When you look at the preseason battle to back up Dustin Wolf for the Calgary Flames, it’s easy to get lost in the surface-level numbers. On one side, you have Devin Cooley, who has stopped 51 of 58 shots—a save percentage of .879. On the other hand, Ivan Prosvetov has stopped 53 of 58, good for a more respectable .914 SV% and a win. Based on that alone, the decision seems simple. But as with most things in the NHL, the real story is far more complicated, and it’s one that will end with Flames management holding their breath.
From where I’m sitting, this isn’t just about who played slightly better in a handful of preseason games. It’s a calculated gamble on asset management. The final preseason start is being dangled as the ultimate tie-breaker, but the truth is, the decision might already be made. The Flames’ front office isn’t just evaluating saves; they’re weighing pro experience, developmental ceiling, and, most critically, the personalities in that room.
The Real Dilemma: The Looming Threat of the Waiver Wire
Here’s the rub that’s causing sleepless nights in the Saddledome: whoever doesn’t win this job is hitting the waiver wire. This isn’t a simple case of sending a player down to the Calgary Wranglers. Both Cooley and Prosvetov have generated significant interest around the league.
Multiple teams were in on Prosvetov before he signed with the Flames, and Cooley’s potential hasn’t gone unnoticed. It’s almost a certainty that the odd man out gets claimed, meaning the Calgary Flames will lose a valuable goaltending asset for nothing. This decision isn’t just about picking the best player for right now; it’s about deciding which player you are more willing to lose to another NHL franchise forever. It’s a brutal, high-stakes game of organizational poker.
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