The 10 best rookie seasons in Flames history: counting down the top five

The Calgary Flames have embarked upon a retooling process, which involves gradually swapping out older players on expiring contracts for young up-and-comers. As this process continues, we’re looking back on the top 10 rookie seasons in Flames franchise history.

We’ve already gone through the 10th through sixth-best rookie years by Flames players. Here’s the top five!

#5: Gary Suter (1985-86)

A college standout at Wisconsin, Suter was a ninth-round pick, 180th overall, in the 1984 NHL Draft. He made the jump to pro hockey and became a full-time NHL as a 21-year-old.

Suter had 18 goals and 50 assists for 68 points. He was tied for third on the Flames in points (with Al MacInnis), behind Dan Quinn and Lanny McDonald. He was second in the NHL in points by a rookie behind Kjell Dahlin.

Suter won the Calder Trophy and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

#4: Dion Phaneuf (2005-06)

Phaneuf was a first-round pick, ninth overall, in the 2003 NHL Draft. He became a full-time NHLer a couple years later as a 20-year-old.

Phaneuf posted 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points. He was third on the Flames in points, behind Jarome Iginla and Daymond Langkow. He was tied with Chuck Kobasew for third in goals, behind Iginla and Langkow. He was sixth among all rookies in points, behind Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Brad Boyes, Juusi Jokinen and Marek Svatos.

Phaneuf finished third in Calder Trophy voting and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

#3: Dustin Wolf (2024-25)

Wolf was the fourth-from-last player selected in the 2019 NHL Draft – taken in the seventh round, 214th overall. He became a full-time NHLer at 23 after having a brief NHL appearance at 21 and a chunk of games at 22.

Wolf posted a record of 29-16-8 with a 2.64 goals against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts. He was the Flames’ number-one goaltender, a rarity for a rookie, and he led all NHL rookie goaltenders in pretty much every goaltending category.

He finished second in Calder Trophy voting and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

#2: Johnny Gaudreau (2014-15)

Gaudreau was a fourth-round pick, 104th overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft. He played one game as a 20-year-old and became a full-timer the following season as a 21-year-old.

Gaudreau posted 24 goals and 40 assists for 64 points. He was second on the team in points, behind Jiri Hudler, and third in goals, behind Hudler and Sean Monahan. League-wide, he was tied for the lead in rookie points with Mark Stone, and was fifth in goals, behind Mike Hoffman, Stone, Filip Forsberg and Anders Lee.

He finished third in Calder Trophy voting and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

#1: Joe Nieuwendyk (1987-88)

Nieuwendyk was drafted in the second round, 27th overall, in the 1985 NHL Draft. He played nine games as a 20-year-old, then became a full-time NHLer as a 21-year-old.

Nieuwendyk had 51 goals and 41 assists for 92 points. He was third on the Flames in points, behind 100+ point performances by Hakan Loob and Mike Bullard, and he led the team in goals outright. He led all NHL rookies in points and goals. He was one of four rookies in NHL history to score 50 or more goals in a season, and one of 13 rookies with 90 or more points in a season.

He won the Calder Trophy and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Which Flames rookie season do you think was the most impressive?