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4 free-agent options for Calgary Flames to replace Dan Vladar

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Jun 26 2025, 8:43 pm
4 free-agent options for Calgary Flames to replace Dan Vladar
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images

Barring a last-minute change of heart, Dan Vladar’s time with the Calgary Flames has come to an end.

It had been speculated that Vladar may elect to hit the free-agent market in hopes of chasing down a starting role. That wasn’t going to be the case for the Flames, who have handed the reins to Dustin Wolf for the foreseeable future.

Speaking with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis recently, GM Craig Conroy confirmed that Vladar will indeed hit the market in hopes of finding more playing opportunities elsewhere.

What this means is that the Flames will be in search of a new back up goalie for the 2025-26 season. While Devin Cooley is under contract, his struggles in the AHL throughout the second half of the 2024-25 campaign suggest the Flames are better off looking elsewhere.

Here’s a look at a few pending UFA’s that would work as reasonable fits for the 2025-26 campaign and perhaps beyond.

1. Ville Husso

Ville Husso is in desperate need of building his career back up after an ugly stint with the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old was able to land a lucrative $14.25 million deal with the Red Wings in 2022 thanks to a breakout season with the St. Louis Blues. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

Husso wound up spending the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL and was traded near the deadline to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. While his recent track record hasn’t been great, however, he would come cheap, and has shown signs of how good he can be in the past. This would be a low-cost deal that could wind up being a bargain for the Flames.

2. Jake Allen

If the Flames prefer to go a more reliable route, Jake Allen is the guy. The 34-year-old served as the starting goalie for the St. Louis Blues early in his career, but has since become more of a tandem/back up netminder.

Allen is a well-above average back up, which would result in his salary being significantly higher than the likes of Husso. That said, he can also be relied upon more, and could step in to carry the load whenever needed if Wolf were to take a step backward in his sophomore season.

3. Anton Forsberg

Anton Forsberg is about as average of a back up goalie as you can think of. The 32-year-old has logged 190 games throughout his NHL career, compiling a 3.04 GAA along with a .904 SV% and a 74-81-14 record.

Forsberg is coming off a three-year deal that carried a cap hit of $2.75 million. It’s also worth noting that the deal was signed after a season in which he had a career-high .917 SV%. His numbers have dropped since, which suggests his next deal will not only come in at a lower dollar figure, but perhaps lower term as well.

4. David Rittich

Should the Flames want a more familiar face to entrust to back up Wolf, what better option than David Rittich? Big Save Dave spent four seasons with the Flames from 2017 to 2021, and has since spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, and LA Kings.

Rittich was outstanding for the Kings in 2023-24, but saw his numbers fall dramatically in 2024-25, posting a disappointing 2.81 GAA and a .887 SV%. He certainly isn’t the best back up option on the market, but would come in at a very cheap price. His expiring contract saw him carrying a cap hit of just $1 million.

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