1996–97 Calgary Flames season

1996–97 Calgary Flames
Division 5th Pacific
Conference 10th Western
1996–97 record 32–41–9
Home record 21–18–2
Road record 11–23–7
Goals for 214 (23rd)
Goals against 239 (12th)
Team information
General Manager Al Coates
Coach Pierre Page
Captain Theoren Fleury
Arena Canadian Airlines Saddledome
Average attendance 17,089
Team leaders
Goals Theoren Fleury (29)
Assists Theoren Fleury (38)
Points Theoren Fleury (67)
Penalties in minutes Todd Simpson (208)
Wins Trevor Kidd (21)
Goals against average Trevor Kidd (2.84)
<1995–96 1997–98>

The 1996–97 Calgary Flames season was the 17th National Hockey League season in Calgary. It was another season of decline, as the Flames began the rebuilding process after remaining near the top of the league standings for nearly a decade. Finishing 5th in the Pacific Division, the Flames missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1991–92 season, and for only the second time since coming to Calgary.[1]

As a result of missing the playoffs, the Flames fired head coach Pierre Page following the season, replacing him with Brian Sutter. Page ended his Flames career with a coaching record of 66–78–20. His .463 winning percentage was, at the time, the worst for any coach in Flames history.[2]

On November 23, 1996, rugged forward Sasha Lakovic authored one of the more memorable moments in the history of the Battle of Alberta when he attempted to leap over the glass at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton to attack a drunken fan who had reached over the barrier to dump a beer on the head of Flames assistant coach Guy Lapointe. Lakovic, who was held back by his team-mates from going into the crowd, was suspended two games, while the Edmonton Oilers were fined $20,000 for having inadequate security.[3]

Theoren Fleury was named to the Western Conference team at the 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game, where he recorded an assist.[4]

Rookie forward Jarome Iginla, acquired the previous season in a trade for Joe Nieuwendyk led all NHL rookies in scoring at 50 points.[5] Despite his success, Iginla failed to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, as defenceman Bryan Berard was voted the league's top rookie. Iginla was named to the All-Rookie team, however.[4]

Regular season

The Flames allowed the most shorthanded goals in the league in 1996–97, with 19.[6]

Season standings

Pacific Division
No. CR GP W L T GF GA Pts
11 Colorado Avalanche 82 49 24 9 277 205 107
24 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 82 36 33 13 243 231 85
37 Edmonton Oilers 82 36 37 9 252 247 81
49 Vancouver Canucks 82 35 40 7 257 273 77
510 Calgary Flames 82 32 41 9 214 239 73
612 Los Angeles Kings 82 28 43 11 214 268 67
713 San Jose Sharks 82 27 47 8 211 278 62

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[7]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 p – Colorado Avalanche PAC 82 49 24 9 277 205 107
2 Dallas Stars CEN 82 48 26 8 252 198 104
3 Detroit Red Wings CEN 82 38 26 18 253 197 94
4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim PAC 82 36 33 13 245 233 85
5 Phoenix Coyotes CEN 82 38 37 7 240 243 83
6 St. Louis Blues CEN 82 36 35 11 236 239 83
7 Edmonton Oilers PAC 82 36 37 9 252 247 81
8 Chicago Blackhawks CEN 82 34 35 13 223 210 81
9 Vancouver Canucks PAC 82 35 40 7 257 273 77
10 Calgary Flames PAC 82 32 41 9 214 239 73
11 Toronto Maple Leafs CEN 82 30 44 8 230 273 68
12 Los Angeles Kings PAC 82 28 43 11 214 268 67
13 San Jose Sharks PAC 82 27 47 8 211 278 62

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results

1996–97 Game Log

Playoffs

The Flames finished 10th in the Western Conference, eight points behind the 8th place Chicago Blackhawks. The Flames missed the playoffs for the first time since 1991–92, for the second time in Calgary Flames history, and for only the fourth time in franchise history.[1]

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Theoren Fleury 1481293867104-----
Dave Gagner 518227336048-----
German Titov 137922305236-----
Jarome Iginla 24/128221295037-----
Jonas Hoglund 446819163512-----
Corey Millen 346111152632-----
Cory Stillman 16586202614-----
Todd Hlushko 20587111849-----
Ronnie Stern 227971017157-----
Aaron Gavey 2341791634-----
Yves Racine 36461151624-----
Tommy Albelin 5724111514-----
Todd Simpson 278211314208-----
Ed Ward 4240581349-----
Mike Sullivan 3267561110-----
Chris O'Sullivan 192728102-----
Joel Bouchard 67645949-----
Sandy McCarthy 1533358113-----
Marty McInnis 18103472-----
Cale Hulse 296316791-----
James Patrick 3193146-----
Glen Featherstone 41313419-----
Hnat Domenichelli 17101232-----
Dale McTavish 4191232-----
Trevor Kidd 375502216-----
Sami Helenius 830110-----
Sasha Lakovic 381901154-----
Paxton Schulte 3510002-----
Zarley Zalapski 3320000-----
Marty Murray 2820004-----
Marko Jantunen 4530000-----
Rick Tabaracci 3170000-----
Jamie Allison 22000035-----
Dwayne Roloson 30310002-----
All traded players --234265201-----

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Rick Tabaracci 31 7 361 2 4 0 14 1 2.33 - - - - - - -
Trevor Kidd 37 55 2979 21 23 6 141 4 2.84 - - - - - - -
Dwayne Roloson 30 31 1618 9 14 3 78 1 2.89 - - - - - - -


Traded mid-season

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.

Trades

November 19, 1996 To Calgary Flames
Aaron Gavey
To Tampa Bay Lightning
Rick Tabaracci
March 5, 1997 To Calgary Flames
Hnat Domenichelli
Glen Featherstone
2nd round pick in 1997
3rd round pick in 1998
To Hartford Whalers
Steve Chiasson
Conditional pick in 1997
March 18, 1997 To Calgary Flames
Marty McInnis
Tyrone Garner
6th round pick in 1997
To New York Islanders
Robert Reichel

Free agents

Player Former team
Player New team
This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, held in St. Louis, Missouri.[8]

Rnd Pick Player Nationality Position Team (league) NHL statistics
GPGAPtsPIM
113Derek Morris CanadaDRegina Pats (WHL)1107923324241004
239Travis Brigley CanadaLWLethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)5536916
240Steve Begin CanadaCVal-d'Or Foreurs (QMHJL)5245652108561
373Dmitri Vlasenkov RussiaLWTorpedo Yaroslavl (RSL)
489Toni Lydman FinlandDTappara (SM-liiga)84736206242551
494Christian Lefebvre CanadaDGranby Prédateurs (QMJHL)
5122Josef Straka Czech RepublicCHC Litvínov (Czech)
8202Ryan Wade CanadaFKelowna Rockets (WHL)
9228Ronald Petrovicky SlovakiaRWPrince George Cougars (WHL)342415192429

Farm teams

Saint John Flames

The Baby Flames finished the 1996–97 American Hockey League season in second place in the Canadian Division with a 28–36–13–3 record. They were defeated in three games to two by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the first round of the playoffs, however.[9] Jarrod Skalde led the Flames with 32 goals and 68 points. Darrin Madeley was the starting goaltender, posting an 11–18–11 record with a 3.21 GAA in 46 games.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Year-by-year results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 106
  2. Head Coaches, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 103
  3. Francis, Eric, The Uncivil War, Calgary Sun, September 19, 2003, accessed January 26, 2007
  4. 1 2 All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22
  5. 1996–97 season, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 115
  6. http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997.html
  7. "1996-1997 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  8. Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed January 12, 2007
  9. 1997–98 AHL playoffs @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 26, 2007
  10. Saint John Flames player stats @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 20, 2007
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