PHILADELPHIA — Dan Vladar wanted to remain a Calgary Flame and had every intention of doing so.
After the NHLâ€s pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off, he started to realize that if he was ever going to get a shot at being a starting netminder in the NHL, it wasnâ€t going to be in Calgary.
“After the break, when I didnâ€t really get anything, I knew,†said the 28-year-old netminder from his New Jersey home.
“I was really focused on staying, and felt it was a great spot because of my teammates and buddies and Barbs (goalie coach Jason LaBarbera), who did an unbelievable job getting me to this moment.
“I think I made it really clear I really wanted to stay, but as the year went on, I just didnâ€t feel like it was the right thing for me.â€
Vladar opened last season shielding Dustin Wolf from the toughest of starts, splitting the crease as part of what started as an open competition.
It allowed Wolf to continue building enough confidence to the point that by late February, the 50-50 split between the two turned into a string in which Wolf started 20 of 27 games, carrying the club to their unlikely chase for a playoff spot.
The organization had all but officially anointed the then 23-year-old Wolf as the teamâ€s franchise goalie.
“I know who my partner is here,†said Vladar at his final media availability in Calgary.
“Wolfie, I think he is going to be a legend one day.â€
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Forever thankful to the organization for acquiring him from Boston and developing him into the player he is today, he insists there are no hard feelings.
“Thatâ€s the hockey world, thatâ€s the way it works out,†said Vladar.
“Iâ€m not mad or anything. I had four great years, and I still have buddies there for the rest of my life. I wish the city and the whole organization nothing but success.
“I miss my buddies, Barbs, and the culture there. The people in Calgary are close to the team, and they really love hockey there. Iâ€ll always miss that because thereâ€s nothing bigger than hockey in Calgary.â€
At age 27, he felt he owed it to himself to find a place where heâ€d have a better opportunity to challenge for a starterâ€s job somewhere.
He just didnâ€t know where.
When free agency opened July 1, his answer came quickly.
“I think there were seven or eight teams interested, but once Philly came it was really easy for me,†said Vladar.
“I did some research, and as soon as I heard they had interest, I knew I would love to come here.â€
Inking a two-year deal for $3.35 AAV, he immediately became the Flyers†highest-paid goalie, ahead of 26-year-old Samuel Ersson, who is in the last year of a contract paying him $1.45 million.
There were no promises that the starterâ€s job would be an open audition, but he knew heâ€d get a fair shake.
“I didnâ€t talk to the team, but I just kind of knew the opportunity was going to be bigger than it was in Calgary,†said Vladar, who has opened his time with the Flyers in spectacular fashion, sitting amongst league leaders with a 2.11 GAA and .924 save percentage.
“I wouldnâ€t say Iâ€m playing the best hockey of my life, but obviously I feel good. We are playing really well as a team, and the coaches are doing a really good job, which sets a really good mood in the locker room.
“Obviously, new team, new challenges, but from Day 1, everybody has been nothing but great to me. Itâ€s been a blast for me so far.â€
So good has Vladarâ€s start been, heâ€s forced himself into the middle of the Olympic conversation in Czechia, where a talented crew that includes Vitek Vanecek, Karel Vejmelka, Lukas Dostal, Jakub Dobes and Petr Mrazek will also be fighting for a spot.
“It would be a dream come true for me,†said Vladar, one of 50 players who attended his countryâ€s summer hockey gathering after the worlds.
“But at the same time, I know the competition is pretty good.â€
Competition is something Vladar is comfortable with, dating back to last seasonâ€s open battle between him and Wolf.
“That was a big thing for me heading into this season, that I had been in a similar situation last year, so I already knew what it was like,†he said.
“I was one year older and one year wiser going into the year.
“Itâ€s a long year, and Sam has been good to me, and I appreciate how the guys and the organization are treating me.â€Â Â
Vladar had hoped to get the start against Calgary Sunday in Philadelphia, but with the team playing back-to-back on the weekend, the priority was to have him start against the Leafs.
His fingers are crossed heâ€ll be tapped to start on New Yearâ€s Eve when his Flyers visit Calgary.
“I got to spend four years there, so I have a lot of cool and funny memories with the guys,†said the affable netminder, citing a list of eight Flames players he still keeps in touch with.
“It was hard for me to leave, but I think every single guy texted me when I signed on July 1, and they wished me luck, and that meant a lot to me.
“I miss it there, but life had to move on.â€
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