'IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE'

You know what makes the joy of signing a new contract even better?
When your coach finds you in the hallway, mid-interview, and gives you a fist pound.
"Thank you," Dan Vladar told Darryl Sutter. "Thank you so much."
The respect, confidence and trust in one another is obvious. And now, with a fresh, two-year deal in tow, Vladar is looking to reward the team that's believed in him from the start.
"I love this city, I love the fans, I love the organization," a beaming Vladar said. "I think we've got something special going on here. I love the group. Being in the locker-room with Marky (Jacob Markstrom), I really like the goalie coaches here. This is probably the best thing that could happen to me. Obviously, I'm super happy here, so I wanted to stay here as long as I could.
"It's a dream come true."

Vladar said the deal came together quick. His agent called him with the offer from GM Brad Treliving and there was no deliberation.
"I didn't take me long," Vladar laughed. "I think it was about 12 seconds."
Then, he paused.
"Wait …
"It was probably more like three seconds.
"Obviously I'm super excited, but I've got to work even harder now."
Vladar has been a revelation in the backup role since the Flames acquired him from the Boston Bruins in the summer of 2021. He made 19 starts (and 23 appearances) last year, recording a 13-6-2 record, along with a .906 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average.
He followed up with a sensational preseason last month, allowing only six goals in four games (1.94 GAA), before leading the Flames to a 4-3 win in the Battle of Alberta on Oct. 15.
Sutter indicated that day that he wanted to get Vladar more action this year, citing the 26 weeks in the NHL's regular season, and a desire to play the 25-year-old Czech at least once per the rest of the way.
Beginning in the 2023-24 season, Vladar will be earning $2.2 million a year - a nice bump from the $750K he's been the paid the past two campaigns.
"Every time I get the call, I'm trying to do my best," Vladar said. "When I know when I'm not playing or we have practice, I'm doing all I can to improve so I can show it in a game and give our team even better chance to win than the week before. That's my goal. Obviously, be a be a great teammate, be a great guy off the ice, support all the guys when I'm not playing and do my best."
Vladar also made sure to credit the Flames' No.-1 puck-stopper. He says Markstrom - the 2021 Vezina finalist - has been an invaluable resource, mentor and friend throughout his time in the Stampede City.
That, in itself, made the offer to return all the more attractive.
"He's been unbelievable," Vladar said. "If I look at my game before I came here and I look at it now, I see a huge improvement. That was one of the main things for me too, because I feel like I'm getting better every day and every week. I've got to keep this going.
"With Marky, he's been awesome. He's a great guy and I think we're really good friends and I'm super happy that I can watch him every day.
"He's been super helpful to me and that's been a huge thing for me.
"I couldn't ask for a better partner."