Dan Vladar Emerging as the Backbone of the Flyers - On the Ice and in the Locker Room
PHILADELPHIA - When Dan Vladar went down with a lower-body injury in mid-January, the Flyers were already reeling. They’d dropped three straight, and losing their most consistent presence - and arguably their MVP - couldn’t have come at a worse time. The moment he exited the Jan. 14 game against Buffalo early, a 5-2 loss, it felt like the bottom might fall out.
During his two-week absence, the Flyers leaned on Sam Ersson, who had a couple of solid outings on the road in Vegas and Colorado. But overall, the goaltending group struggled, posting an .851 save percentage over six games and going 2-3-1 in that stretch. Third-stringer Aleksei Kolosov had a rough cameo, giving up three goals on three shots against the Rangers before getting the hook.
But the Flyers weren’t just missing Vladar’s steady glove. They were missing his presence - the calming, commanding kind that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet. That leadership was on full display Tuesday night after a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals, when head coach Rick Tocchet pointed to a moment that summed up Vladar’s impact.
After surrendering a 2-0 lead early in the third, the Flyers’ bench sagged. Vladar noticed. And he wasn’t quiet about it.
“He’s a leader,” Tocchet said. “He came by our bench and said, ‘Guys, why are you holding your heads down?
Let’s go here.’ I love that.
A lot of character. He’s been like that all year.”
Tocchet even went so far as to say that while Vladar doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey, “he does have one for me, in my head.”
That kind of intangible leadership is rare, especially from a goaltender. But Vladar’s been backing it up with his play, too.
He turned away 26 shots in that win over Washington, making several critical stops in the first period to keep the game from slipping early. And two nights later, in the Flyers’ final game before the Olympic break, he was just as sharp.
He allowed just one goal on 26 shots through regulation against Ottawa, giving his team every chance to steal a win despite a flat performance in front of him. Tim Stützle’s overtime winner sealed a 2-1 loss, but Vladar’s effort was once again the story.
“He’s been spectacular for us this season and kind of the anchor for our team, especially as of late,” said defenseman Nick Seeler.
What’s striking is how comfortable Vladar has become in his role - not just as a starting goaltender, but as a tone-setter for the entire group. That wasn’t always the case.
“Especially early in my career in the NHL, I was more learning,” Vladar said. “The more I was watching the guys around me, especially those guys that were successful, they were not afraid to speak up… Whatever it is, just trying to help the team.”
That moment against the Capitals? It wasn’t a one-off. It’s become part of Vladar’s game - identifying when the team needs a jolt and delivering it, vocally or otherwise.
Veteran defenseman Travis Sanheim, now in his ninth season with the Flyers, said it’s not something he’s really seen before from a goalie.
“We haven’t really been used to a goalie doing that, but I think it’s been great,” Sanheim said. “He gets a sense of how the team is playing, probably the most out of anyone, because he’s in the action the whole time and sees everything. He knows when to do it, picks his times, not doing it all the time.”
That kind of timing - knowing when to speak up and when to just make the next save - is what separates a good goalie from a team leader. And it’s not just talk. Vladar’s communication shows up in real-time decision-making on the ice.
Sanheim shared a recent example from a Jan. 28 game against Columbus. Zach Werenski drove the puck in deep, with Kirill Marchenko lurking on the weak side.
Sanheim was caught in between, and Marchenko buried a one-timer. After the play, Vladar pulled Sanheim aside and broke it down: “I’ve got the shooter.
You take the open guy.”
Fast-forward to the Capitals game, and a similar play unfolded. This time, Sanheim read it perfectly, jumped the passing lane, and broke it up.
“(Vladar) talked to me during the TV timeout, about how it was the exact same play, and said, ‘Great job on taking it away,’” Sanheim said.
That’s the kind of goalie who makes his teammates better - not just by stopping pucks, but by helping them read the game more clearly.
Now, Vladar is one of three Flyers heading to Milan for the Olympics, where he’ll suit up for Czechia. Whether he starts is still up in the air, with Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal also on the roster.
Dostal was one of the first six NHL players named to the team, which could give him the inside track. But Vladar’s numbers are stronger - a 2.47 goals-against average and .905 save percentage compared to Dostal’s 2.92 and .897.
“He might be the starter,” said Tocchet, who will serve as an assistant coach for Team Canada. “That’s pretty special, if that happens. I don’t know who’s starting for those guys, but he’s got to be in the mix.”
If Vladar does take on a heavy Olympic workload, managing his minutes post-break becomes a real challenge for the Flyers. He’s already appeared in 33 games this season - a career high - and neither Ersson nor Kolosov has proven capable of giving the Flyers consistent backup support, with a combined save percentage of just .854.
The truth is, if the Flyers are going to make any kind of run down the stretch, it’s going to be on Vladar’s shoulders. He’s not just their most reliable option in net - he’s the guy his teammates believe in.
“I just think he’s comfortable with the group,” Sanheim said. “And he just knows how to communicate with guys.”
Seeler echoed that sentiment: “He’s a leader in the locker room, and on the ice. Can’t say enough good things about him.”
Right now, Dan Vladar isn’t just the Flyers’ goaltender. He’s their heartbeat.