| Calgary Flames | |
|---|---|
 2025–26 Calgary Flames season | |
 | |
| Conference | Western |
| Division | Pacific |
| Founded | 1972 |
| History | Atlanta Flames 1972–1980 Calgary Flames 1980–present |
| Home arena | Scotiabank Saddledome |
| City | Calgary, Alberta |
 | |
| Team colours | Red, yellow, white[1][2] |
| Media | Sportsnet West CFAC (Sportsnet 960 The Fan) |
| Owner(s) | Calgary Sports and Entertainment (N. Murray Edwards, chairman) |
| General manager | Craig Conroy |
| Head coach | Ryan Huska |
| Captain | Mikael Backlund |
| Minor league affiliates | Calgary Wranglers (AHL) Rapid City Rush (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 1 (1988–89) |
| Conference championships | 3 (1985–86,1988–89,2003–04) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 2 (1987–88,1988–89) |
| Division championships | 8 (1987–88,1988–89,1989–90,1993–94,1994–95,2005–06,2018–19,2021–22) |
| Official website | nhl |
TheCalgary Flames are a professionalice hockey team based inCalgary. The Flames compete in theNational Hockey League (NHL) as a member of thePacific Division in theWestern Conference. They are the third major professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following theCalgary Tigers (1921–1927) andCalgary Cowboys (1975–1977). The Flames are one of two NHL franchises based inAlberta,Canada, the other being theEdmonton Oilers. The cities' proximity has led to a rivalry known as the "Battle of Alberta".
The team was founded in1972 inAtlanta as theAtlanta Flames beforerelocating to Calgary in1980. The Flames played their first three seasons in Calgary at theStampede Corral before moving into theScotiabank Saddledome (originally the Olympic Saddledome) in1983. In1985–86, the Flames became the first Calgary team since the1923–24 Tigers to compete for theStanley Cup. In1989, the Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup title. The Flames' unexpected run to the2004 Stanley Cup Final gave rise to theRed Mile, and in 2011, the team hosted and won the secondHeritage Classic outdoor game.
The Flames have won twoPresidents' 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 theMaurice "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 theHockey Hall of Fame.
The Flames were the result of the NHL's first initiative to compete against the upstartWorld Hockey Association (WHA), which was seeking locations for hockey franchises.[3] In December 1971, the NHL hastily granted a team toLong Island – theNew York Islanders – in an attempt to keep the WHA'sNew York Raiders out of the recently completedNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Needing another team to balance the schedule, the NHL awarded a team to theAtlanta-based group that owned theNational Basketball Association'sAtlanta Hawks, headed by prominent local real estate developerTom Cousins.[4] Cousins named the team the "Flames" after the fire resulting from theMarch to the Sea in theAmerican Civil War byGeneral William Tecumseh Sherman, in which Atlanta was nearly destroyed. They played home games in theOmni Coliseum indowntown Atlanta.[5]
Under head coachesBernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion,Fred Creighton andAl 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 managerCliff 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 entrepreneurNelson Skalbania. He was fronting a group of Calgary businessmen that included oil magnatesHarley Hotchkiss,Ralph T. Scurfield,Norman Green,Daryl Seaman,Byron Seaman, andNorman 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]
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 seatStampede Corral.[11] The Flames qualified for the playoffs in their first season in Calgary with a 39–27–14 record, good for third in thePatrick Division.[12] The team won their first two playoff series over theChicago Black Hawks andPhiladelphia Flyers before losing to theMinnesota North Stars in the semifinals.[13] This early success was not soon repeated. After a losing record in1981–82, 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, includingJoel Otto,Gary Suter andColin Patterson.[15] Fletcher also searched for European hockey talent, acquiringHakan Loob and was among the first todraft players from the Soviet Union, includingCSKA Moscow starSergei Makarov in1983.[16] The team improved to challenge the Oilers, who required the maximum seven games to defeat the Flames en route to their1984Stanley Cup championship.[17] In 1983, the Flames moved into theOlympic Saddledome, a venue originally for the1988 Winter Olympics.[18]
From1984–85 to1990–91, 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 theirprovincial rivals, theEdmonton 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 acquired forwardsDoug Risebrough,Lanny McDonald andDan Quinn, defencemanAl MacInnis and goaltenderMike 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 bySteve Smith ricocheted off goaltenderGrant Fuhr's leg and into his own net.[22] From there, the Flames defeated theSt. 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 theMontreal Canadiens in five games.[24]
The Flames followed up their run to the Stanley Cup Final with theirbest 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, as1986 first-round draft pickGeorge Pelawa was killed in a car accident prior to the season's start.[26]
Under new head coachTerry Crisp, the Flames recorded their first 100-point season in1987–88, earning thePresidents' 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 theCalder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.[28] Looking to bolster the line-up for a playoff run, the Flames tradedBrett Hull andSteve Bozek to the Blues in exchange forRob Ramage andRick Wamsley.[29] Their playoff frustrations continued against the Oilers as they were swept in four game in the second round.[17]
In1988–89, the Flames captured their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy with a franchise record 117 points.[30] Fletcher continued to tinker with the roster, acquiringDoug 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 the1989 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 captainLanny 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 in1989–90.[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]
In 1991, Fletcher left the Flames to become the general manager of theToronto Maple Leafs. He had been the team's general manager since its inception in 1972.[39] He was succeeded in Calgary byDoug 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 scorerGary 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] DespiteTheoren Fleury becoming an NHL star, the Flames missed the playoffs in1992, 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 the1995–96 season, Joe Nieuwendyk was traded to theDallas Stars forJarome 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. In1997, the Flames missed the playoffs and did not return for seven years.[17] The low point came in the1997–98 season, in which the Flames finished with only 67 points, the second-lowest point total in franchise history.[41] In1999, the Flames traded Fleury to theColorado Avalanche midway through the season.[29] The trade came shortly after Fleury became the franchise's all-time leading scorer.[42] Although the Flames were only two points (equivalent to one win) out of a playoff spot at the time, Fleury was due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and the Flames were not willing to risk losing him without getting anything in return.[43]
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 the1999–2000 season.[8] The Flames issued another appeal for more season tickets in the summer of 2000.[44] The campaign, aimed at increasing season ticket sales from a franchise low of 8,700 to 14,000, proved successful.[45] The increased sales did not halt the Flames's financial losses, as the team lost $14.5 million between 2001 and 2003.[46] During this time, Iginla captured theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy andArt Ross Trophy in2001–02 as the leading goal and point scorer with 52 goals and 96 points, andRobyn Regehr became the youngest nominee ever for theBill Masterton Memorial Trophy.[47]
In the2002–03 season, the Flames hiredDarryl Sutter as the team's head coach, replacingGreg Gilbert.[48] Sutter also became the team's general manager after the season, and is credited with revitalizing the franchise.[49] Among Sutter's first moves was to acquire goaltenderMiikka Kiprusoff early in the 2003–04 season, whom he had previously coached in San Jose.[50] Kiprusoff set a modern NHL record for lowestgoals against average (GAA) at 1.69.[51]
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-winningDetroit Red Wings, and the Pacific Division champion San Jose Sharks.[52]
The2004 Stanley Cup Final went to seven games with the Flames suffering a controversial non-goal in game six at home. Replays showedMartin 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,[53] and won game seven at home to capture the Stanley Cup.[54]
The next season was cancelled due to the2004–05 NHL lockout.[55] The Flames played their 25th season in Calgary in2005–06, 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 theMighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games during the first round of the playoffs. Miikka Kiprusoff captured both theWilliam M. Jennings andVezina Trophies as the NHL's top goaltender,[56] whileDion Phaneuf's 20 goals was the third-highest total for a rookie defenceman in NHL history.[57]
The 2006 off-season began with a trade forAlex Tanguay,[58] and with Sutter relinquishing his head coaching position to assistantJim Playfair so he could focus on his duties as general manager.[59] 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 goaltenderJamie McLennan was suspended five games for slashing Red Wings forwardJohan Franzen.[60]
In the2007–08 off-season, the Flames demoted Playfair to associate coach, bringing inMike Keenan as the team's head coach.[61] 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.[62] Iginla continued to set franchise records in2008–09, surpassing Fleury's franchise mark of 830 points, and scoring his 400th goal on the same night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[63] 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 the2009–10 season.[64]
The Flames struggled at the beginning of the2010–11 season, falling to 14th place in the conference at the Christmas break. The organization replaced Darryl Sutter withJay Feaster, giving him the role of interim general manager.[65] The interim tag was removed after the season's conclusion.[66] The team pulled itself back into playoff contention following the change but failed to qualify for the playoffs, missing by three points and finishing 10th in the conference.[67]
Calgary hosted the2011 Heritage Classic, the NHL's second outdoor game of the year, atMcMahon Stadium on February 22, 2011. The Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–0 and Kiprusoff became the first goaltender to record a shutout in an NHL outdoor game.[68] 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,[69] and scored his1,000th career point, all with the Flames.[70] Iginla also scored his500th career goal on January 7, 2012, against theMinnesota Wild.[71] On March 27, 2013, Iginla was traded to thePittsburgh Penguins in exchange for prospectsKenny Agostino andBen Hanowski and a first-round pick in2013, leaving the team without a captain for the first time.[72] The Flames missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year in 2012–13,[73] and selectedSean Monahan sixth overall at the2013 NHL entry draft.[74]
Prior to the2013–14 season,Mark Giordano was named as the new captain of the Flames.[75] The team fell to the sixth place in the division, and team presidentBrian Burke fired Feaster and took over the role on an interim basis.[76] 2011 fourth-round draft pickJohnny Gaudreau made his NHL debut after winning theHobey Baker Award atBoston College the day before. Gaudreau recorded his first NHL goal in the contest, the lone goal in a 5–1 Flames loss.[77]
In the2014–15 season, the Flames won one of their final games against the Los Angeles Kings to clinch their first playoff berth since 2009.[78] They eliminated the Vancouver Canucks in six games in the first round of the playoffs for their first playoff series win since 2004,[79] but were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in five games in the second round.[80] Head coachBob Hartley won theJack Adams Trophy for coach of the year.[81]
In the2015–16 season, the Flames faced heightened expectations after the prior seasons. These expectations were bolstered after the acquisition ofDougie Hamilton from theBoston Bruins for a first-round pick and two second-round picks at the2015 NHL entry draft. The Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs;[82] as a result, head coach Hartley was fired[83] and replaced by former Vancouver Canucks assistant coachGlen Gulutzan.[84] The Flames pickedMatthew Tkachuk as the sixth selection of the2016 NHL entry draft.[85]
During the off-season, the Flames had ongoing negotiations with pending restricted free agentsSean Monahan andJohnny Gaudreau. Monahan agreed to a seven-year contract worth $44.625 million, while Gaudreau signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract. Bolstered by the emergence of the "3M Line", composed of Tkachuk,Mikael Backlund andMichael Frolik,[86] the Flames rebounded to make the playoffs in the2016–17 season as the conference's first wild card seed, but they were swept by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.[87]
The Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs in the2017–18 season and Gulutzan was fired.[88]Bill Peters was hired as head coach.[89] The team made several changes to their roster before the2018–19 season, including a trade with theCarolina Hurricanes at the2018 NHL entry draft that sent Dougie Hamilton,Micheal Ferland, andAdam Fox to the Hurricanes in exchange forNoah Hanifin andElias Lindholm. At the end of the regular season, they won the division title for the first time since 2006.[90] They lost in the first round of the2019 Stanley Cup playoffs to theColorado Avalanche in five games.[91] At the end of season, captain Giordano was awarded theJames Norris Memorial Trophy for best defenceman of the year.[92]
During the2019–20 season, following accusations against Peters of racism and physical violence by former Flames's prospectAkim Aliu,[93] Peters was forced to take a leave of absence on November 26, pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Assistant coachGeoff 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] 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 thecoronavirus pandemic. Based on their regular season points percentage, they qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and defeated theWinnipeg Jets in four games in the qualifying round.[98] The Flames lost to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs in six games.[99]
On March 4, 2021, with the Flames starting 11–11–2, Ward was fired and Sutter was re-hired as head coach of the Flames.[100] Giordano's tenure as captain ended when he was selected by theSeattle Kraken in the2021 NHL expansion draft.[101] The team secured first place in thePacific Division and returned to the playoffs after failing to qualify in 2020–21.[102] They faced the Dallas Stars in the first round of the2022 Stanley Cup playoffs and won the series in seven games.[103] In their firstBattle of Alberta playoff series since 1991, the Flames lost to the Oilers in five games in the second round.[104][105]
The 2022 off-season saw the departures and arrivals of many star players. Gaudreau signed a seven-year deal to join theColumbus Blue Jackets, leaving the Flames.[106] Tkachuk – who was a restricted free agent – said he did not want to sign a long-term deal in Calgary.[107] After filing for club elected salary arbitration, the Flames traded Tkachuk and a conditional 2025 fourth-round draft pick to theFlorida Panthers in exchange for forwardJonathan Huberdeau, defencemanMacKenzie Weegar, prospectCole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round selection on July 23. As part of the trade negotiations Tkachuk signed an eight-year, $76 million contract with the Flames before being traded to the Panthers.[108] On August 18, the Flames traded Monahan and a conditional first-round pick in2025 to theMontreal Canadiens for future considerations.[109] The move made room for the Flames to secureColorado Avalanche forwardNazem Kadri, who signed a seven-year $49 million contract on the same day.[110]
Despite losing two 100-point players, the moves made by general managerBrad Treliving were praised, with some commentary suggesting the Flames might be a more serious Stanley Cup contender in 2022–23.[111] Despite these high expectations, the Flames missed the playoffs and Treliving vacated his position as general manager on April 17.Don Maloney was named the club's director of hockey operations and replaced Treliving as GM on an interim basis.[112] On May 23, 2023,Craig Conroy was named the club's general manager after nine seasons of being an assistant general manager.[113] On June 12,Ryan Huska was named the new head coach of the team after Sutter's firing.[114] Conroy's first trade was sending leading goal-scorer,Tyler Toffoli, to theNew Jersey Devils in exchange forYegor Sharangovich and a 2023 third-round draft choice on June 27.[115]
Mikael Backlund, the longest-serving player of the Flames, was named captain on September 27, 2023.[116] During the2023–24 season, Conroy sentElias Lindholm to theVancouver Canucks in exchange forAndrei Kuzmenko,Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, a first-round and a conditional fourth-round picks in the2024 NHL entry draft.[117] Also among those traded wereNikita Zadorov,[118]Chris Tanev,[119] andNoah Hanifin.[120] In the2024–25 season, Kuzmenko was traded to thePhiladelphia Flyers. The Flames missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.[121]
In 1994, the Flames approached the Saddledome Foundation with a proposal to renovate theOlympic 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 forCA$20 million as the team signed a 20-year agreement to manage the building.[122]
Looking to fill extra dates in the Saddledome, the Flames agreed to a lease deal with the expansionCalgary Hitmen of thejuniorWestern Hockey League who began play in 1995.[123] Two years later, the Flames bought the team for $1.5 million.[124] During the2004–05 NHL lock-out, the Flames heavily marketed the Hitmen and the team led all professional or junior hockey teams in North America in attendance, averaging over 10,000 fans per game.[125]
In April 2006, the Flames announced they would be opening a hybrid restaurant, bar and entertainment facility in downtown Calgary onStephen Avenue.[126] One year later,Flames Central opened to the public.[127] In 2017, the facility reverted to its original name of The Palace Theatre.[128]
Through the team's non-profit charity, the Flames Foundation, the team has donated over $32 million to causes throughout southern Alberta as of 2010.[129] Along with theRotary Club, the Flames helped to fund the firstchildren's hospice in Alberta, and one of only six in North America.[130][131]
The Flames are also close partners with theAlberta Children's Hospital and the Gordon Townsend School housed within. The Flames participate in the Wheelchair Hockey Challenge with the Townsend Tigers.[132]
The tradition of the C of Red dates back to the 1986Stanley Cup playoffs against the Oilers. Oiler fans were donning hats promoting "Hat Trick Fever" in their quest forthree 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".[133] During the Flames' run to the2004 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.[46] Sales of the Flames red home jersey, introduced at the start of the 2003–04 campaign, were so strong during the playoffs that manufacturerCCM stopped production on all other team jerseys to keep up with demand[134] and the team set a league record for sales of a new uniform design.[135] In December 2018, Calgary rock bandThe Dudes and the Calgary Flames organization released a cover of their hockey-themed song "Saturday Night" called "My C is Alright," paying homage to the C of Red.[136]
During the Flames' run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, the 17th Avenue SW entertainment district, which runs west from the Scotiabank Saddledome, saw up to 35,000 fans pack the streets during the first three rounds of the playoffs,[46] and over 60,000 in the finals.[134] The Red Mile party received coverage in many newspapers across North America,[137] as the parties remained peaceful and incidents were minimal despite the large number of people in a small area.[138]
In April 2006, theCalgary Police Service announced that Red Mile gatherings would be discouraged, 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.[139] After meeting with the Chief of Police, MayorDave Bronconnier convinced the Calgary Police Service to relax their ban on the "Red Mile" and encouraged people to make their way to 17th Ave. The police retained their zero-tolerance policy on public nudity and drunkenness.[138]
Since 2014, Canadian country singerGeorge Canyon sings "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" at most home games, accompanied by organist Warren Tse. Willy Joosen was the organist of the team until his death in July 2022.[140]
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.[141]
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.[142] 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 relegated to third jersey status in 2003 when the NHL adopted the coloured jerseys for the home team.[143] In 2007, with the introduction of the Rbk Edge jersey, the Flames updated their look to replace the horizontal striping with vertical striping down the sides. To honour the team's heritage, the Flames added theflags of Alberta andCanada as shoulder patches.[144]
For the2011 Heritage Classic, the Flames wore uniforms inspired by theCalgary Tigers, the city's first professional hockey team from the 1920s. 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.[145]
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.[146]
The2019 Heritage Classic against theWinnipeg Jets atRegina'sMosaic Stadium featured the return of the Flames' original white uniform in the modern AdiZero cut.[147]
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.[148] In November 2020, along with the rest of the league, the Flames released their Reverse Retro jersey. It was similar to the 1998–2006 alternate/dark jersey, with some slight modifications such as two stripes, a yellow and red one, and nothing below those stripes.[149] 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.[150] Also in 2022, the Flames unveiled their second "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the 1994–2000 uniform but with black as the base colour.[151] For the2023 Heritage Classic, the Flames wore cream-based uniforms inspired by theCalgary 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 were on the roundel itself. The uniform featured red stripes and red letters.[152]
The Flames primary logo is the "Flaming C" design, introduced when the team came to Calgary in 1980.[153] The flaming horse logo, (colloquially nicknamed "Blasty") was retired in 2007 with the introduction of the newRbk Edge jerseys.[144]
Harvey the Hound is the Flames' mascot. He was created in 1983 to serve both with the Flames and theCalgary Stampeders of theCanadian Football League.[154] Harvey was the first mascot in the NHL.[154] In January 2003,Edmonton Oilers head coachCraig MacTavish ripped out the mascot's tongue as he was harassing their bench.[155] The incident led to other NHL team mascots arriving at the2003 All-Star Game with their tongues hanging out.[156]
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Flames. For the full season-by-season history, seeList 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 |
Updated February 5, 2026[157][158]
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.[159]
| 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 ofLanny McDonald, who played right wing for the Flames from 1981 to 1989 and won the Stanley Cup as the Flames' co-captain in his final year. No. 30 was retired to honourMike Vernon, goaltender with the Flames from 1982 to 1994 and 2000 to 2002.[160] The Flames retiredJarome Iginla's No. 12 in 2019; he played right wing for the Flames from 1996 to 2013 and served as the team's captain from 2003 to 2013.[161]Miika Kiprusoff's No. 34 was retired in 2024; he was the Flames' goaltender for 11 years from 2003 to 2013.[162] The NHL retiredWayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams at the2000 NHL All-Star Game.[163]
In 2012, the Flames organization introduced the "Forever a Flame" programme to honour those who played and represented the Calgary Flames without retiring their numbers. On February 27, 2012, defenceman Al MacInnis earned this distinction, with a banner with his picture and his No. 2 raised to the Scotiabank Saddledome rafters.[164]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.[165]
Twelve former Flames have been elected to theHockey 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 in1982–83. He was joined in 2000 by a fellow member of the 1989Stanley Cup championship team,Joe Mullen. Mullen spent five seasons with the Flames, recording 388 points and capturing twoLady Byng Trophies.Grant Fuhr, elected in 2003, became the third former Flames player to enter the Hall. Fuhr played only one season in Calgary, but recorded his 400th career win in a Flames uniform, a victory over theFlorida Panthers on October 22, 1999.[166] In 2007,Al MacInnis became the fourth former Flame inducted into the Hall. MacInnis was a member of the Flames from 1981 until 1994. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1989 as playoff MVP.[167] On November 9, 2009,Brett Hull became the fifth player in Calgary Flames history to be inducted.[168] He was drafted 117th in the1984 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 forwardsDoug Gilmour andJoe Nieuwendyk would become the sixth and seventh members to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame.[169] On June 29, 2015, defencemanPhil Housley was inducted, making him the eighth player in Flames history to gain that honour.[170] Housley played for the Flames on two separate occasions, (1994–1996 and 1998–2001).Sergei Makarov entered as a part of the Class of 2016.[171] Makarov was drafted 231st in the1983 NHL entry draft, and joined the Flames in 1989, where he won theCalder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year at the age of 31. He played for the Flames from 1989 to 1993.Martin St. Louis became the tenth player to be inducted into the Hall.[172] St. Louis was a part of the Flames organization from 1997 to 2000, splitting his time with the Flames'American Hockey League affiliateSaint John Flames and the main roster. On June 24, 2020,Jarome Iginla became the eleventh player inducted into the Hall of Fame. He played for the Flames from 1996 to 2013, during his time with the team he won many awards including theArt Ross Trophy, theLester B. Pearson Award and theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.[173] In 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.[174]
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.[175]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 the public face of the consortium. He has served many years as the chairman of the NHL board of directors and played a significant role in the resolution of the2004–05 lock-out.[166] Fellow original ownerDoc Seaman was similarly inducted in 2010.[176] On June 29, 2015, former playerBill Hay was elected to the Hockey of Fame in the builders category. Hay served as president and CEO for the Flames in the 1990s.[177]
Flames radio broadcasterPeter Maher was named the recipient of theFoster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2006 for his years of service as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames.[166] Longtime trainerBearcat 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.[178]
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise (Atlanta and Calgary) history as of the end of the 2024–2025 season.[179]
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In addition to the jersey change, the team's primary branding will also switch to the original colour scheme - which is made up of red, yellow and white, losing the accented black that has been part of the branding since the mid-90s
Once the Flames got past Christmas and installed Sutter as their new head coach...
The Calgary Flames captain and face of the franchise became just the 42nd player in NHL history to join the 500-goal club with his third-period tally in Saturday night's 3–1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
The Calgary Flames... announced today a venture to open a hybrid restaurant, bar and entertainment facility...
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