The Calgary Flames have been very successful in the design, not only in the past seasons, but throughout the history of the franchise. They have selected superstars that have led the flames to success, whether that is division titles, conference titles or the Stanley Cup. Many of the greats of the competition threw on stage on the flaming C when they heard their name.
You may have the feeling that some players are being omitted, but this list is based on where they are set up, their success with Calgary and their impact in the city. For that reason Brett Hull does not have painful here. So how do the best arranged flames rank in the different eras of Calgary Hockey? Let’s stand the top five.
Honorous mention: Mikael Backlund
Before we get to the top five, we will discuss some honorable mentions.
First we have Mikael Backlund. The current captain reached the 1000 competition marking last season, all of whom were with the Flames. He is a great two-way player in the NHL and consistently receives votes for the Selke trophy. Backlund is also loved in the city and has become an important part of the history of the team.
Gary Ster
The next is Stanley Cup champion with the Flames in 1989, Gary Ster. Ster was a ninth round selection through the Flames in the NHL design of 1984. A defender who would produce attack at almost one point per game and was also solid in the defensive end. He played in the NHL for almost 20 seasons and was one of the most important defenders in the competition at the time. Another gem found through the flames leaves in the design.
Now on the top five.
#5 Gary Roberts
First on the list is the 12th general choice in 1984: Gary Roberts. The big power forward on the wing played most of his 21-year career at the Calgary Flames. Consistent in and around a point per game, he was also someone who hit fear in the hearts of his opponents. In just his second full NHL season, Roberts was a crucial member of the Stanley Cup-winning team.
He withdrew with the Flames in 1996 because of serious neck switches. The degeneration of the nerves in his neck ended his career in the flames and should have ended his career as a whole. However, Roberts did not stop him and came back after just a year and played ten more seasons in the NHL.
He is now a performance trainer who works with both junior players and pros, including Connor McDavid.
Also bonus points for almost fighting Kris Draper in an alumni game.
#4 Mike Vernon
Another member of the Stanley Cup-winning schedule from 1989: Mike Vernon. The Calgary -child was set up by its hometown team in the third round of the NHL -Eentry concept of 1981 on 56th General. In his long career, Vernon was one of the best little ones. He won two Stanley Cups with two different teams, he gave every team he had a chance to win. That culminated that he was admitted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the 2023 class.
He was consistently at the top of the NHL in victories and was the best of the two -leaves of the competition. A career 2.98 goals against average and a .889 savings percentage, which was fully influenced by a terrible first three games in the NHL. Vernon confirmed himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL history.
#3 Johnny Gaudreau
Starting with the top three, we have Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau was drawn up 104th General in the NHL design of 2011. At a time when Flames Hockey was at a low point, Gaudreau came in and brought hope to the fans. A generation fans fell in love with the flames after watching Johnny Grace the Ice.
Gaudreau is fifth in the ranking of all time for the Flames, with 609 points through 602 games. His 1,012 is the ninth highest flames of all time behind only Joe Nieuwendyk, Kent Nilsson, Doug Gilmour, Al Macinnis and more. Its total of 115 points in the 2022-23 season was the second best season ever through a flame, and his 90 even points were good enough for a franchise record.
# 2 Joe nice defense
Back to the glory days of the 1980s we have Joe Nieuwendyk. Nieuwendyk was a selection on the second round (27th General) in the NHL-ENNRY concept of 1985. Another player who played 20 NHL seasons, Nieuwendyk, was sought by everyone in the NHL. As soon as he entered the competition, he was a force to take into account. He won the Calder trophy and became the first player in the franchise history who won the prize. The only other flame to win the Calder is Sergei Makarov, who won it in 1990. He was also only the second player who once scored 50 goals in their Rookie season, after Mike Bossy.
A real leader, he embodied what it meant to wear the flaming C. “I am only one player in the team. You can only do so much. The big one is to concentrate on your own work and to ensure that you do the best you can.”
Fourth time in Flames scoring with 616 points by 577 games in Calgary, he is the first in points per game from players to have played at least 500 games with the Flames. Third in goals and eighth in assists, oh, and he is also fourth of all time in Flames Playoff points and second in Playoff goals. Not to mention, he is a hockey hall from Famer and a member of the 100 best player list of the NHL. There is a reason why he is still mentioned as one of the best centers of the Flames.
# 1 Al Smith
Number one on this list is already Macinnis. The 15th general choice in the NHL concept of 1981 played Macinnis 803 games with the Calgary Flames. As a defender, he registered over a point per game in those 803 games with 822 points. Those 822 points are third in the franchise history, and with a healthy margin it is the most by a defender.
Known for his rocket of a shot, goalkeepers were afraid when Macinnis sent a puck -barreling to them. That shot made sure that he once became the fifth defender to take a 100-point season when he did it with Calgary in the 1990-1991 season. It was not only goalkeepers who were afraid of him. Everyone who stands in line against him would have feared their hearts, knowing that Macinnis would eventually pancakes.
Macinnis was a winner of Norris Trophy at The Blues in 1998-99 and was a finalist several times with the Flames before Mark Giordano was finally one for Calgary in 2019. When Calgary won his only Stanley Cup, Macinnis was the one who received the Conn Smythe -Trophy, who still won the only player in franchise history to win the prize. 31 points in that one play -off run, which is not covered by someone else in the history of the flames.
Although the flames have had a number of great concepts and have drawn up some gems that have had a great career, Macinnis is without a doubt the best of all.
This list is different for everyone, even below The win -column team. If there are changes that you would make, let us know in the comments!
All statistics thanks to Quant hockey.
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