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Calgary Flames
2025–26 Calgary Flames season
ConferenceWestern
DivisionPacific
Founded1972
HistoryAtlanta Flames
1972–1980
Calgary Flames
1980–present
Home arenaScotiabank Saddledome
CityCalgary, Alberta
Team coloursRed, yellow, white[1][2]
     
MediaSportsnet West
CFAC (Sportsnet 960 The Fan)
Owner(s)Calgary Sports and Entertainment
(N. Murray Edwards, chairman)
General managerCraig Conroy
Head coachRyan Huska
CaptainMikael Backlund
Minor league affiliatesCalgary Wranglers (AHL)
Rapid City Rush (ECHL)
Stanley Cups1 (1988–89)
Conference championships3 (1985–86, 1988–89, 2003–04)
Presidents' Trophies2 (1987–88, 1988–89)
Division championships8 (1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2005–06, 2018–19, 2021–22)
Official websitenhl.com/flames

The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. They are the third major professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the Calgary Tigers (1921–1927) and Calgary Cowboys (1975–1977). The Flames are one of two NHL franchises based in Alberta, Canada, the other being the Edmonton Oilers. The cities' proximity has led to a rivalry known as the "Battle of Alberta".

The team was founded in 1972 in Atlanta as the Atlanta Flames before relocating to Calgary in 1980. The Flames played their first three seasons in Calgary at the Stampede Corral before moving into the Scotiabank Saddledome (originally the Olympic Saddledome) in 1983. In 1985–86, the Flames became the first Calgary team since the 1923–24 Tigers to compete for the Stanley Cup. In 1989, the Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup title. The Flames' unexpected run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final gave rise to the Red Mile, and in 2011, the team hosted and won the second Heritage Classic outdoor game.

The Flames have won two Presidents' Trophies as the NHL's top regular season team, and have claimed eight division championships. Individually, Jarome Iginla is the franchise leader in games played, goals and points, and is a two-time winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer. Miikka Kiprusoff has the most wins by a goaltender in a Calgary Flames uniform. Eleven people associated with the Flames have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

History

Atlanta Flames (1972–1980)

Main article: Atlanta Flames
Tom Lysiak celebrates with teammates after a goal against the Colorado Rockies. From 1972 to 1980, the Flames were based in Atlanta.

The Flames were the result of the NHL's first initiative to compete against the upstart World Hockey Association (WHA), which was seeking locations for hockey franchises.[3] In December 1971, the NHL hastily granted a team to Long Island – the New York Islanders – in an attempt to keep the WHA's New York Raiders out of the recently completed Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Needing another team to balance the schedule, the NHL awarded a team to the Atlanta-based group that owned the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks, headed by prominent local real estate developer Tom Cousins.[4] Cousins named the team the "Flames" after the fire resulting from the March to the Sea in the American Civil War by General William Tecumseh Sherman, in which Atlanta was nearly destroyed. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum in downtown Atlanta.[5]

Under head coaches Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Fred Creighton and Al MacNeil, the Flames made the playoffs in six of eight seasons in Atlanta[6] but only won two postseason games during that same time period.[7] The Atlanta ownership was not financially stable; general manager Cliff Fletcher said years later that Cousins's initial financial projections for an NHL team did not account for the WHA.[8] The Flames struggled to draw audiences and never signed a major television contract.[5]

In 1980, Cousins was in considerable financial difficulty and was forced to sell the Flames to prevent bankruptcy. With few serious offers from local groups, he was receptive to an offer from Canadian entrepreneur Nelson Skalbania. He was fronting a group of Calgary businessmen that included oil magnates Harley Hotchkiss, Ralph T. Scurfield, Norman Green, Daryl Seaman, Byron Seaman, and Norman Kwong.[5] Cousins sold the team for US$16 million, a record sale price for an NHL team at the time.[8] Skalbania chose to retain the Flames name, feeling it would be a good fit for an oil town like Calgary, while the flaming "A" logo was replaced by a flaming "C".[9] Skalbania sold his interest in 1981, and the Flames have been locally owned since.[10]

Early years in Calgary (1980–1985)

Brad Marsh with the Flames during the 1980–81 season. The team found greater playoff success, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs for their first eleven seasons after moving to Calgary.

The Flames were immediately embraced by the city of Calgary and the Flames sold 10,000 full- and half-season ticket packages in the 7,000 seat Stampede Corral.[11] The Flames qualified for the playoffs in their first season in Calgary with a 39–27–14 record, good for third in the Patrick Division.[12] The team won their first two playoff series over the Chicago Black Hawks and Philadelphia Flyers before losing to the Minnesota North Stars in the semifinals.[13] This early success was not soon repeated. After a losing record in 1981–82, Fletcher traded or did not renew several contracts of holdovers from the Atlanta team and rebuilt the roster.[8][14]

Fletcher drew talent from areas previously neglected by the NHL and were among the earliest teams to sign large numbers of U.S. college players, including Joel Otto, Gary Suter and Colin Patterson.[15] Fletcher also searched for European hockey talent, acquiring Hakan Loob and was among the first to draft players from the Soviet Union, including CSKA Moscow star Sergei Makarov in 1983.[16] The team improved to challenge the Oilers, who required the maximum seven games to defeat the Flames en route to their 1984 Stanley Cup championship.[17] In 1983, the Flames moved into the Olympic Saddledome, a venue originally for the 1988 Winter Olympics.[18]

Presidents' Trophies and Stanley Cup Final (1985–1990)

From 1984–85 to 1990–91, the Flames tallied 90 points in every season but one.[19] They were usually unable to transform that success into a deep playoff run, largely because of their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers. The NHL's playoff structure at the time made it likelier the Flames would meet the Oilers in either the first or second round.[8] From 1983 until 1990, either the Oilers or the Flames represented the Campbell Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.[20]

By 1986, the Flames aquired forwards Doug Risebrough, Lanny McDonald and Dan Quinn, defenceman Al MacInnis and goaltender Mike Vernon. They finished second in the Smythe with a 40–31–9 record (the only season from 1984 to 1991 in which they did not finish with 90 or more points).[12] In the playoffs, they swept the Winnipeg Jets in three games.[21] In the second round, the Flames upset the Oilers in seven games when the series-winning goal came when an errant clearing attempt by Steve Smith ricocheted off goaltender Grant Fuhr's leg and into his own net.[22] From there, the Flames defeated the St. Louis Blues in the Campbell Conference finals in another seven-game series,[23] advancing into the Stanley Cup Final for the first time.[17] The Flames lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.[24]

The Flames followed up their run to the Stanley Cup Final with their best regular season with a 46–31–3 record, good for third overall in the NHL.[25] The Flames were unable to duplicate their playoff success of a year prior, losing their first-round match-up with the Jets in six games. The season was also difficult off the ice, as 1986 first-round draft pick George Pelawa was killed in a car accident prior to the season's start.[26]

Under new head coach Terry Crisp, the Flames recorded their first 100-point season in 1987–88, earning the Presidents' Trophy for having the NHL's best record.[27] Joe Nieuwendyk became the second rookie in NHL history to score at least 50 goals in a season, earning the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.[28] Looking to bolster the line-up for a playoff run, the Flames traded Brett Hull and Steve Bozek to the Blues in exchange for Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley.[29] Their playoff frustrations continued against the Oilers as they were swept in four game in the second round.[17]

In 1988–89, the Flames captured their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy with a franchise record 117 points.[30] Fletcher continued to tinker with the roster, acquiring Doug Gilmour as part of a six-player deal at the trade deadline. En route to their second Final appearance, they defeated the Canucks in seven games,[31] the Kings in four games,[32] and in the conference finals, they eliminated the Blackhawks in five games.[33] The Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the 1989 Stanley Cup Final, winning their first Stanley Cup.[17][34] Al MacInnis captured the Conn Smythe as playoffs' most valuable player,[35] while long-time captain Lanny McDonald announced his retirement.[34] Sonia Scurfield, the Flames's co-owner, became the first Canadian woman to have her name engraved on the Cup.[36]

In 1989, the Soviets permitted a group of Soviet hockey players to sign with NHL teams beginning in 1989–90.[16] Sergei Makarov joined the Flames that season and, though already in his 30s, became the fifth Flame to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year. The selection proved controversial, prompting the NHL to amend the rules to exclude any player over age 26 from future consideration.[37] That season, the team fell two points shy of their third-straight Presidents' Trophy with 99 points. In the playoffs, they were defeated in six games by the Los Angeles Kings.[38]

Playoff contention to playoff drought (1991–2003)

In 1991, Fletcher left the Flames to become the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had been the team's general manager since its inception in 1972.[39] He was succeeded in Calgary by Doug Risebrough, who completed a ten-player mega-trade that saw forward Doug Gilmour dealt to Toronto with four other players in exchange for former 50-goal scorer Gary Leeman and four others.[29] The trade backfired on the Flames as Leeman scored only 11 goals for the Flames while Gilmour became a franchise player for the Maple Leafs.[40] Despite Theoren Fleury becoming an NHL star, the Flames missed the playoffs in 1992, a year after finishing with their third 100-point season in franchise history. It was the first time since their relocation that they had missed the playoffs.[17]

Calgary rebounded to make the playoffs for the next four seasons, including two consecutive division titles, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs each time. In the 1995–96 season, Joe Nieuwendyk was traded to the Dallas Stars for Jarome Iginla; Iginla made his Flames debut in the 1996 playoffs, during which the Flames again lost in the first round in a four-game sweep by the Blackhawks. In 1997, the Flames missed the playoffs and did not return for seven years.[17] The low point came in the 1997–98 season, in which the Flames finished with only 67 points, the second-lowest point total in franchise history.[41] In 1999, the Flames traded Fleury to the Colorado Avalanche midway through the season.[29] The trade came shortly after Fleury became the franchise's all-time leading scorer.[42]

The performance of Jarome Iginla was one of the team's few bright spots during its seven-season playoff drought.

As the Flames sank in the standings, their attendance also sagged. For most of their first 16 years in Calgary, Flames tickets were among the toughest to get in the NHL. By 1999, attendance had fallen so severely that the owners issued an ultimatum: buy more season tickets or the team would relocated to the United States. The fans responded by buying enough season tickets to keep the Flames in Calgary for the 1999–2000 season.[8] The Flames issued another appeal for more season tickets in the summer of 2000.[43] The campaign, aimed at increasing season ticket sales from a franchise low of 8,700 to 14,000, proved successful.[44] The increased sales did not halt the Flames's financial losses, as the team lost $14.5 million between 2001 and 2003.[45] During this time, Iginla captured the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2001–02 as the leading goal and point scorer with 52 goals and 96 points, and Robyn Regehr became the youngest nominee ever for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.[46]

In the 2002–03 season, the Flames hired Darryl Sutter as the team's head coach, replacing Greg Gilbert.[47] Sutter also became the team's general manager after the season, and is credited with revitalizing the franchise.[48] Among Sutter's first moves was to acquire goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff early in the 2003–04 season, whom he had previously coached in San Jose.[49] Kiprusoff set a modern NHL record for lowest goals against average (GAA) at 1.69.[50]

Jarome Iginla era and Western Conference champions (2004–2010)

After seven consecutive seasons of not making the playoffs, the Flames returned to the postseason in 2004. They became the first team in the league's history to defeat three division champions en route to the Stanley Cup Final: the Northwest Division champion Vancouver Canucks, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings, and the the Pacific Division champion San Jose Sharks.[51]

Miikka Kiprusoff won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender in 2005–06.

The 2004 Stanley Cup Final went to seven games with the Flames suffering a controversial non-goal in game six at home. Replays showed Martin Gelinas may have scored what would have been the go-ahead goal late in the third period; the referees never signalled a goal, and later replays were ruled inconclusive. The goal would have made Gelinas the only player in NHL history to score the winning goal in every playoff series. The Lightning won the game in overtime,[52] and won game seven at home to capture the Stanley Cup.[53]

The next season was cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout.[54] The Flames played their 25th season in Calgary in 2005–06, finishing with 103 points. It was their best total since the 1989 Cup-winning season, and good enough to capture their first division title in 12 years. However, the Flames lost to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games during the first round of the playoffs. Miikka Kiprusoff captured both the William M. Jennings and Vezina Trophies as the NHL's top goaltender,[55] while Dion Phaneuf's 20 goals was the third-highest total for a rookie defenceman in NHL history.[56]

The 2006 off-season began with a trade for Alex Tanguay,[57] and with Sutter relinquishing his head coaching position to assistant Jim Playfair so he could focus on his duties as general manager.[58] In the playoffs, Calgary fell in six games to the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in the first round. During the series, the Flames were fined by the NHL for several stick-related penalties in the fifth game. Notably, backup goaltender Jamie McLennan was suspended five games for slashing Red Wings forward Johan Franzen.[59]

In the 2007–08 off-season, the Flames demoted Playfair to associate coach, bringing in Mike Keenan as the team's head coach.[60] During the season, Jarome Iginla became the Flames' all-time leader in games played, passing Al MacInnis' mark of 803. Iginla also passed Theoren Fleury's mark of 364 goals to become the Flames' all-time goalscoring leader on March 10, 2008. In the playoffs, they fell in the conference quarterfinals to the San Jose Sharks in seven games.[61] Iginla continued to set franchise records in 2008–09, surpassing Fleury's franchise mark of 830 points, and scoring his 400th goal on the same night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[62] The team failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs, being eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, resulting in the dismissal of head coach Mike Keenan after two seasons. Brent Sutter was named his successor on June 23, 2009, but the Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs in the 2009–10 season.[63]

End of the Iginla era (2010–2013)

The Flames struggled to begin the 2010–11 season, falling to 14th place in the conference at the Christmas break. The organization asked Darryl Sutter to step aside as general manager. The team named assistant Jay Feaster the interim general manager in his place,[64] removing the interim tag following the season.[65] The team pulled itself back into playoff contention following the change but once again failed to qualify for the playoffs, missing by three points and finishing 10th in the conference.[66]

The Flames and Montreal Canadiens line up for a face-off at the 2011 Heritage Classic.

Calgary hosted the 2011 Heritage Classic, the NHL's second outdoor game of the year, at McMahon Stadium on February 22, 2011. The Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–0. Miikka Kiprusoff became the first goaltender to record a shutout in an NHL outdoor game.[67] Jarome Iginla reached two major milestones late in the season—he became the tenth player in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in ten consecutive seasons,[68] and scored his 1,000th career point, all with the Flames.[69] Iginla also scored his 500th career goal on January 7, 2012, against the Minnesota Wild.[70] On March 27, 2013, long-time captain and player Jarome Iginla was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for prospects Kenny Agostino and Ben Hanowski and a first-round pick in 2013, leaving the team without a captain for the first time.[71] The Flames missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year in 2012–13,[72] and selected Sean Monahan sixth overall at the 2013 NHL entry draft after the season.[73]

Giordano, Monahan, Gaudreau era (2013–2022)

Mark Giordano was named captain following the trade of Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Prior to the beginning of the 2013–14 season, Mark Giordano was named as the new captain of the Flames.[74] The team fell to the sixth place in the division, and team president Brian Burke fired general manager Jay Feaster and took over the role on an interim basis.[75] 2011 fourth-round draft pick Johnny Gaudreau made his NHL debut after winning the Hobey Baker Award at Boston College the day before. Gaudreau recorded his first NHL goal in the contest, the lone goal in a 5–1 Flames loss.[76]

In the 2014–15 season, the Flames, led by Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, and Jiri Hudler, won one of their final games against the Los Angeles Kings to clinch their first playoff berth since 2009.[77] They eliminated the Vancouver Canucks in six games in the first round of the playoffs for their first playoff series win since 2004,[78] but were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in five games in the second round.[79] Head coach Bob Hartley was named the winner of the Jack Adams Trophy for coach of the year.[80]

In the 2015–16 season, the Flames faced heightened expectations after the prior seasons. These expectations were bolstered after the acquisition of Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins for a first-round pick and two second-round picks at the 2015 NHL entry draft. However, the Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs.[81] As a result, head coach Bob Hartley was fired.[82] He was replaced by former Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Glen Gulutzan.[83] Aided by their poor finish, the Flames were able to select Matthew Tkachuk with the sixth selection at the 2016 NHL entry draft.[84]

Sean Monahan was drafted by the Flames in the 2013 NHL entry draft.

During the off-season, the Flames had ongoing negotiations with pending restricted free agents Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Monahan agreed to a seven-year contract worth $44.625 million on August 19, 2016; Gaudreau held out through the pre-season before signing a six-year, $40.5 million contract on October 10. Bolstered by the emergence of the "3M Line", composed of Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik,[85] the Flames rebounded to make the playoffs in the 2016–17 season as the conference's first wild card seed, but they were swept by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.[86]

However, during the 2017–18 season, the Flames once again failed to qualify for the playoffs, and Glen Gulutzan was fired.[87] Bill Peters was hired as head coach on April 23.[88] The 2017–18 season was highlighted by the Flames debut of Jaromir Jagr in October, but the Czech former star only lasted 22 games in Calgary, scoring seven points.[89]

The Flames made several changes to their roster before the 2018–19 season including a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2018 NHL entry draft, sending Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland, and Adam Fox to the Hurricanes in exchange for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. At the end of the regular season, they won the division title for the first time since 2006, clinching the top seed in the conference for the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.[90] They went on to lose in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche in five games.[91] At the end of season, captain Mark Giordano was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy for best defenceman of the year.[92]

Matthew Tkachuk was selected sixth overall at the 2016 NHL entry draft by the Flames

During the 2019–20 season, following accusations against head coach Bill Peters of racism and physical violence by former Flames' prospect Akim Aliu,[93] Peters was forced to take a leave of absence on November 26, pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Assistant coach Geoff Ward was named the acting head coach during the investigation.[94] Peters resigned on November 29 and Ward was named the interim head coach.[95][96] After Peters' resignation, interim head coach Ward broke a franchise record by starting his coaching tenure with seven straight wins.[97] The Flames only played 70 games in the regular season, which ended after March 11, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Based on their regular season points percentage, they qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and defeated the Winnipeg Jets in four games in the qualifying round.[98] The Flames faced the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs, but lost the series in six games.[99]

On March 4, 2021, with the Flames starting 11–11–2, Ward was fired and former head coach and general manager Darryl Sutter was re-hired as head coach of the Flames.[100]

Giordano's tenure as captain ended when he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.[101] The team secured first place in the Pacific Division and returned to the playoffs after failing to qualify in 2020–21.[102] They faced the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs and won the series in seven games.[103] In their first Battle of Alberta playoff series since 1991, the Flames lost to the Oilers in five games in the second round.[104][105]

High-profile turnover (2022–present)

The 2022 off-season was marked by the departures and arrivals of many star players. The Flames attempted to retain Gaudreau, reportedly offering him an eight-year, $84 million contract extension; instead, Gaudreau signed a seven-year deal to join the Columbus Blue Jackets.[106] Gaudreau explained that the move was for personal reasons, particularly after his father who lives in the eastern United States suffered a heart attack in 2018.[107] Shortly thereafter, Tkachuk – who was a restricted free agent – said he did not want to sign a long-term deal in Calgary.[108] After filing for club elected salary arbitration, the Flames traded Tkachuk and a conditional 2025 fourth-round draft pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Jonathan Huberdeau, defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round selection on July 23, 2022. As part of the trade negotiations Tkachuk signed an eight-year, $76 million contract with the Flames before being traded to the Panthers.[109] Then on August 18, 2022, the Flames traded Monahan and a conditional first-round pick in 2025 to the Montreal Canadiens for future considerations.[110] The move made room for the Flames to secure Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri, who signed a seven-year $49 million contract on the same day.[111]

Despite losing two 100-point players, the moves made by general manager Brad Treliving were praised, with some commentary suggesting the Flames might be a more serious Stanley Cup contender in 2022–23.[112] Despite these high expectations, the Flames missed the playoffs, and Treliving subsequently elected to vacate his position as general manager on April 17, 2023. Don Maloney was named the club's director of hockey operations and also replaced Treliving as GM on an interim basis.[113] On May 23, 2023, Craig Conroy was named the club's general manager after nine seasons of being an assistant general manager.[114] On June 12, Ryan Huska was named the new head coach of the team after Darryl Sutter's firing.[115] Conroy's first trade was trading off leading goal-scorer, Tyler Toffoli, to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich and a 2023 third-round draft choice on June 27.[116]

Mikael Backlund, the longest-serving player of the Flames, was named captain on September 27, 2023.[117] During the 2023–24 season, Conroy shipped off Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a first-round and a conditional fourth-round picks in the 2024 NHL entry draft.[118] Also among those traded were Nikita Zadorov,[119] Chris Tanev,[120] and Noah Hanifin.[121] In the 2024–25 season, Kuzmenko was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flames missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.[122]

Community impact

Flames Central was a downtown restaurant and bar owned by the Flames from 2006 to 2017.

In 1994, the Flames approached the Saddledome Foundation with a proposal to renovate the Olympic Saddledome, rename it the Canadian Airlines Saddledome and take over management of the facility. The board agreed to this proposal and was bought out by the Flames for CA$20 million as the team signed a 20-year agreement to manage the building.[123]

Looking to fill extra dates in the Saddledome, the Flames agreed to a lease deal with the expansion Calgary Hitmen of the junior Western Hockey League who began play in 1995 and were partly owned by Theoren Fleury.[124] Two years later, in 1997, the Flames bought the team for $1.5 million.[125] During the 2004–05 NHL lock-out, the Flames heavily marketed the Hitmen, and as a result, the team led all professional or junior hockey teams in North America in attendance, averaging over 10,000 fans per game.[126]

In April 2006, the Flames announced that they would be opening a hybrid restaurant, bar and entertainment facility in downtown Calgary on Stephen Avenue. In announcing the venture, Flames' President and CEO Ken King stated: "While hockey remains our core competency, we are constantly seeking new opportunities in which to grow the Flames brand and allow our fans greater opportunities to enjoy hockey. We believe establishing a location outside of the Pengrowth Saddledome to share food, fun and hockey will bring our fans even closer to the team."[127] One year later, in April 2007, Flames Central opened to the public.[128] In 2017, the facility reverted to its original name of The Palace Theatre.[129]

Flames Foundation

The Flames have maintained an active presence in the community since their arrival in Calgary. Through the team's non-profit charity, the Flames Foundation, the team has donated over $32 million to causes throughout southern Alberta.[130] Along with the Rotary Club, the Flames helped to fund the first children's hospice in Alberta, and one of only six in North America.[131][132]

The Flames are also close partners with the Alberta Children's Hospital and the Gordon Townsend School housed within. Among the many activities the Flames participate in, the Wheelchair Hockey Challenge with the Townsend Tigers has remained a highly popular tradition for both the players and the children involved. In 2010, the Tigers defeated the Flames to move to a perfect 27–0 record since the challenge was first instituted in 1981.[133]

"C of Red"

The C of Red during the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The tradition of the C of Red dates back to the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Oilers. Oiler fans were donning hats promoting "Hat Trick Fever" in their quest for three straight Stanley Cups. Flames fans countered by wearing red. In the 1987 playoffs against Winnipeg, the Jets responded to the C of Red by encouraging fans to wear white, creating the "Winnipeg whiteout".[134] During the Flames' run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, most of the Flames fans attending the hockey games at the Saddledome wore a red jersey with Calgary's flaming C on it.[45] Sales of the Flames red home jersey, introduced at the start of the 2003–04 campaign, were so strong during the playoffs that manufacturer CCM stopped production on all other team jerseys in order to keep up with demand of Flames uniforms.[135] The team set a league record for sales of a new uniform design.[136] In December 2018, Calgary rock band The Dudes and the Calgary Flames organization teamed up to release a cover of their hockey-themed song "Saturday Night" called "My C is Alright," paying homage to the C of Red.[137]

Red Mile

Main article: Red Mile

During the Flames' run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, the city of Calgary essentially became the host of a "non-stop party". The 17th Avenue SW entertainment district, which runs west from the Scotiabank Saddledome, saw as many as 35,000 fans pack the streets during the first three rounds of the playoffs,[45] and over 60,000 in the finals.[135] The Red Mile party received coverage in many newspapers across North America,[138] as the parties remained peaceful and incidents were minimal despite the large number of people in a small area.[139]

In April 2006, the Calgary Police Service announced that Red Mile gatherings would not be encouraged, and that measures would be taken to discourage them, including traffic diversions, a zero-tolerance policy on noise and rowdy behaviour, and the presence of plain-clothed officers among the crowd to ticket offenders.[140] After meeting with the Chief of Police, Mayor Dave Bronconnier convinced the Calgary Police Service to relax their ban on the "Red Mile" and encouraged people to make their way to 17th Ave. However, the police retained their zero-tolerance policy on public nudity and drunkenness.[139]

Team information

In-game personalities

Since 2014, Canadian country singer George Canyon sings "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" at most home games, and he was accompanied by organist Warren Tse. Willy Joosen was the organist of the team until his death in July 2022.[141]

Jerseys

Original jerseys used in 1980–1994. The design was later reinstated in 2020, with slight alterations.
Second design used in 1995–2000.

The Calgary Flames' original jerseys retained the basic design the team wore in Atlanta: white jerseys with red shoulders and red and yellow stripes, and solid red jerseys with yellow and white stripes.[142]

In 1998, to celebrate the "Year of the Cowboy", the Flames introduced its inaugural third jersey design, featuring the "flaming horse" logo on a black background.[143] Two years later, the jersey became the Flames' road jersey, while the home jersey was updated to incorporate the same V-style striping on the arms and waist of the jersey. This jersey was once again relegated to third jersey status in 2003 when the NHL adopted the coloured jerseys for the home team.[144]

In 2007, with the introduction of the Rbk Edge jersey, the Flames updated their look once again, replacing the horizontal striping with vertical striping down the sides. To honour the team's heritage, the Flames added the flags of Alberta and Canada as shoulder patches.[145]

For the 2011 Heritage Classic, the Flames wore uniforms inspired by the Calgary Tigers, the city's first professional hockey team from the 1920s, which represented the Western Canada Hockey League in the 1924 Stanley Cup Final against the Canadiens. The Flames adapted the Tigers' black-and-gold jerseys to darker shades of their own colours – maroon and burnt yellow, with a yellow stripe across the chest and alternating stripes on the sleeves. The flaming C logo and pants were cream-coloured, adding to the "vintage" look of the uniform.[146]

In 2013, the Flames introduced a new third jersey to replace their throwback uniform. The newest design was Western-inspired, with a script Calgary in black across the front of the jersey, and black shoulders with points on the front mimicking cowboy wear. This uniform was used until the 2015–16 season, after which the throwback third uniforms used from 2010 to 2013 were revived anew.[147]

The 2019 Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets at Regina's Mosaic Stadium featured the return of the Flames' original white uniform in the modern AdiZero cut.[148]

In 2020, the Flames promoted the throwback alternate and Heritage Classic uniforms to primary status, while retaining the black-trimmed red uniforms as an alternate.[149] Also, in November 2020, along with the rest of the league, the Flames released their Reverse Retro jersey. It was very similar to the 1998–2006 alternate/dark jersey, with some slight modifications. The largest difference is that there are only two stripes, a yellow and red one, and nothing below those stripes.[150] The black-trimmed red uniforms were retired after the season. In 2022, the "Blasty" black uniform returned as an alternate, adding the sublimated flame marks on the sleeves.[151] Also in 2022, the Flames unveiled their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the 1994–2000 uniform but with black as the base colour.[152]

For the 2023 Heritage Classic, the Flames wore cream-based uniforms inspired by the Calgary Stampeders hockey teams of the 1950s and 1960s. The design featured a red roundel containing the full team name around the "flaming C" logo. The only yellow accents on the uniform is on the roundel itself. The uniform also featured red stripes and red letters.[153]

Logos

Calgary's alternate logo, known as the Blasty, was used from 1998 to 2007, and revived in 2020.

The Flames primary logo is the "Flaming C" design, introduced when the team came to Calgary in 1980.[154] The flaming horse logo, (colloquially nicknamed "Blasty") was retired in 2007 with the introduction of the new Rbk Edge jerseys.[145]

Mascot

Main article: Harvey the Hound

Harvey the Hound is the Flames' mascot. He was created in 1983 to serve both with the Flames and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.[155] Harvey was the first mascot in the NHL.[155] Harvey is famous for an incident in January 2003 where he had his tongue ripped out by Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish as he was harassing their bench.[156] The incident made headlines throughout North America and led to much humour, including having many other NHL team mascots arrive at the 2003 All-Star Game with their tongues hanging out.[157]

Season-by-season record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Flames. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Calgary Flames seasons

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
2020–21 56 26 27 3 55 156 161 5th, North Did not qualify
2021–22 82 50 21 11 111 293 208 1st, Pacific Lost in second round, 1–4 (Oilers)
2022–23 82 38 27 17 93 260 252 5th, Pacific Did not qualify
2023–24 82 38 39 5 81 253 271 5th, Pacific Did not qualify
2024–25 82 41 27 14 96 225 238 4th, Pacific Did not qualify

Players and personnel

Current roster

Updated January 26, 2026[158][159]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
11 Sweden Mikael Backlund (C) C L 36 2007 Vasteras, Sweden
7 Canada Kevin Bahl D L 25 2024 New Westminster, British Columbia
24 Canada Jake Bean Injured Reserve D L 27 2024 Calgary, Alberta
18 United States John Beecher Injured Reserve C L 24 2025 Elmira, New York
48 United States Hunter Brzustewicz D R 21 2024 Washington, Michigan
20 United States Blake Coleman (A) Injured Reserve C L 34 2021 Plano, Texas
1 United States Devin Cooley G L 28 2024 Los Gatos, California
27 United States Matt Coronato RW R 23 2021 Huntington, New York
86 United States Joel Farabee LW L 25 2025 Cicero, New York
16 Canada Morgan Frost C L 26 2025 Aurora, Ontario
92 Russia Matvei Gridin RW L 19 2024 Kurgan, Russia
44 Canada Joel Hanley D L 34 2024 Keswick, Ontario
29 Slovakia Samuel Honzek Injured Reserve LW L 21 2023 Trencin, Slovakia
10 Canada Jonathan Huberdeau (A) LW L 32 2022 Saint-Jerome, Quebec
91 Canada Nazem Kadri (A) C L 35 2022 London, Ontario
23 Canada Justin Kirkland C L 29 2024 Winnipeg, Manitoba
43 Czech Republic Adam Klapka RW R 25 2022 Prague, Czech Republic
37 Russia Yan Kuznetsov D L 23 2020 Murmansk, Russia
70 Canada Ryan Lomberg LW L 31 2024 Richmond Hill, Ontario
94 Canada Brayden Pachal D R 26 2024 Estevan, Saskatchewan
76 Slovakia Martin Pospisil C L 26 2018 Zvolen, Slovakia
17 Belarus Yegor Sharangovich C/LW L 27 2023 Minsk, Belarus
52 Canada MacKenzie Weegar (A) D R 32 2022 Nepean, Ontario
28 Canada Zach Whitecloud D R 29 2026 Brandon, Manitoba
32 United States Dustin Wolf G L 24 2019 Gilroy, California
47 Canada Connor Zary C L 24 2020 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Team captains

A man in full hockey uniform and another man in a dark suit hold a gold hockey stick together as they look toward an unseen photographer.
Lanny McDonald presents Iginla with a gold stick. The pair of former captains are the only players to score their 500th career goal in a Flames uniform.

McDonald and Risebrough were co-captains in 1983–1984. McDonald and Peplinski were co-captains in 1987–1989. Boughner and Conroy were co-captains for the latter half of the 2001–02 season after Dave Lowry was stripped of the captaincy.[160]

Honoured members

See also: List of Calgary Flames award winners

Retired numbers

Four rectangular banners are hanging from the rafters in a hockey arena. The two on the far left are predominantly white with red and gold trim. The left one of these says "1981–1989 McDONALD 9" and the right "1982–2002 VERNON 30". On the right side of them, two more banners are shown. Both are mainly red, each showing (from top to bottom) a number, then a red banner with gold trim showing a name, and lastly a person in full hockey gear, who is shown wearing a white jersey with red trim and a white helmet. The left one of these says "2 MacINNIS", while the right one says "25 NIEUWENDYK".
Lanny McDonald, Mike Vernon, Jarome Iginla, and Miika Kiprusoff are the only Flames to have their numbers retired by the team, while Al MacInnis and Joe Nieuwendyk have had their numbers honoured by the team (they are still in circulation) as part of the Flames' "Forever a Flame" program. With the exception of Iginla and Kiprusoff, all of these players were members of the Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup-winning team.
Calgary Flames retired numbers
No. Player Position Career No. retirement
9 Lanny McDonald RW 1981–1989 March 17, 1990
12 Jarome Iginla RW 1996–2013 March 2, 2019
30 Mike Vernon G 1982–1994
2000–2002		 February 6, 2007
34 Miikka Kiprusoff G 2003–2013 March 2, 2024

The Calgary Flames have retired four numbers, with a fifth retired league-wide. The Flames retired No. 9 in honour of Lanny McDonald who played right wing for the Flames from 1981 to 1989, winning the Stanley Cup as the Flames' co-captain in his final year. Mike Vernon's No. 30 is also retired; he was a goaltender with the Flames for 14 years, from 1982 to 1994 and from 2000 to 2002.[161] The Flames retired Jarome Iginla's No. 12 on March 2, 2019; he played right wing for the Flames from 1996 to 2013 and also served as the team's captain from 2003 to 2013.[162] Miika Kiprusoff's No. 34 was retired on March 2, 2024; Kiprusoff served as the Flames' goaltender for 11 years from 2003 to 2013.[163] The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.[164]

In 2012, the Flames organization introduced the "Forever a Flame" programme to honour those who played and represented the Calgary Flames without having to retire their numbers. It enables future Flames the opportunity to wear the numbers of some of the Flames' most respected former players. On February 27, 2012, defenceman Al MacInnis was the first to earn this distinction, with a banner with his picture and his No. 2 raised to the Scotiabank Saddledome rafters.[165] Joe Nieuwendyk was treated likewise on March 7, 2014, promoted as "Forever 25" for both the number on Nieuwendyk's jersey and the 25th anniversary of the 1989 title.[166]

Hockey Hall of Fame members

Twelve former Flames have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, six of whom earned their credentials primarily in Calgary. Lanny McDonald was the first Flames player inducted, gaining election in 1992. McDonald recorded 215 goals in 492 games over seven and a half seasons for the Flames, including a team-record 66 goals in 1982–83. He was joined in 2000 by a fellow member of the 1989 Stanley Cup championship team, Joe Mullen. Mullen spent five seasons with the Flames, recording 388 points and capturing two Lady Byng Trophies. Grant Fuhr, elected in 2003, became the third former Flames player to enter the Hall. Fuhr played only one season in Calgary; however, he recorded his 400th career win in a Flames uniform, a victory over the Florida Panthers on October 22, 1999.[167] In 2007, Al MacInnis became the fourth former Flame inducted into the Hall, and the third to earn his Hall of Fame credentials primarily as a Flame. MacInnis was a member of the Flames from 1981 until 1994. He is best remembered for his booming slapshot, as well as for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1989 as playoff MVP.[168] On November 9, 2009, Brett Hull became the fifth player in Calgary Flames history to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.[169]

Hull was drafted 117th in the 1984 NHL entry draft by the Flames, and began his NHL career playing two seasons (1986–1988) with Calgary. On June 28, 2011, it was announced that former Flames forwards Doug Gilmour and Joe Nieuwendyk would become the sixth and seventh members to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame in the players category.[170] On June 29, 2015, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced defenceman Phil Housley would be enshrined in the Class of 2015, making him the eighth player in Flames history to gain that honour.[171] Housley played for the Flames on two separate occasions, (1994–1996 and 1998–2001). Sergei Makarov was informed on June 27, 2016, that he would be entering the Hockey Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2016. Makarov becomes the ninth Flames player to receive the honour.[172] Makarov was drafted 231st in the 1983 NHL entry draft, and joined the Flames in 1989, where he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year at the age of 31. Makarov played for the Flames from 1989 to 1993. Martin St. Louis became the tenth player to be inducted into the Hall.[173] St. Louis was a part of the Flames organization from 1997 to 2000, splitting his time with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate Saint John Flames and the main roster. On June 24, 2020, Jarome Iginla became the eleventh player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Iginla played for the Flames from 1996 to 2013, during his time with the team he won many awards including the Art Ross Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.[174] On June 21, 2023, Mike Vernon became the twelfth player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Vernon played for the Flames from 1982 to 1994 and from 2000 to 2002.[175]

Former head coach "Badger" Bob Johnson joined McDonald in the class of 1992, gaining election as a builder. Johnson coached five seasons with the Flames from 1982 to 1987, and his 193 wins remain a team record.[176] Cliff Fletcher was the Flames general manager from the organization's inception in 1972 until 1991, a span of 19 years. During that time, the Flames qualified for the playoffs sixteen consecutive times between 1976 and 1991. Fletcher was inducted in 2004. In 2006, Harley Hotchkiss became the third Flames builder to gain election. He was an original member of the ownership group that purchased and brought the Flames to Calgary in 1980. He was the team's longtime governor, and hence the public face of the consortium. He has served many years as the chairman of the NHL board of directors, during which he played a significant role in the resolution of the 2004–05 lock-out.[167] Fellow original owner Doc Seaman was similarly inducted in 2010.[177] On June 29, 2015, former player Bill Hay was elected to the Hockey of Fame in the builders category. Hay served as president and CEO for the Flames in the 1990s.[178]

Flames radio broadcaster Peter Maher was named the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2006 for his years of service as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames.[167] Longtime trainer Bearcat Murray was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 by the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers Society and the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers.[179]

Scoring leaders

Recording 830 regular season points on the Flames, Theoren Fleury is the all-time second highest point-scorer in the franchise.

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise (Atlanta and Calgary) history at of the end of the 2024-2025 season.[180]

  •  *  – current Flames player

See also

References

Footnotes

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