Remember when the Flyers’ goalie situation was a total dumpster fire? Like, 14 months ago it was a huge problem, and now it looks like one of the brightest spots in the entire club. Seriously, the three goalies they had at the end of 2024-25 are all gone: Aleksei Kolosov is still in Lehigh Valley, Sam Ersson is over in Ottawa, and Ivan Fedotov went back to play in Russia. But now, it’s all about Dan Vladar, who absolutely killed it in his first year, and Joseph Woll, the credible backup GM Danny Briere snagged this summer.
Vladar Was The MVP, Period.
When the Flyers signed Vladar to a two-year deal, everyone figured he was just some average stopgap. The thought was he’d maybe keep the team afloat for a while, but slumps and hiccups were inevitable while they waited for prospects like Carson Bjarnason or Yegor Zavragin to step up. But Vladar clearly didn’t get that memo about being “mediocre.” He started the 2025-26 season strong, basically never slumped at all, and except for a two-week injury stint, he was easily the team’s most valuable player. We’re talking career highs in games played, starts, wins, saves, and goals-against average, all while tying his .906 save percentage from way back in 23 games with Calgary in 2021-22. The dude was clutch when they needed him most, especially down the stretch. He even looked solid in the opening round against Pittsburgh, only really running into trouble when they faced that unstoppable Cup-chasing Carolina club. Vladar was so sensational that Briere locked him down with a five-year, $5.5 million AAV extension this summer, probably saving a ton of money versus waiting until next year. The guy was almost too good to be true, but he was the real deal.
Can Vladar Keep It In The Ballpark?
So, what’s Vladar’s deal for this season? With a defensive structure that seemed to fit him perfectly last year, you don’t expect much to change on that side of the puck. He’s coming into this season like a lot of other Flyers: had a better-than-expected year, surprised everyone, got a taste of the playoffs, and now he should be absolutely hungry for more. The real test for Vladar now is to at least hit that same ballpark of performance as 2025-26, if not exceed it. If he suddenly falls off a cliff or his confidence starts to dip, the Flyers are looking at a much tougher road to the playoffs. You gotta hope he brings that same fire, because the stakes for this season are real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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