1997–98 Calgary Flames season

The 1997–98 Calgary Flames season was the 18th National Hockey League season in Calgary. After a disappointing 1996–97 season, the Flames looked to newly hired coach Brian Sutter to return the Flames to the playoffs.

1997–98 Calgary Flames
Division	5th Pacific
Conference	11th Western
1997–98 record	26–41–15
Home record	18–17–6
Road record	8–24–9
Goals for	217 (14th)
Goals against	252 (22nd)
Team information
General manager	Al Coates
Coach	Brian Sutter
Captain	Todd Simpson
Alternate captains	Theoren Fleury Andrew Cassels
Arena	Canadian Airlines Saddledome
Average attendance	16,940
Team leaders
Goals	Theoren Fleury (27) Cory Stillman (27)
Assists	Theoren Fleury (51)
Points	Theoren Fleury (78)
Penalty minutes	Theoren Fleury (197)
Wins	Rick Tabaracci (13)
Goals against average	Rick Tabaracci (2.88)

The off-season featured the trade of highly popular forward Gary Roberts shortly before the season began. Roberts missed the entire 1996–97 NHL season due to injury after playing only 35 games in 1995–96. Feeling that playing in the Eastern Conference with its lower travel would help aid him in his comeback, the Flames agreed to trade Roberts. He was dealt, along with starting goaltender Trevor Kidd to the Carolina Hurricanes for Andrew Cassels and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.[1]

The season would serve as a bitter disappointment for the Flames from start to end, as the Flames would struggle to score goals all season long, ultimately finishing with the worst record in Calgary history at 26–41–15, while 67 points was the lowest in franchise history since the expansion Atlanta Flames managed just 65 in 1972–73.

Theoren Fleury was named to the North American team at the 1998 NHL All Star Game, where he recorded two assists playing on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Recchi. Defenceman Derek Morris was named a Rookie All Star.[2]

Fleury also represented Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.[3]

Prior to the start of the season, the Flames purchased the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen for approximately $1.5 million. The struggling franchise was nearly destroyed by the fallout of the Graham James scandal.[4]

Regular season

On Friday, October 17, 1997, the Flames scored three short-handed goals in a 6-5 win over the Colorado Avalanche.[5]

Season standings

Pacific Division

No.		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	Colorado Avalanche	82	39	26	17	231	205	95
2	Los Angeles Kings	82	38	33	11	227	225	87
3	Edmonton Oilers	82	35	37	10	215	224	80
4	San Jose Sharks	82	34	38	10	210	216	78
5	Calgary Flames	82	26	41	15	217	252	67
6	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	82	26	43	13	205	261	65
7	Vancouver Canucks	82	25	43	14	224	273	64

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[6]

R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Dallas Stars	CEN	82	49	22	11	242	167	109
2	x – Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	39	26	17	231	205	95
3	Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	44	23	15	250	196	103
4	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	45	29	8	256	204	98
5	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	38	33	11	227	225	87
6	Phoenix Coyotes	CEN	82	35	35	12	224	227	82
7	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	35	37	10	215	224	80
8	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	34	38	10	210	216	78
9	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	30	39	13	192	199	73
10	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	30	43	9	194	237	69
11	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	26	41	15	217	252	67
12	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	26	43	13	205	261	65
13	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	25	43	14	224	273	64

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

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

Schedule and results

1997–98 Game Log
October: 3–8–2 (Home: 3–4–1; Road: 0–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 1 Detroit 3 – 1 Calgary Tabaracci 17,893 0–1–0 0 2 October 3 Colorado 4 – 1 Calgary Tabaracci 15,327 0–2–0 0 3 October 7 Toronto 2 – 1 Calgary Tabaracci 16,831 0–3–0 0 4 October 9 NY Rangers 1 – 1 Calgary OT Roloson 16,756 0–3–1 1 5 October 12 Calgary 4 – 4 Detroit OT Tabaracci 19,983 0–3–2 2 6 October 14 Calgary 4 – 5 Dallas OT Roloson 14,892 0–4–2 2 7 October 17 Colorado 5 – 6 Calgary OT Tabaracci 16,432 1–4–2 4 8 October 18 Boston 3 – 0 Calgary Tabaracci 16,673 1–5–2 4 9 October 22 Calgary 1 – 4 Buffalo Tabaracci 11,222 1–6–2 4 10 October 23 Calgary 3 – 4 Philadelphia Roloson 19,319 1–7–2 4 11 October 25 Calgary 3 – 4 Toronto Tabaracci 15,726 1–8–2 4 12 October 28 Pittsburgh 3 – 6 Calgary Moss 15,645 2–8–2 6 13 October 30 Phoenix 2 – 4 Calgary Moss 15,761 3–8–2 8
November: 2–7–5 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 1–4–4) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 14 November 1 Calgary 2 – 2 Colorado OT Moss 16,061 3–8–3 9 15 November 2 Calgary 1 – 3 Phoenix Tabaracci 14,928 3–9–3 9 16 November 5 Toronto 4 – 3 Calgary Moss 16,322 3–10–3 9 17 November 7 Anaheim 4 – 3 Calgary OT Moss 16,487 3–11–3 9 18 November 9 Calgary 3 – 6 Detroit Tabaracci 19,983 3–12–3 9 19 November 10 Calgary 1 – 1 Chicago OT Roloson 15,753 3–12–4 10 20 November 13 Carolina 4 – 2 Calgary Roloson 15,113 3–13–4 10 21 November 15 Calgary 2 – 2 Edmonton OT Tabaracci 17,099 3–13–5 11 22 November 18 Calgary 1 – 2 New Jersey Tabaracci 15,092 3–14–5 11 23 November 20 Calgary 2 – 1 Florida Tabaracci 14,703 4–14–5 13 24 November 22 Calgary 3 – 4 Tampa Bay Tabaracci 15,176 4–15–5 13 25 November 23 Calgary 3 – 3 Carolina OT Tabracci 5,516 4–15–6 14 26 November 27 Chicago 2 – 2 Calgary OT Tabaracci 16,641 4–15–7 15 27 November 29 Anaheim 3 – 4 Calgary OT Tabaracci 18,334 5–15–7 17
December: 6–8–1 (Home: 4–5–0; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 28 December 1 San Jose 2 – 3 Calgary OT Tabaracci 15,268 6–15–7 19 29 December 3 Detroit 4 – 3 Calgary Tabaracci 16,310 6–16–7 19 30 December 5 Calgary 1 – 4 Dallas Roloson 16,688 6–17–7 19 31 December 6 Calgary 3 – 4 St. Louis OT N/A N/A 6–18–7 19 32 December 9 Calgary 3 – 1 NY Islanders Tabaracci 9,251 7–18–7 21 33 December 10 Calgary 4 – 1 NY Rangers Tabaracci 18,200 8–18–7 23 34 December 12 Colorado 1 – 3 Calgary Tabaracci 17,450 9–18–7 25 35 December 16 Chicago 3 – 4 Calgary OT Tabaracci 15,462 10–18–7 27 36 December 18 Dallas 2 – 1 Calgary Tabaracci 15,667 10–19–7 27 37 December 20 Los Angeles 4 – 1 Calgary Tabaracci 15,873 10–20–7 27 38 December 22 Calgary 1 – 5 Anaheim Tabaracci 16,975 10–21–7 27 39 December 23 Calgary 2 – 2 Phoenix OT Roloson 15,424 10–21–8 28 40 December 27 Philadelphia 2 – 5 Calgary Roloson 18,742 11–21–8 30 41 December 29 Phoenix 5 – 3 Calgary Roloson 18,742 11–22–8 30 42 December 31 Montreal 3 – 2 Calgary Tabaracci 18,742 11–23–8 30
January: 3–6–3 (Home: 1–1–2; Road: 2–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 43 January 3 Calgary 3 – 4 St. Louis N/A N/A 11–24–8 30 44 January 5 Calgary 1 – 1 Chicago OT Tabaracci 15,941 11–24–9 31 45 January 6 Calgary 3 – 1 Colorado Roloson 16,061 12–24–9 33 46 January 9 Florida 3 – 3 Calgary OT Tabaracci 17,010 12–24–10 34 47 January 10 St. Louis 5 – 1 Calgary Roloson 18,562 12–25–10 34 48 January 14 Calgary 2 – 5 Edmonton Roloson 17,099 12–26–10 34 49 January 20 Calgary 3 – 4 Los Angeles Moss 10,367 12–27–10 34 50 January 21 Calgary 1 – 7 San Jose Roloson 16,553 12–28–10 34 51 January 24 Vancouver 2 – 5 Calgary Roloson 18,627 13–28–10 36 52 January 28 Calgary 5 – 2 Anaheim Tabaracci 16,758 14–28–10 38 53 January 29 Calgary 3 – 5 Los Angeles Tabaracci 9,586 14–29–10 38 54 January 31 New Jersey 2 – 2 Calgary Roloson 18,719 14–29–11 39
February: 2–1–1 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 55 February 3 Los Angeles 6 – 3 Calgary Roloson 15,815 14–30–11 39 56 February 5 San Jose 2 – 4 Calgary Roloson 15,391 15–30–11 41 57 February 7 Edmonton 2 – 4 Calgary Roloson 18,719 16–30–11 43 58 February 27 Vancouver 4 – 4 Calgary OT Roloson 15,586 16–30–12 44
March: 8–6–1 (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 2–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 59 March 1 Ottawa 1 – 2 Calgary Roloson 17,463 17–30–12 46 60 March 3 Tampa Bay 1 – 2 Calgary Roloson 15,831 18–30–12 48 61 March 5 Calgary 6 – 2 Vancouver Roloson 15,613 19–30–12 50 62 March 7 Calgary 1 – 2 Ottawa Roloson 18,036 19–31–12 50 63 March 9 Calgary 2 – 5 Washington Tabaracci 12,011 19–32–12 50 64 March 11 Calgary 1 – 4 Pittsburgh Roloson 14,655 19–33–12 50 65 March 12 Calgary 5 – 2 Boston Roloson 14,677 20–33–12 52 66 March 14 Calgary 1 – 2 Toronto Roloson 15,726 20–34–12 52 67 March 16 Calgary 3 – 3 Montreal OT Roloson 20,504 20–34–13 53 68 March 20 NY Islanders 1 – 4 Calgary Tabaracci 18,189 21–34–13 55 69 March 22 St. Louis 3 – 5 Calgary Tabaracci 16,675 22–34–13 57 70 March 24 Buffalo 2 – 0 Calgary Tabaracci 16,296 22–35–13 57 71 March 26 Washington 2 – 3 Calgary Tabaracci 15,782 23–35–13 59 72 March 28 Los Angeles 2 – 5 Calgary Tabaracci 16,998 24–35–13 61 73 March 30 Calgary 1 – 3 Edmonton Tabaracci 17,099 24–36–13 61
April: 2–5–2 (Home: 1–2–1; Road: 1–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 74 April 1 Dallas 1 – 3 Calgary Roloson 17,012 25–36–13 63 75 April 5 Calgary 3 – 3 Anaheim OT Roloson 17,174 25–36–14 64 76 April 7 Calgary 0 – 6 San Jose Tabaracci 17,483 25–37–14 64 77 April 9 Vancouver 6 – 3 Calgary Roloson 16,313 25–38–14 64 78 April 11 Edmonton 5 – 4 Calgary Roloson 18,719 25–39–14 64 79 April 13 Calgary 2 – 4 Los Angeles Roloson 12,049 25–40–14 64 80 April 15 San Jose 3 – 3 Calgary OT Roloson 16,567 25–40–15 65 81 April 17 Calgary 4 – 2 Vancouver Roloson 16,602 26–40–15 67 82 April 18 Calgary 1 – 4 San Jose Roloson 17,483 26–41–15 67

Playoffs

The Flames finished 11th in the Western Conference with just 67 points, eleven points behind the 8th place San Jose Sharks. Calgary missed the playoffs for the second straight season.

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	14		82	27	51	78	197		-	-	-	-	-
Cory Stillman	16		72	27	22	49	40		-	-	-	-	-
Marty McInnis	18		75	19	25	44	34		-	-	-	-	-
Andrew Cassels	21		81	17	27	44	32		-	-	-	-	-
German Titov	13		68	18	22	40	38		-	-	-	-	-
Michael Nylander	92		65	13	23	36	35		-	-	-	-	-
Jarome Iginla	12		70	13	19	32	29		-	-	-	-	-
Derek Morris	53		82	9	20	29	88		-	-	-	-	-
Cale Hulse	32		79	5	22	27	169		-	-	-	-	-
Tommy Albelin	5		69	2	17	19	32		-	-	-	-	-
James Patrick	3		60	6	11	17	26		-	-	-	-	-
Hnat Domenichelli	17		31	9	7	16	6		-	-	-	-	-
Jim Dowd	34		48	6	8	14	12		-	-	-	-	-
Joel Bouchard	6		44	5	7	12	57		-	-	-	-	-
Jamie Allison	2		43	3	8	11	104		-	-	-	-	-
Valeri Bure^†	8		16	5	4	9	2		-	-	-	-	-
Ed Ward	42		64	4	5	9	122		-	-	-	-	-
Chris Dingman	7		70	3	3	6	149		-	-	-	-	-
Todd Simpson	27		53	1	5	6	109		-	-	-	-	-
Jason Wiemer^†	24		12	4	1	5	28		-	-	-	-	-
Aaron Gavey	23		26	2	3	5	24		-	-	-	-	-
Dwayne Roloson	30		39	0	4	4	10		-	-	-	-	-
Erik Andersson	29		12	2	1	3	8		-	-	-	-	-
Chris O'Sullivan	19		12	0	2	2	10		-	-	-	-	-
Eric Landry	11		12	1	0	1	4		-	-	-	-	-
Ladislav Kohn	46		4	0	1	1	0		-	-	-	-	-
Todd Hlushko	20		13	0	1	1	27		-	-	-	-	-
Kevin Dahl	4		19	0	1	1	6		-	-	-	-	-
Rick Tabaracci	31		42	0	1	1	14		-	-	-	-	-
Sergei Varlamov	58		1	0	0	0	0		-	-	-	-	-
Eric Charron	39		2	0	0	0	4		-	-	-	-	-
Marty Murray	28		2	0	0	0	2		-	-	-	-	-
Travis Brigley	43		5	0	0	0	23		-	-	-	-	-
Steve Begin	57		5	0	0	0	23		-	-	-	-	-
Tyler Moss	1		6	0	0	0	0		-	-	-	-	-
Denis Gauthier	24		10	0	0	0	16		-	-	-	-	-
Rocky Thompson	55		12	0	0	0	61		-	-	-	-	-
Mike Peluso	8		23	0	0	0	113		-	-	-	-	-
Traded players	–		16	20	36	227	-		-	-	-	-

^†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		42	2419	13	22	6	116	0	2.88		-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dwayne Roloson	30		39	2205	11	16	8	110	0	2.99		-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tyler Moss	1		6	367	2	3	1	20	0	3.27		-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.[7]

Trades

June 21, 1997	To Calgary Flames Rick Tabaracci	To Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in 1998
August 25, 1997	To Calgary Flames Andrew Cassels Jean-Sebastien Giguere	To Carolina Hurricanes Gary Roberts Trevor Kidd
February 1, 1998	To Calgary Flames Valeri Bure 4th round pick in 1998	To Montreal Canadiens Zarley Zalapski Jonas Hoglund
March 24, 1998	To Calgary Flames Jason Wiemer	To Tampa Bay Lightning Sandy McCarthy 3rd round pick in 1998 5th round pick in 1998

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 1998 NHL Entry Draft, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[8]

Rnd	Pick	Player	Nationality	Position	Team (league)	NHL statistics
						GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1	6	Daniel Tkaczuk	Canada	C	Barrie Colts (OHL)	19	4	7	11	14
2	32	Evan Lindsay	Canada	G	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
2	42	John Tripp	Canada	RW	Oshawa Generals (OHL)	43	2	7	9	35
2	51	Dmitri Kokorev	Russia	D	Moscow Dynamo (RSL)
3	60	Derek Schultz	Canada	C	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
3	70	Erik Andersson	Sweden	LW	University of Denver (NCAA)	12	2	1	3	8
4	92	Chris St. Croix	United States	D	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
4	100	Ryan Ready	Canada	LW	Belleville Bulls (OHL)	7	0	1	1	0
5	113	Martin Moise	Canada	RW	Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
6	140	Ilya Demidov	Russia	D	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
7	167	Jeremy Rondeau	Canada	LW	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
9	223	Dustin Paul	Canada	RW	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Farm teams

Saint John Flames

The Baby Flames finished the 1997–98 American Hockey League season with a franchise record 43 wins, as their 43–24–13 record led the Flames to the Atlantic Division title, the first division championship in team history. The Flames marched to the Calder Cup finals, defeating the St. John's Maple Leafs 3–1, the Portland Pirates 4–2, and Hartford Wolf Pack 4–1. The Flames fell to the Philadelphia Phantoms 4–2 in the finals, however.[9] Hnat Domenichelli led the Flames with 33 goals, while Ladislav Kohn led the team with 56 points. Tyler Moss played the majority of the games in goal, leading the team with 19 wins in 39 games, while his 2.49 GAA was just behind the 2.46 posted by Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 31 games.[10]

See also

• 1997–98 NHL season

References

• Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 114.
• Game log: 1997–98 Calgary Flames game log, usatoday.com, accessed January 14, 2007.
• Team standings: 1997–98 NHL standings @hockeydb.com.
• Trades: hockeydb.com player pages.

1. Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames, cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed January 13, 2007.
2. All Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
3. New York Rangers press release Archived 2006-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, July 8, 1999, accessed January 20, 2007.
4. Miller, Mark (1997-06-14). "Hitmen finally go up in Flames". Calgary Sun. p. S5.
5. https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199710170CGY.html
6. "1997-1998 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
7. Calgary Flames 1997–2003 transactions, hockeynut.com, accessed January 14, 2007.
8. Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed January 12, 2007.
9. 1997–98 AHL playoffs @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 20, 2007.
10. Saint John Flames player stats @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 20, 2007.