1997–98 Calgary Flames season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1997–98
Year:	1997
Team:	Calgary Flames
Conferencerank:	11th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	26–41–15
Homerecord:	18–17–6
Roadrecord:	8–24–9
Goalsfor:	217 (14th)
Goalsagainst:	252 (22nd)
Attendance:	16,940
Goalsleader:	Theoren Fleury (27) Cory Stillman (27)
Assistsleader:	Theoren Fleury (51)
Pointsleader:	Theoren Fleury (78)
Pimleader:	Theoren Fleury (197)
Plusminusleader:	Jim Dowd (+10) Michael Nylander (+10)
Winsleader:	Rick Tabaracci (13)
Gaaleader:	Rick Tabaracci (2.88)

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.

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. The Flames finished eleven points behind the 8th place San Jose Sharks, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

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

Schedule and results

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

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

	Regular season
	Player
14		RW	82	27	51	78	0	197
16		LW	72	27	22	49	−9	40
18		LW	75	19	25	44	1	34
21		C	81	17	27	44	−7	32
13		C	68	18	22	40	−1	38
92		C	65	13	23	36	10	35
12		RW	70	13	19	32	−10	29
53		D	82	9	20	29	1	88
32		D	79	5	22	27	1	169
5		D	69	2	17	19	9	32
3		D	60	6	11	17	−2	26
17		LW	31	9	7	16	4	6
34		C	48	6	8	14	10	12
44		LW	50	6	8	14	−9	16
15		RW	52	8	5	13	−18	170
6		D	44	5	7	12	0	57
2		D	43	3	8	11	3	104
8		RW	16	5	4	9	0	2
42		LW	64	4	5	9	−1	122
33		D	35	2	7	9	−12	41
7		LW	70	3	3	6	−11	149
27		D	53	1	5	6	−10	109
24		LW	12	4	1	5	−1	28
23		C	26	2	3	5	−5	24
30		G	39	0	4	4		10
29		C	12	2	1	3	−4	8
19		D	12	0	2	2	4	10
11		C	12	1	0	1	−2	4
4		D	19	0	1	1	−3	6
20		LW	13	0	1	1	0	27
26		RW	4	0	1	1	2	0
31		G	42	0	1	1		14
57		C	5	0	0	0	0	23
43		LW	5	0	0	0	0	23
39		D	2	0	0	0	0	4
24		D	10	0	0	0	−5	16
1		G	6	0	0	0		0
28		C	2	0	0	0	1	2
8		LW	23	0	0	0	−6	113
55		D	12	0	0	0	0	61
58		LW	1	0	0	0	0	0

Goaltending

	Regular season
	Player
31		42	13	22	6	1087	116	2.88	.893	0	2419
30		39	11	16	8	997	110	2.99	.890	0	2205
1		6	2	3	1	186	20	3.27	.892	0	367

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	NHL All-Rookie Team	Derek Morris (Defence)	^[6]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Theoren Fleury	^[7]
Team	Molson Cup	Theoren Fleury
Team	Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award	Ed Ward	^[8]

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.^[9]

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

Draft picks

See main article: List of Calgary Flames draft picks.

Calgary's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[10]

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

References

Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 114.
Web site: Calgary Flames 1997-98 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 7, 2023.
Web site: 1997-98 Calgary Flames Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 7, 2023.

Notes and References

Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames, cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed January 13, 2007.
All Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/pressreleases.asp?id=3 New York Rangers press release
News: Mark . Miller . Hitmen finally go up in Flames . Calgary Sun . S5 . 1997-06-14.
Web site: Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames Box Score — October 17, 1997.
Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . July 9, 2023.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1998 . NHL.com . July 9, 2023.
Web site: JAROME IGINLA SELECTED AS RECIPIENT OF RALPH SCURFIELD HUMANITARIAN AWARD . Calgary Flames . June 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021021040422/http://www.calgaryflames.com/cgi-bin/news/comments.cgi?type=press_rel&file_num=0000000491 . October 21, 2002 . April 9, 2002.
http://www.hockeynut.com/0304/cgytrans19972003.html Calgary Flames 1997–2003 transactions
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000043.html Calgary Flames draft history
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php3?league=AHL1941&season=1998&leaguenm=AHL 1997–98 AHL playoffs
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0002601998.html Saint John Flames player stats