Goaltender Dustin Wolf has signed a long-term extension with the Calgary Flames, committing to the NHL club for seven years with an average annual value of $7.5 million, totaling $52.5 million. The announcement was made on Tuesday, cementing Wolf`s future in Calgary.
“I think it sends a good message to everybody. People want to be in Calgary and believe that we have a chance to win here,” Flames general manager Craig Conroy stated after the signing, according to Sportsnet`s Eric Francis.
Reports from Sportsnet`s Pat Steinberg indicate that Wolf`s new contract includes a 10-team no-trade list, which will be active for the final five years of the agreement.
Wolf, 24, stepped into a pivotal role as Calgary`s primary goaltender after Jacob Markstrom was traded to the New Jersey Devils in June 2024. This followed an initial season in 2023-24 where he played 17 games for the Flames. Seizing the opportunity, Wolf delivered an impressive performance, achieving a 29-16-8 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. His standout season earned him a nomination as a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL`s rookie of the year, as the Flames surprisingly contended for a playoff spot until the very end of the campaign.
The California-born netminder has experienced a remarkable ascent since being a seventh-round pick (214th overall) by Calgary in the 2019 NHL Draft. Before his NHL tenure, Wolf excelled in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips, where he was named CHL Goaltender of the Year in 2020. Standing six feet tall, he then continued to put up exceptional numbers in the AHL, earning the title of the league`s top goaltender in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, and also securing the MVP award in the latter season.
A Home in Calgary
Wolf has openly expressed his fondness for Calgary and its community.
“Yeah, I think it’s a great city. The fans are great,” Wolf shared on Monday in Henderson, Nevada, during a recording of the “32 Thoughts” podcast with Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. “It’s a big city that has a small-town feel. Everyone kind of knows everyone. You cross paths with one person, then you know another. Next thing you know, you’re connected with other people in the city. And obviously, we have a new building coming in two summers here. It’s an exciting time.”
He has quickly become a fan favorite, further endearing himself to the city by going viral for wearing a Shania Twain T-shirt to the chuckwagon races during this summer’s Stampede. Despite his unexpected late draft position in 2019, Wolf reflects positively on his journey with the Flames.
“I was very thankful for them to take a swing. I didn’t plan on sitting for that long,” Wolf remarked. “I’m glad Calgary took a swing. I love the city. I love everything about it.”
