The Philadelphia Flyers are finally back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Looking at last offseason, the Flyers made some big moves to try and get them out of their rebuild and into the playoffs The Trevor Zegras trade panned out perfectly for the Flyers. Rick Tocchet has been just the coach they were looking for to take the team to the next level. Then, there was the signing of Dan Vladar, their starting goaltender.
Flyers fans are well aware that goaltending has been a major issue for them, and has played a huge role in the team missing out on the playoffs. The Flyers targeted Vladar, who had been with the Calgary Flames the previous four seasons, to be their starter. On paper, it didn't seem like Vladar would be the answer, but he proved everyone wrong with his incredible play.
General manager Danny Briere recently appeared on "Love Philly" with PHLY Sports' Anthony Gargano and discussed their signing of Vladar. Briere gave credit to goaltending evaluators for studying Vladar and telling him that "this is the guy we want."
Dan Vladar has been great for the Flyers all year long.
— Anthony Gargano (@AnthonyLGargano) April 15, 2026
‘It wasn’t just me.. we have goaltending gurus who did the work and said, “This is the guy we want.
He’s been tremendous all year for us.. You wish that good things happen to good people.’”
- Danny Briere pic.twitter.com/KXHLRUlqPN
"It's not just me. We have a group of people, we have goaltending gurus, did the work, came to me and said 'this is the guy we want,'" said Briere. "You got to surround yourself with good people and I'm very fortunate, and that's how it happened with Dan Vladar. What a story he is. He's been tremendous all year for us and such a nice guy too..."
Danny Briere gives credit to Flyers evaluators for landing Dan Vladar last summer
Flyers fans will certainly be pushing for those "goaltending gurus" to be rewarded, considering Vladar has been lights out for them, especially after the Olympic break.
Briere brought up Vladar's clutch play, especially i the shootout win over the Hurricanes this past Monday. It said it reminded him of the 2010 regular season finale, where Brian Boucher helped the Flyers defeat the New York Rangers in the shootout to clinch their spot in the playoffs. As Flyers fans know all too well, they carried that momentum all the way to an Eastern Conference Championship and to the Stanley Cup Final. Flyers fans certainly hope that this performance from Vladar could lead to a similar run.
Vladar was brought in on a two-year, $6.7 million contract, and the deal looks like a bargain. In the October, Vladar put up a 1.67 goals allowed average, a .939 save percentage, and a 4-2-0 record in his first six starts with the team. Vladar did deal with the ebbs and flows of the season, but he still never averaged more than 3.00 goals allowed per game in each calendar month. But when you look at when it mattered the most for the Flyers, Vladar stepped up.
In the month of April, Vladar started in six games, where he allowed just 10 goals total, while stopping 117 of 127 shots faced. That resulted in five victories and a clinched playoff berth.
On the year, Vladar has a 2.42 goals allowed average, a .906 save percentage, and a 29-14-7 record to his credit. Due to his strong play and the fact that it helped the Flyers exceed the expectations of fans, media, and experts, he should get some consideration for the Vezina Trophy. Not to say he should win it, but just throw some votes his way.
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