Flames sign David Wolf

David Wolf is now a Flame. Today he signed a one-year deal worth $925,000.

Wolf, from Duesseldorf, Germany, has spent the last three seasons playing for the Hamburg Freezers of the DEL, Germany's top hockey league. He'll turn 25 by the time the next season starts.

He's 6'2", 216 lbs., and had 152 penalty minutes last season, so there's probably one word we can use to describe him: truculent.

In addition to his 152 PIMs, he also scored 14 goals and 40 points over 48 games. He's listed as the 24th top scorer in the DEL last season. The DEL's top scorers include a couple of guys with more than 60 points - including Steven Reinprecht! - and then mostly point per game scorers.

This feels similar to the signing of Bryce Van Brabant. Two big, relatively young guys with far more penalty minutes than points; but, at least in Wolf's favour, he scored far more than Van Brabant, and 10 of his 14 goals were at even strength (you may remember most of Van Brabant's goals from his goal explosion last season came while he was on the powerplay).

With Brian McGrattan, Kevin Westgarth, Bryce Van Brabant, and now David Wolf, who all seem to be a similar player, something has to give. Westgarth is a UFA, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him sign with a new team. McGrattan's spot on the team is solidified, so there may be a camp battle between Van Brabant and Wolf for the now apparently necessary role of "second goon". Wolf seems to be the better player, so he may just win it - but with the Flames, you never really know.