The Calgary Flames announced earlier today that goaltender Jacob Markstrom will be out of the team's lineup week to week with a broken finger.

In a corresponding move, the team has recalled goaltender Dustin Wolf from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers.

The 33 year old Markstrom is 6-8-2 in 16 games with the Flames so far this season, sporting a 2.94 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. Meanwhile, Wolf has been on fire (pun intended) for the Wrangers this season. The 22 year old reigning AHL goalie of the year has 10 wins in 13 games with a sparking 2.50 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.

Wolf will split time with veteran back up Dan Vladar, but if he cements himself as a regular NHL starter during Markstrom's absence then GM Craig Conroy will have some interesting decisions to make.

In many ways, Markstrom's injury opens the door for Wolf much like how Markstrom's injury with the Vancouver Canucks back in 2020 opened the door for Thatcher Demko. At the time Demko was a 22 year old prospect with some truly staggering accomplishments at the AHL level. Ditto for Wolf. Markstrom went down with injury, Demko stepped into the full-time role and truly hasn't looked back. He's now seen as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL just a few years later at age 27. The path is there for Wolf to follow, but it'll be up to him to take advantage of the opportunity.

As for the Flames, the balance of their season may lie in the results that they get during Markstrom's absence. The Flames currently sport a 10-11-3 record and are currently three points back of the final Wild Card playoff spot in the NHL's Western Conference. This is a team that has the skill and the talent to get back into the race, but they need to turn their season around NOW and they're counting on the Wolf and Vladar tandem to get them back into the mix.

Can they do it? Or will GM Conroy be forced to start dismantling his roster?