Building a Calgary Flames all-time 2010s lineup

The 2010s were a time of change in Calgary. Franchise regulars and all-time greats like Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff moved on with their careers, while the Flames entered their first major rebuild in over a decade.

It was also one of the most exciting eras of Flames hockey, with a plethora of young talent making waves in the 2010s. Here’s how the Flames’ all-time 2010s lineup shakes out.

Forwards

Johnny Gaudreau–Sean Monahan–Matthew Tkachuk

Flames hockey in the 2010s was defined by Johnny Gaudreau. A fourth-round pick in 2011, no forward put up more assists (275) or points (418) for the Flames in the 2010s than Gaudreau. He also led all forwards in points per game at 0.96, well ahead of anyone else. Gaudreau led the Flames in scoring in four straight seasons from 2015–16 to 2018–19. From the moment he stepped on the ice as a Flame in 2014, Gaudreau was the team’s most talented player.

At centre is Sean Monahan, the player who kicked off the post-Iginla rebuild. Selected 6th overall in 2013, Monahan was by far the Flames’ best centre of the decade. No Flames centre put up more goals, assists or points than Monahan did in the 2010s. In fact, he led all Flames in goals with 185, regardless of position. Both Gaudreau and Monahan were integral parts of the Flames’ 2014–15 and 2018–19 seasons, two of the most successful Flames seasons of the 21st century.

Lastly, Matthew Tkachuk didn’t join the Flames until the end of the decade in 2016, but he made an immediate impact. Despite playing just 265 games in Calgary in the 2010s, he still ranked fourth for points and sixth for goals among Flames forwards.

Jiri Hudler–Mikael Backlund–Jarome Iginla

The streets will never forget Jiri Hudler’s 2014–15 season. The Czechia-born winger came to Calgary in 2012 and was a key part of the Find A Way Flames in 2014–15, leading the team in scoring with 76 points. Overall, he spent 248 games in Calgary and posted 192 points, the sixth-highest among Flames forwards.

No forward played more games in Calgary in the 2010s than Mikael Backlund’s 661. In fact, no one else even hit the 600 mark. Backlund also finished the decade with the third most goals (134) and points (337) among Flames forwards. No player was more of a constant presence in the Flames’ lineup than Backlund during the 2010s.

Even though he was traded in 2013, Iginla was still among the best Flames of the 2010s. He led the team in scoring in all three seasons he played in the decade, while his 206 points in 237 games ranked fifth among Flames forwards. His 0.87 points per game, meanwhile, ranked second behind only Gaudreau, while his 43 goals in 2010–11 were the team’s only 40-goal season of the entire decade.

Curtis Glencross–Matt Stajan–Alex Tanguay

Curtis Glencross is a name synonymous with the 2010-era Flames. While he was never a star, Glencross was always a fan favourite in Calgary until he was dealt in 2015. His 307 games played in the decade ranked seventh among forwards, while his 93 goals ranked fifth.

At centre is Matt Stajan. While he never lived up to the hype after being acquired in the Dion Phaneuf blockbuster, Stajan earned the hearts of Flames fans and carved out a nice career in Calgary. His 558 games played in the decade ranked second behind only Backlund. He also scored one of the team’s biggest goals of the 21st century in game six of the 2015 playoffs.

Alex Tanguay’s time in Calgary in the 2010s was short, with only 183 games, but he was one of the team’s most effective players. His 145 points ranked ninth among Flames forwards, while his 0.79 points per game ranked fourth among Flames.

Sam Bennett–Elias Lindholm–Michael Frolik

Even if Sam Bennett failed to meet expectations, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a big part of the 2010s in Calgary. His 338 games played ranked fifth behind only Backlund, Stajan, Monahan, and Gaudreau. He also posted the most playoff goals of any Flame in the 2010s with 11, earning him the nickname “Playoff Sam Bennett.”

Elias Lindholm didn’t join the Flames until 2018, but his impact was still greater than most in the 2010s. He was a gigantic part of the Flames’ 2018–19 season on the Purple Gatorade line, posting 78 points in 81 games that year. Overall, his 0.89 points per game across 123 games trailed only Gaudreau and Iginla.

A key member of the famed 3M line, Michael Frolik was as solid and dependable as they come in Calgary. His 319 games played in the decade ranked sixth among Flames forwards.

Defencemen

Mark Giordano–T.J. Brodie

Mark Giordano was the rock of the Flames’ blueline in the 2010s, earning the captaincy after Iginla left. His 722 games played were the most among any Flame at any position. His 420 points, meanwhile, were 161 more than any other Flames defender. He also led the blueline in goals (120) and assists (300) in the decade. He capped it off by winning the franchise’s first and only Norris Trophy in 2019.

Beside him is his long-time partner, T.J. Brodie. Brodie finished second behind only Giordano in games played, points, and assists from the blueline. In fact, his 606 games played were 328 more than the next defenceman. He also led the franchise in playoff scoring from the blueline in the decade with 15 points.

Jay Bouwmeester–Dougie Hamilton

Jay Bouwmeester’s time in Calgary was a tumultuous one, but he was still one of the team’s best defenders of the 2010s. His 239 games played and 80 points both ranked fifth among Flames blueliners in the decade. He also averaged a ridiculous 25:42 minutes a night while in Calgary.

Dougie Hamilton was one of the decade’s more divisive players, but his talent can’t be denied. During his time in Calgary, he and Giordano formed arguably the best pairing in the NHL between 2016 and 2018. His 137 points ranked third from the blueline behind only Giordano and Brodie, while his 245 games ranked fourth.

Kris Russell–Dennis Wideman

Kris Russell was a major part of the Flames’ miracle 2014–15 season. Fun fact, his 8.52 blocks per 60 while in Calgary led all Flames defenders in the 2010s. Simply put, Russell was a warrior as a Flame.

Ignoring his referee incident, Dennis Wideman was one of the Flames’ best defenders of the 2010s. His 136 points ranked third behind only Giordano, Brodie, and Hamilton, while his 280 games played ranked third.

Goaltenders

Miikka Kiprusoff–David Rittich

Even though he retired in 2013, Miikka Kiprusoff was still the Flames’ best goaltender of the 2010s. His 95 wins and 200 games played were both the most among any Flames goaltender in the decade. He also earned two top 10 Norris finishes in the decade, more than any other Flame.

At backup is Big Save Dave, David Rittich. Rittich’s 99 games played in the decade ranked third among Flames goaltenders, while his 52 wins ranked second. No goaltender created more highlight reel moments in the 2010s than Rittich, who was a fan favourite.