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Calgary Flames
Well, here we go! An absolutely fascinating year for the Flames, and I can't help but wonder what kind of team we're going to see. Discuss.
Devastating news from the Snow family
www.nhl.com
The 21st captain in franchise history is Mikael Backlund!
hockeynews.se
The article is in Swedish, so you'll have to use translate if you don't understand Swedish. But the video has English subtitles. Both the article and the video are worth a look.
# [Where did the Calgary Flames rank among the league’s teams in 2022-23?](https://flamesnation.ca/news/where-did-the-calgary-flames-rank-among-the-leagues-teams-in-2022-23) The Calgary Flames are looking at the 2023-24 regular season with the desire to right some of the wrongs that happened in 2022-23\. There was lots of disappointment, under-performance from big-name players that are being paid lots of money, turmoil behind closed doors, and so much more. All of this culminated in the team missing…
# [Craig Conroy considers the Adam Fox selection from 2016 NHL Draft a win](https://flamesnation.ca/news/craig-conroy-considers-the-adam-fox-selection-from-2016-nhl-draft-a-win) Every team has that one (or more) NHL Draft selection who got away that fans remember for unprecedented amounts of time. For the Calgary Flames, one of the players in question is Adam Fox, who was drafted in the third round (66th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. On Just A Game with Rob…
# [The 5 best Calgary Flames captains in franchise history](https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-5-best-calgary-flames-captains-in-franchise-history) Throughout the history of the Calgary Flames franchise, dating back to the Atlanta days, many talented players have served as the club’s captain. But only a handful have truly excelled in the role, leading the team to success while enjoying it themselves. Here’s our list of the five best captains in Flames franchise history, based…
# [MacKenzie Weegar should be the next captain of the Calgary Flames](https://flamesnation.ca/news/mackenzie-weegar-should-be-the-next-captain-of-the-calgary-flames) One of the big decisions Craig Conroy and Ryan Huska are going to have to make before the start of the 2023-24 season is naming the next captain of the Calgary Flames. There are a few things you need to take into consideration when naming a captain of an NHL franchise which include; – The…
# [Calgary Flames legend Hakan Loob doesn’t get celebrated enough](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-legend-hakan-loob-doesnt-get-celebrated-enough) Brought to you by odds site Betway! When we think about great National Hockey League players or great Calgary Flames, our thoughts often focus on longevity and excellence. But plenty of players have long, excellent careers, just not all spent in the NHL. One of those truly excellent players was Hakan Loob, who spent just six seasons…
# [Expect to see two Calgary Flames prospects at the World Juniors](https://flamesnation.ca/news/expect-to-see-two-calgary-flames-prospects-at-the-world-juniors) The annual USA Hockey Summer Showcase began on Thursday in Plymouth, Michigan. The annual event features World Junior hopefuls from the United States, Finland and Sweden, and serves as a preamble to roster selections for those countries. As the event kicks off, let’s take an early look at the chances Calgary Flames prospects have of…
# [Rarely do Calgary Flames signees get as many bonuses as Samuel Honzek did](https://flamesnation.ca/news/rarely-do-calgary-flames-signees-get-as-many-bonuses-as-samuel-honzek-did) In the National Hockey League, it’s not uncommon for general managers to throw wacky amounts of money at players to get them to sign with their teams. However, entry-level contracts have specific rules, with salaries and signing bonuses capped, leaving a small variation within a contract’s performance bonuses available to lure a player to sign….
# [Joe Colborne cited as one of The Hockey News’ biggest ‘one-hit wonders’ of the past decade](https://flamesnation.ca/news/joe-colborne-cited-as-one-of-the-hockey-news-biggest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-past-decade) Sometimes promising players never break out. Sometimes they do… but it doesn’t last all that long. Over at The Hockey News, writer Connor Earegood put together a list of the biggest “one-hit wonders” of the past decade of the National Hockey League, players that had one really good season and not much else. Former Calgary…
# [Calgary Flames sign Samuel Honzek to entry-level deal (three years, $950,000 AAV)](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-sign-samuel-honzek-to-entry-level-deal-three-years-950000-aav) The Calgary Flames have locked up a bit piece of their prospect pool. The club announced on Wednesday afternoon that they’ve signed 2023 first-round selection Samuel Honzek to a three-year entry-level deal. His contract carries a $950,000 base cap hit at the NHL, as well as includes potential performance bonuses of up to $500,000 per…
# [Sebastian Aho’s new contract sets a ceiling on Elias Lindholm’s next deal](https://flamesnation.ca/news/sebastian-ahos-new-contract-sets-a-ceiling-on-elias-lindholms-next-deal) On Wednesday, the Carolina Hurricanes took care of some important business. A year ahead of unrestricted free agency, they locked in talented Finnish forward Sebastian Aho to an eight year deal that carries a $9.75 million cap hit when it begins in 2024-25\. The Flames have a talented Swedish forward to lock down in the…
# [Brett Sutter’s return to the Calgary Wranglers keeps a unique Flames streak alive](https://flamesnation.ca/news/brett-sutters-return-to-the-calgary-wranglers-keeps-a-unique-flames-streak-alive) On Tuesday, the Calgary Wranglers announced that captain Brett Sutter will be returning for the 2023-24 season. With Sutter back to captain the Calgary Flames’ top developmental club, a unique streak will continue for the franchise. The 2023-24 campaign will be the 27th consecutive season with a Sutter involved somewhere in the Flames organization. Here’s…
# [Calgary Wranglers’ Dustin Wolf wins AHL President’s Award for player excellence](https://flamesnation.ca/news/dustin-wolf-wins-ahl-presidents-award-for-player-excellence) Did Dustin Wolf win another award? Is the sky blue? The answers to both those questions is yes. The Calgary Wranglers goaltender has taken home the 2023 American Hockey League President’s Award for player excellence and added it to his collection. He was given the honour at a banquet late last week. At its annual…
# [Calgary Flames prospect Topi Ronni named to Finland’s World Junior summer showcase roster](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-prospect-topi-ronni-named-to-finlands-world-junior-summer-showcase-roster) From July 27 to August 4, fans of the Calgary Flames can watch one of the team’s prospects, Topi Rönni, play for his home country of Finland at the World Junior summer showcase. U20 Nuoret Leijonat tällä joukkueella turnaukseen USA:n Plymouthiin: https://t.co/NzrmIkDWnd#NuoretLeijonat #U20fi #Leijonat pic.twitter.com/Y47LutqQc3 — Leijonat (@leijonat) July 25, 2023 Rönni, who is still…
# [Calgary Wranglers re-sign captain Brett Sutter to one-year AHL contract](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-wranglers-re-sign-captain-brett-sutter-to-one-year-ahl-contract) The Calgary Wranglers have retained their captain for the 2023-24 season. The club announced on Tuesday morning that veteran forward Brett Sutter has signed a one-year American Hockey League contract to remain with the franchise for another season. Welcome back Cap! 🔥 The Calgary Wranglers are pleased to announce that they have re-signed forward Brett…
# [Former Calgary Flames that won the Stanley Cup elsewhere](https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-that-won-the-cup-elsewhere) The Stanley Cup is really hard to win. Some of the greatest players in hockey history have had superb careers but didn’t manage to hoist the Cup – recent Hall of Fame inductee Jarome Iginla is a prime example of this. But since the Calgary Flames entered the NHL in 1972 in Atlanta, several players…
# [The Calgary Flames need to react appropriately to 2022-23’s failure](https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-calgary-flames-need-to-react-appropriately-to-2022-23s-failure) Things did not go according to plan for the Calgary Flames during the 2022-23 season. In terms of pure results – wins and losses, and goals scored and allowed – they weren’t up to snuff. But as the Flames inch towards the onset of the 2023-24 season, with a new general manager and a new…
# [3 Calgary Flames prospects (probably) going pro in 2023-24](https://flamesnation.ca/news/3-calgary-flames-prospects-probably-going-pro-in-2023-24) One of the more exciting things about tracking a franchise’s drafting and development system is seeing drafted prospects graduate from major junior or college, sign entry-level deals, and join the Calgary Flames’ pro system. For the upcoming 2023-24 season, there are a trio of players that are expected to play the season in the North…
# [FlamesNation Mailbag: Talkin’ goalies, trades and snacks](https://flamesnation.ca/news/flamesnation-mailbag-talkin-goalies-trades-and-snacks) Friends, we’re almost through the month of July, with the Calgary Stampede in the rear-view mirror and August just ahead of us. As the sands continue swirling through this summer’s hourglass, let’s delve into the mailbag! Who gets traded first at this point Lindholm or Hanifin? — Noah (@realnoahadler99) July 23, 2023 Here’s the state…
# [What would a Noah Hanifin trade do to the Calgary Flames’ roster depth?](https://flamesnation.ca/news/what-would-a-noah-hanifin-trade-do-to-the-calgary-flames-roster-depth) There are two Calgary Flames players that fans seem to think will likely be traded before the start of the regular season: goaltender Dan Vladar and defender Noah Hanifin. Due to the emergence of Dustin Wolf, Vladar’s move seems both prudent and inevitable for everybody involved. Hanifin’s a pending unrestricted free agent who has reportedly…
# [The Calgary Flames’ cap situation is tight right now (but they gain flexibility soon)](https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-calgary-flames-cap-situation-is-tight-right-now-but-they-gain-flexibility-soon) We’re into the lean weeks of the 2023 off-season, friends, as clubs throughout the National Hockey League do important things like hire assistant coaches for their minor league teams, cement loan agreements with European clubs, and make sure their hockey operations personnel get their vacations in before training camp. The Calgary Flames likely have a…
# [The Calgary Flames should (eventually) retire Mikael Backlund’s number](https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-calgary-flames-should-eventually-retire-mikael-backlunds-number) On March 2, 2024, the Calgary Flames will retire Mikka Kiprusoff’s number 34\. When it comes to jersey retirements, there’s no clear-cut requirement that qualifies a player. Generally-speaking, it’s meant to commemorate the individual accomplishments of a key individual in franchise history, and allows the hockey club and its fans to enjoy some good vibes…
# [The Calgary Flames should (eventually) retire Mark Giordano’s number](https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-calgary-flames-should-eventually-retire-mark-giordanos-number) On March 2, 2024, the Calgary Flames will retire Mikka Kiprusoff’s number 34\. When it comes to jersey retirements, there’s no clear-cut requirement that qualifies a player. Generally-speaking, it’s meant to commemorate the individual accomplishments of a key individual in franchise history, and allows the hockey club and its fans to enjoy some good vibes…
# [WATCH: Craig Conroy joins Rob Kerr live in studio for two hours of Flames talk on Just A Game](https://flamesnation.ca/news/watch-craig-conroy-joins-rob-kerr-live-in-studio-for-two-hours-of-flames-talk) Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy joined FlamesNation‘s very own Rob Kerr live in studio on Friday afternoon for a very special edition of Just A Game With Rob Kerr. The two fixtures of the Calgary sports scene sat down for two hours to discuss Conroy’s long career with the Flames (on and off the ice)…
# [Nick DeSimone was a great leader for the Calgary Wranglers last season in more ways than one](https://flamesnation.ca/news/nick-desimone-was-a-great-leader-for-the-calgary-wranglers-last-season-in-more-ways-than-one) Nick DeSimone was another piece to the leadership puzzle for the Wranglers’ first season as a team. His group was joined by Matthew Phillips as the other alternate captain and Brett Sutter as the team’s captain. DeSimone had a four-game NHL look in his 2022-23 season but it was short-lived. Instead, he played a key…
# [The Calgary Flames should (eventually) retire Robyn Regehr’s number](https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-calgary-flames-should-eventually-retire-robyn-regehrs-number) On March 2, 2024, the Calgary Flames will retire Mikka Kiprusoff’s number 34\. When it comes to jersey retirements, there’s no clear-cut requirement that qualifies a player. Generally-speaking, it’s meant to commemorate the individual accomplishments of a key individual in franchise history, and allows the hockey club and its fans to enjoy some good vibes…
# [It is time to end the Forever a Flame program](https://flamesnation.ca/news/it-is-time-to-end-the-forever-a-flame-program) On Tuesday morning, the Calgary Flames announced that they will be retiring Miikka Kiprusoff’s number 34 to the rafters of the Scotiabank Saddledome on Mar. 2, 2024, in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kiprusoff will join Jarome Iginla, Lanny McDonald, and Mike Vernon as the only four players to have their jersey retired in…
# [Mikael Backlund knows Jonathan Huberdeau struggled but can bounce back](https://flamesnation.ca/news/mikael-backlund-knows-jonathan-huberdeau-struggled-but-can-bounce-back) Mikael Backlund is an extraordinarily influential player in the Calgary Flames organization and has been for some time. Even though we’re still not sure what his future is with the team, we know that he has earned a certain respect in the locker room with anyone that comes in, rookie or veteran. Jonathan Huberdeau’s first…
# [Calgary Flames prospect Dustin Wolf among The Athletic’s top 10 drafted goaltenders](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-prospect-dustin-wolf-among-the-athletics-top-10-drafted-goaltenders) It’s the off-season, and what better time to pour over each NHL club’s prospect bases? Over at The Athletic, their prospect guru Scott Wheeler has been doing his annual deep dives into each team’s crop of young players. He recently published his list of the 10 best NHL-drafted goalie prospects. Among that list? Calgary Flames…
# [Calgary Flames prospect Matt Coronato among The Athletic’s top 50 drafted skaters](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-prospect-matt-coronato-among-the-athletics-top-50-drafted-skaters) We’re well into the off-season and in the aftermath of the annual entry draft, many outlets are taking stock of prospect pools league-wide. Over at The Athletic, our pal Scott Wheeler has prepared his annual rundown of drafted NHL prospects. On Tuesday, Wheeler broke down the top 50 drafted skaters in the league, with Calgary…
# [On this day in 2019, the Calgary Flames acquire Milan Lucic from rival the Edmonton Oilers](https://flamesnation.ca/news/on-this-day-in-2019-the-calgary-flames-acquire-milan-lucic-from-rival-the-edmonton-oilers) On this day in 2019, the Calgary Flames acquired physical forward Milan Lucic and a third-round draft pick in 2021 from their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward James Neal. A battle of Alberta trade is almost unheard of, which is why when the two teams put down their swords to make…
# [Nazem Kadri looking forward to fresh start with Calgary Flames in 2023-24 season](https://flamesnation.ca/news/nazem-kadri-looking-forward-to-fresh-start-with-calgary-flames-in-2023-24-season) The 2022-23 season wasn’t exactly a banner year for many players on the Calgary Flames roster, and that includes two of the forwards that former general manager Brad Treliving signed to long-term deals: Jonathan Huberdeau and, the subject of this piece, Nazem Kadri. Kadri’s numbers weren’t awful last season, but it was clear that he…
# [Miikka Kiprusoff is looking forward to his jersey retirement ceremony (but maybe not the speech)](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-legend-miikka-kiprusoff-looking-forward-to-jersey-retirement-ceremony-but-probably-not-the-speech) There will be a festive atmosphere at the Saddledome on March 2, 2024\. Not only will the Calgary Flames host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the Flames organization will pay tribute to legendary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff when they retire his number 34 in a pre-game ceremony. Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning,…
# [Mikael Backlund on his Calgary Flames future: ‘I want to wait and see’](https://flamesnation.ca/news/mikael-backlund-on-his-calgary-flames-future-i-want-to-wait-and-see) It goes without saying that Mikael Backlund has been both very good and very important for the Calgary Flames, both on and off the ice. But Backlund’s contract is set to expire on July 1, 2024, potentially making him an unrestricted free agent. On the heels of an interview with Uffe Bodin in early July,…
# [Walker Duehr had a confusing AHL season with the Calgary Wranglers](https://flamesnation.ca/news/walker-duehr-had-a-confusing-ahl-season-with-the-calgary-wranglers) Walker Duehr had quite a year of growth in the Calgary Flames organization. He skated in his historic first NHL game in the 2021-22 season and by the end of the 2022-23 season, he had a more regular role up with the Flames. The odd thing is, the skills he brought to the NHL didn’t…
# [Calgary Flames to retire Miikka Kiprusoff’s number 34 on March 2](https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-flames-to-retire-miikka-kiprusoffs-number-34-on-march-2) The Calgary Flames will be raising a jersey number to the Saddledome rafters during the 2023-24 season. The club announced on Tuesday morning that legendary netminder Miikka Kiprusoff will have his number 34 retired on March 2, prior to the Flames’ home date with the Pittsburgh Penguins. #34 is heading to the rafters🔥: https://t.co/GnKqRHPKoH pic.twitter.com/WXI1K3z7QW…
# [New Calgary Wranglers head coach Trent Cull returns to his AHL roots](https://flamesnation.ca/news/new-calgary-wranglers-head-coach-trent-cull-returns-to-his-ahl-roots) Over the past few seasons, the Calgary Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate has developed a strong reputation. The Stockton Heat won the AHL’s Pacific Division in 2021-22, and the relocated Calgary Wranglers repeated the feat in 2022-23, with head coach Mitch Love being named coach of the year in each season. When Love departed the…