Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf has been saluted as the NHL’s rookie of the month for January.
Just another accolade for the rising-star puck-stopper, undoubtedly the Flames’ MVP to this point of the season and among the frontrunners for the Calder Trophy.
But also, just another day at the office for the 23-year-old.
“Every time I get asked a question about him, he just doesn’t change,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “He’s the same every day. Like, nothing is really different.
“He doesn’t allow himself to ride the wave, and I think that is what has allowed him to have a lot of success, whether it’s good — like today, being announced as rookie of the month. It’s awesome and I think it’s well-deserved for him. But he doesn’t ride the wave. Somebody could be ripping him and it’s like, ‘Meh, whatever.’
“That’s just the way he is, and I think that’s why he has a lot of success.”
Wolf logged 10 starts in January, posting a 7-3 record with a stingy 2.32 goals-against average and sparkling .922 save percentage. His finest performance was a 38-save show-off in a 3-1 upset of the Jets in Winnipeg.
In Flames’ franchise lore, only one other rookie backstop has racked up seven wins in a single calendar month. That was Mike Vernon in November 1986.
The previous rookie-of-the-month winners this season were Matvei Michkov (October), Macklin Celebrini (November) and Lane Hutson (December). Those are the three dudes most often mentioned alongside Wolf as top contenders for the Calder Trophy.
Heading into Saturday’s late date against the Detroit Red Wings, his 30th start of the season, Wolf had posted a 19-8-2 record with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and a pair of shutouts.
“I still think we have to bring our chances against down. That’s something that we continue to work on,” Huska said after Saturday’s morning skate at the Saddledome. “But they do know if they give something up or a mistake is made, pretty good chance he is going to bail them out.”