Building a Calgary Flames all-time 2000s lineup

Much like the 1990s, the 2000s weren’t very kind to the Calgary Flames. Outside of one Cinderella run in 2004, the franchise failed to win a single playoff round in any other season. Needless to say, the era wasn’t exactly busting with superstar talent. Here’s how an all-2000 Flames lineup stacks up.

Forwards

Alex Tanguay–Craig Conroy–Jarome Iginla

2000s Flames hockey, also known as the Jarome Iginla era. After being acquired in the ’90s, Iginla really took off in the 2000s. After it was all said and done, he’d put together the greatest decade of hockey in Flames history. Iginla led the franchise in games played, goals, assists, points, points per game, and just about every other major category in the 2000s. The next closest Flames forward had 435 fewer points than him. In fact, his 737 points in the decade ranked second in the entire NHL behind only Joe Thornton. Needless to say, he was on an island in Calgary.

At centre is Iginla’s long-time pal Craig Conroy. Acquired at the start of the decade, Conroy led all Flames centres in games played, points, and assists in the 2000s. Only Iginla had more games played and points than Conroy among Flames forwards in the 2000s.

Lastly, Alex Tanguay claims the top left-wing spot. While Tanguay played just 159 games in Calgary in the 2000s, he still managed the sixth most points among Flames forwards, and the second most among wingers. His 0.87 points per game was also second in Calgary behind only Iginla.

Kristian Huselius–Daymond Langkow–Mike Cammalleri

The most underrated Flame of the 2000s was, without a doubt, Kristian Huselius. The Swede spent just three years in Calgary, but was among the team’s best forwards in all three seasons. His 182 points ranks fourth among Flames forwards in the decade, and tops among all wingers.

At centre is Daymond Langkow, a forward synonymous with the 2000 era Flames. Langkow spent 356 games as a Flame in the 2000s, the third most of any forward behind only Iginla and Conroy. He also posted the third most points with 274, and the second most goals with 119.

Mike Cammalleri, meanwhile, was one of the most talented Flames of the 2000s, even if he only spent one season with the team. His 82 points in 81 games in 2008–09 was the best season by any Flame not named Iginla in the decade.

Martin Gelinas–Matthew Lombardi–Valeri Bure

Centring the third line is Matthew Lombardi. After being drafted by the Flames in 2002, he’d spend 347 games as a Flame, the fourth most among forwards in the 2000s. His 167 points, meanwhile, ranked fifth among Flames forwards in the decade.

While he spent just 122 games as a Flame in the 2000s and left the franchise in 2001, Valeri Bure still deserves a spot here. His 94 points rank ninth among Flames forwards in the 2000s, while his 0.77 points per game ranks sixth. He also led the Flames in scoring in the 1999–00 season with 75 points.

At left wing is the eliminator, AKA Martin Gelinas. Perhaps no Flame had a larger impact on the Flames’ 2000s playoff success than Gelinas. The winger scored the series-winning goal in the first, second, and third rounds during Calgary’s 2004 miracle run to the final, becoming the second player in NHL history to achieve the feat.

Stephane Yelle–Marc Savard–Chris Clark

One of the Flames’ most underrated players of the 2000s was Stephane Yelle. The defensive centre was a mainstay in the Flames lineup from 2002 until 2008, and was a key cog on the 2004 Cinderella team. His 339 games in Calgary in the decade ranked fifth among Flames forwards. Ask Darryl Sutter who was an unsung hero of that 2004 run, and he’ll tell you Stephane Yelle.

While his time in Calgary was short, Marc Savard was arguably the most talented centre the Flames had in the 2000s. Across 184 games in Calgary in the 2000s, Savard posted 131 points, which was good for seventh among Flames forwards. Savard remains one of the biggest what-ifs in Flames history.

Lastly, I have Chris Clark. Clark played 278 games in Calgary in the 2000s, the sixth most among Flames forwards. He was also a core member of the 2004 team, playing in all 26 playoff games during the run. He even won an AHL championship with the Saint John Flames in 2001.

Defencemen

Dion Phaneuf–Robyn Regehr

Dion Phaneuf was a true star in Calgary. The 2003 ninth overall pick racked up 223 points in 363 games in the 2000s, the most of any Flames defenceman. He finished as a finalist for the Calder Trophy in 2006 and was the runner-up for the Norris Trophy in 2008. During his five-year run in Calgary, he finished in the top 10 in Norris voting three times. It’s a shame his tenure ended how it did.

Alongside him is Robyn Regehr, the longest tenured defenceman of the 2000s. Regehr logged 679 games in Calgary in the decade, 316 more than any other blueliner. His 137 points ranked second behind only Phaneuf. The definition of a warrior, Regehr was the heart and soul of the Flames’ defence for the entire decade.

Toni Lydman–Jordan Leopold

The talent drops off quite a bit after the first pairing. Toni Lydman was one of the Flames’ better defencemen in the early 2000s, even if he isn’t talked about much in Calgary. His 93 points ranked third behind the two names above, while his 289 games played in Calgary during the decade ranked fourth.

A core part of the Flames’ 2004 defence group, Jordan Leopold played every single regular season and playoff game for the Flames in the 2003–04 season. His 33 points that season also led all Flames defenders. Overall, Leopold played the fifth most games among Calgary blueliners in the 2000s.

Andrew Ference–Rhett Warrener

Both Andrew Ference and Rhett Warrener were proven, gritty defenders for the Flames in the 2000s. Both were also members of the 2004 team, with Ference skating in all 26 playoff games while Warrener suited up for 24.

Warrener’s 231 games in Calgary ranked sixth most among Flames defenders, while Ference’s 224 ranked seventh. While neither was known for their offence, their impact was still felt in Calgary, especially in 2004.

Goaltenders

Miikka Kiprusoff–Roman Turek

Just like Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff put up one of the best-ever decades of Flames hockey in the 2000s. Acquired in 2004, he logged a ridiculous 373 games played in Calgary in the decade, along with an impressive 210 wins.

The next most used goaltender in Calgary in the 2000s was Roman Turek, who played 221 fewer games than Kiprusoff. Kiprusoff played 73 games or more in every single season he spent in Calgary in the decade, something that is unthinkable in today’s game. He also claimed the franchise’s only Vezina Trophy in 2006, and finished as a finalist in both 2004 and 2007.

Turek, meanwhile, was the obvious choice behind Kiprusoff. His 151 games played and 63 wins were both second behind Kiprusoff and miles ahead of any other Flames goaltender. While he spent just three years in Calgary, he was the Flames’ primary starter in two of them.