Dan Vladar earns much-deserved recognition after breakout season

It was quite a season for Dan Vladar. Having never been a starting goaltender in the league, he took the Flyers job and ran with it. He was easily the team's MVP and was a large reason they broke their five-year playoff drought. And with his breakout season, Vladar earned some national recognition.

The NHL Network runs a series every offseason where they rank the best players right now at each position. And it is important to note that it's not necessarily looking at entire careers, but primarily the previous season. Vladar found himself on that list for goaltenders, landing in the eighth spot.

The only two below him on the list were Jesper Wallstedt and Jakub Dobes. With many of the names above him being goaltenders who are routinely some of the best in the league, it's a nice bit of recognition for Vladar after what he did for the Flyers last season. This was also on the heels of Vladar earning some Vezina votes, finishing sixth in voting.

Vladar proved he belongs among the best goaltenders in the league

All in all, Vladar came into this season as a relative unknown among tested goaltenders. His last season with the Flames was the first time he had appeared in 30 games. And his numbers didn't necessarily suggest that he was capable of taking the reins in net. But with the Flyers needing a better answer to solve their continuous goaltending woes, Vladar was given a chance.

And he passed the test with flying colors. He finished third in goals-against-average (2.42) among goaltenders who appeared in at least 30 games. His .906 save percentage was 16th, but considering he averaged an .895 SV% coming in, that number is still impressive. Vladar's raw numbers paint an even brighter picture. His goals saved above expected (12.94) placed him 10th in the league, but fourth (21.02) if you're only looking at even strength.

Vladar turned it up in the playoffs, placing second at even strength with a 5.81 GSAA and first at all strengths with a 5.50 GSAA. His overall numbers had him first with a .922 SV% among goaltenders who played at least five games. His 2.18 GAA and two shutouts were second in the league.

His play also nearly earned him the top spot on the NHL's list of saves of the season.

The expectations will be raised for both Vladar and the Flyers. The organization committed to the Czech goaltender after signing him to a five-year extension with one more year remaining on his current contract. They could have let the next year play out and let the chips fall where they may. It can be risky to sign an almost 30-year-old goaltender to that kind of contract with a small sample size.

But the flip side of that was that Vladar posted similar, or even better, numbers next season, and his contract demands are even higher. While the Flyers shored up their backup position with the acquisition of Joseph Woll, they aren't in a situation where any of their young goaltenders are ready to make the leap. This contract allows someone like Carson Bjarnason to continue developing, and it gives Yegor Zavragin time to get even stronger in the KHL.

Vladar rightfully earned some national attention after the season he put on for the Flyers. Now he has to back that up and come into this season with the same kind of confidence.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow