After coming so close in 2003-04, the Flames are looking to take the next step this season.

Flames burn for
a return trip
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com
Sept. 4, 2005

For seven straight seasons, the winters in Calgary seemed colder than usual. With the Flames struggling and missing the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of those seasons, hockey fans in Calgary weren't feeling the warmth of success.

Did that ever change in 2003-04! Darryl Sutter, handling the dual roles of coach and general manager, built a team than not only returned to the playoffs in the tough Western Conference, but emerged as the conference champ. The Flames came within one win of claiming the franchise's second Stanley Cup.

Judging by the moves Sutter has made since the new collective bargaining agreement was reached in July, the Flames are serious about getting back to the finals and picking up that one extra win.

The Flames have been one of the most active teams this summer. And while Sutter paid attention to re-signing many of the players responsible for the Flames' revival, most notable NHL goal-scoring leader Jarome Iginla and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, he ventured into the free-agent market and made some excellent additions in Tony Amonte, Darren McCarty, and Roman Hamrlik.

Blend in those players with the elements of a team that went 42-30-7-3 in 2003-04 and you have the basis for plenty of excitement in 2005-06.

Forwards

Any discussion of the Flames' forwards -- and fortunes -- begins with Iginla, who shared the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals during the 2003-04 season with Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and Columbus' Rick Nash. Iginla, a productive and popular player, had 41 goals and 32 assists in 81 games during the 2003-04 season. The veteran right wing has become a fixture in Calgary, and he cemented that reputation by passing up the chance for unrestricted free agency next summer to sign a three-year deal to remain with the Flames.

"We're trying to build a championship team here in Calgary, and Jarome is the centerpiece to build around," Sutter says. "He's our team captain who has been a career Flame and has become one of the elite players in the NHL. We're happy Jarome believes in our team as he will continue to be an important leader both on and off the ice for the Flames."

The Flames took a lot of heat off Iginla with the signing of Amonte, who had been released by the Philadelphia Flyers. Amonte is a proven veteran with a scoring touch. In 80 games with the Flyers in 2003-04, Amonte scored 20 goals and 33 assists and was plus-13. He is fully capable of netting 30-plus goals this season.

Shean Donovan brings a world of speed to the equation in Calgary. He was a very pleasant surprise for the Flames in 2003-04, scoring 18 goals and 24 assists in 82 games.

Calgary added a full measure of character and grit with the free-agent signing of McCarty. In 43 games with Detroit in 2003-04, McCarty scored six goals and five assists. But his value to the Red Wings was never measured in goals and assists, rather in teamwork, grit, and all-out hustle. McCarty was one of the most popular Red Wings thanks in large part because of his community involvement. It doesn't figure that McCarty will need too long to earn the same status in Calgary.

Chuck Kobasew round out the right side for the Flames. In 70 games in 2003-04, he scored six goals and 11 assists. He was the 14th overall pick by the Flames in 2001 and will be entering his second full NHL season.

At center, Daymond Langkow, acquired from Phoenix on Aug. 26, 2004, could be the top man in the middle. He has averaged more than 50 points per season in each of his last five campaigns with Phoenix and Philadelphia. Langkow is a tenacious worker, strong on the draw and a very good skater. He has the potential to work very well with another strong skater like Iginla.

Matthew Lombardi figures to earn plenty of minutes this season after scoring 16 goals and 13 assists in 79 games in 2003-04. The Flames hope Steven Reinprecht can muster a healthy season in 2005-06. He missed 38 regular-season games and all of the playoffs due to injury. When in the lineup, Reinprecht scored seven goals and 22 assists in 44 games. A healthy Reinprecht, who had 18 goals and 33 assists in 77 games with Colorado in 2002-03, could be a big boost.

Defensive stalwart Stephane Yelle scored four goals and 13 assists in 2003-04, but was limited to just 53 games by injury.

Jason Wiemer, who scored seven goals and 11 assists in 62 games with Minnesota in 2003-04, and Byron Ritchie, who scored five goals and six assists in 50 games with the Florida Panthers, will vie for the fourth-line center duties.

On the left side, tough guy Chris Simon is coming off one of his most successful offensive seasons, scoring a combined 17 goals and 11 assists with the New York Rangers and Flames. He added five goals and two assists in 16 playoff games.

Miikka Kiprusoff, the star of Calgary's 2004 playoff run, returns in net for the Flames.

Marcus Nilson, acquired at the trade deadline from the Panthers, is a quiet, steady forward who had 11 goals and 13 assists in 83 games in 2003-04. He added four goals and seven assists in 26 playoff games for the Flames.

Defense

The Flames' defense is one of the top contingents in the NHL, led by a core of young blueliners who should be around for quite some time.

Robyn Regehr really came of age in 2003-04, jumping into the mix of any discussion about the NHL's best young defensemen. He plays a strong, physical game and chipped in with four goals and 14 assists in 82 games and was plus-14 while averaging 22:21 of ice time per game.

Andrew Ference was another defenseman who gained some positive reviews for his fine play in 2003-04. Ference also plays a physical game and added four goals and 12 assists in 72 games, averaging 18:40 per game.

Jordan Leopold responded quite well in his first full NHL season in 2003-04. Offensively, he chipped in with nine goals and 24 assists in 82 games and was plus-8, averaging 22:14 per game.

One of the other important additions for the Flames with the signing of Hamrlik, who played for the New York Islanders for the past four NHL seasons and who has been a consistent point producer since being drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1992 Entry Draft. He is coming off a 2003-04 season in which he scored seven goals and 22 assists. His most productive offensive NHL season was 1995-96 with the Lightning when he scored 16 goals and 49 assists.

Whew! And we're only now getting to highly regarded junior defenseman Dion Phaneuf, the Flames' top pick in the 2003 Entry Draft. Phaneuf, a stable on Team Canada's National Junior Teams at the World Junior Championships, may lack NHL experience, but he has all the tools to be a top-four defenseman.

Goaltending

You don't get too far in the NHL without quality goaltending, and Sutter's knowledge of the San Jose Sharks roster from his days as coach there paid big dividends when the Flames acquired Kiprusoff from the Sharks.

Kiprusoff, a quiet Finn, certainly seemed to enjoy the spotlight that comes with being a No. 1 goalie. He took command of the Flames' crease and was one of the primary factors for the team's march to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Kiprusoff was steady and spectacular, often at the same time, posting a 24-10-4 record and 1.69 goals-against average in 38 appearances. He was every bit as effective in the playoffs, going 15-11 with a 1.85 GAA with five shutouts in 26 Stanley Cup games.

With Roman Turek's retirement, Sutter went shopping for a backup goaltender and made a deal with Colorado for Philippe Sauve, who started the 2003-04 season as David Aebischer's understudy until the Avalanche added veteran Tommy Salo for the playoff run. In 17 appearances with the Avalanche, Sauve, the son of retired NHL goalie Bob Sauve, went 7-7-3 with a 3.04 GAA.

Outlook