In the 2007–08 season Van der Gulik followed the Knights relocation to Quad City and established himself among the Flames offensive leaders in with 19 goals and 42 points. On a largely underwhelming Quad City team, Van der Gulik proved defensively responsible, finishing as the only Quad City forward in the positive in Plus/minus (+3). On July 1, 2007, he was re-signed as a restricted free agent to a two-year contract by the Flames. Van der Gulik was again reassigned by the Flames to Quad City for the 2008–09 season. Established as an energetic two-way role player he was recalled by Calgary on February 26, 2009 and made his National Hockey League debut, leading Calgary with 6 shots, the following night against the Minnesota Wild. On March 3 he recorded his first NHL point, an assist to set up Warren Peters first NHL goal, in a 6-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. He finished with six games with the Flames, recording two assists.