Bruins have big expectations for goalie prospect Dan Vladar, who has big personality

Dan Vladar is most comfortable when he’s around his teammates, talking to whoever will listen. It’s a personality trait he adopted from native Czechs, a result of often playing with older teammates who embraced the lanky goaltender.

His frustration was boiling when he arrived in the United States for the first time in 2015 to play for the Chicago Steel in the USHL and he was unable to speak English. He felt he couldn’t connect with his teammates, on the ice or in the dressing room, so he was determined to learn quickly.

"If I only used swear words, I'd be fluent in 50 languages," he joked.

Vladar picked up English by binge-watching shows like "The Office" and pausing it to Google words he didn’t know.

“I just wanted to talk, and for the first time I couldn't talk. I was pissed,” said Vladar, who was drafted No. 75 overall in 2015. “I like to be around guys. I grew up playing hockey always with 20 guys in Czech. This is my life, and I just enjoy every moment in the locker room.”

From Chicago to the Providence Bruins, to the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL, Vladar has endeared himself to his teammates. He has a big personality to match his 6-foot-5 frame, which he's used to block opponents’ shots at a rate that has earned him a spot with Providence this coming season. A full year in the AHL would bring Vladar, who is attending development camp this week, one step closer to the big club.

The Bruins, meanwhile, know they’d be lucky to have him, both for his talents on the ice as well as the contagious energy that his teammates feed off, no matter what team he plays for.

“He lights up the room when he comes in. His energy is unbelievable,” said Jamie Langenbrunner, the Bruins director of player development.



“I don’t think he’s ever had a bad day in his life. We’re going to try to feed off of that.”

As the situation currently stands, the Bruins currently do not have a backup goaltender. Anton Khudobin, who’s been a steady presence behind Tuukka Rask, remains unsigned and is likely going to test the open market when free agency begins July 1.

In recent years, goaltender is a position where the Bruins have struggled to develop depth. Malcolm Subban, drafted by the Bruins in the first round in 2012, finally seemed close to playing but was plucked by the Golden Knights when he was put on waivers last October. He thrived in Vegas with a 13-4-2 record last season backing up Marc-Andre Fleury.

Zane McIntyre, drafted in the sixth round in 2010, has yet to distinguish himself after three years with Providence. He played eight games with the Bruins in 2016-17 and was 0-4-1 with a 3.97 goals against average. He went 26-15-2 for the Providence Bruins last season, with a 2.52 GAA.

Jeremy Swayman, drafted in the fourth round in 2017, snatched the starting job at Maine last year. He played 31 games and had a strong season. He’s also at development camp this week, but will return to college next season.

Vladar, meanwhile, was sent to the ECHL last year where he played 42 games for the Atlanta Gladiators, with the goal being to get him as many games as possible. Vladar struggled at times and finished with a 17-18-1, while his GAA ballooned to 2.96 goals. Vladar had a stronger showing when he joined Providence for four games, and responded with a .924 save percentage.

“He loves getting in that net and works his tail off every day,” said Providence Bruins coach Jay Leach. “Guys do respond well to him, and he really does compete. I find most goalies, I tell them, ‘(You) need to earn their respect.' And once they do, you’ll see a team that doesn't want to let their goalie down.”

Goaltenders typically take a longer time to develop than most positions, and it’s an area the Bruins have dumped resources into recently. Goalie coach Bob Essensa would make intermittent trips to Providence to work with players in the past, but now they have development coach Michael Graham. Essensa can focus his efforts in Boston while Graham has a more regular presence with the prospects in Providence.

There is a still a lot of work ahead for Vladar, who weighs 185 pounds. He wants to get stronger so he can stand his ground in the crease, something he said he felt he could have been better at last season. He has a long frame, though, which helps him in the net.

He doesn’t have to move as much to cover the opposite post and shoulders stand well above the crossbar. Vladar looked up to similar-sized goaltenders when he was in the Czech Republic, players such as Rask and Pekka Rinne, who are 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5, respectively.

Vladar made an appearance with the Bruins during the playoffs as their emergency backup, a role that allowed him to practice closely with Rask and learn from the veteran. He was particularly intrigued with the steady demeanor Rask responded with after a bizarre moment occurred when he lost his skate blade in Game 1 against the Lightning.

“Just the way he prepares,” Vladar said of Rask. “How he reacts after goals. He can get mad, but when the puck drops he’s ready to go and that's something I’m looking at. He’s really a pro hockey player and can react to whatever happens.”

It’s unlikely the Bruins do not address their backup goaltending scenario before training camp starts in September. But whether they ultimately re-sign Khudobin or pursue other options in free agency, such as Jonathan Bernier or Robin Lehner, there will still be a great opportunity for Vladar to show his strengths in September. He’s a long shot to make the Bruins roster, but it’s a goal he’s set for himself.

It’s more likely he’ll battle with McIntyre in Providence, a grind Vladar is looking forward to.

“Everybody knows Tuukka has his spot, so it’s great for us to learn and have time to develop and get ready,” Vladar said. “We have the time to not rush anything. I’m just happy with what the goalie situation is here right now and just trying to do my best.”