As we documented last week the Calgary Flames have had a very quiet offseason in bringing in new players. However, on Tuesday, they committed long term to their star goaltender, Dustin Wolf of Gilroy, California.
What was the contract?
The Flames signed Wolf to a seven year deal worth $52.5 million. This is a contract extension and will begin starting in the 2026-27 season. Wolf will be making $7.5 million starting next season, and that amount annually through to the 2032-33 season. Wolf’s contract this year and last season was $850,000.
Wolf’s statistics in 2024-25
Wolf had a record of 29 wins, 16 regulation losses, and eight losses in extra time with a goals against average of 2.64, save percentage of .910 and three shutouts. He also had three assists for three points, was on the NHL’s All-Rookie Team and was the Calder Trophy runner-up to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson of Holland, Michigan. What Wolf and Hutson have in common is they are both American born players on Canadian based teams.
Highest paid Flames goalie ever
According to Salim Valji of TSN, Wolf has become the highest paid Flames goaltender in franchise history. He will also be the 10th highest paid goalie in the NHL starting in the 2026-27 NHL season according to Joshua Serafini of thewincolumn.ca. The highest paid goalie in the NHL is Igor Shesterkin of Moscow, Russia, who is making $11.5 million.
Part of an all-California goaltending tandem in Calgary
Expected to backup Wolf for the Flames this season is Devin Cooley of Los Gatos, California. How rare is it that goaltenders come from the state of California? Well, there have only been five in NHL history. The other three are Thatcher Demko of San Diego (who is currently a netminder for the Vancouver Canucks), John Blue of Huntington Beach (played three seasons with the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres in the 1990s), and Collin Delia of Rancho Cucamonga (played five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and Canucks) from 2017 to 2023.
Highest paid California born NHL player
A lot of hockey fans connect Auston Matthews, the captain and center of the Toronto Maple Leafs, to the state of Arizona because that is where he was raised since being an infant. However, Matthews was born in San Ramon, California, and is the highest paid hockey player ever born in the state of California, as he is making $13.25 million per year.
