2008–09 Calgary Flames season

2008–09 Calgary Flames
Division	2nd Northwest
Conference	5th Western
2008–09 record	46–30–6
Home record	27–10–4
Road record	19–20–2
Goals for	254
Goals against	248
Team information
General Manager	Darryl Sutter
Coach	Mike Keenan
Captain	Jarome Iginla
Alternate captains	Dion Phaneuf Robyn Regehr
Arena	Pengrowth Saddledome
Average attendance	19,289
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Cammalleri (39)
Assists	Jarome Iginla (54)
Points	Jarome Iginla (89)
Penalties in minutes	Cory Sarich (112)
Plus/minus	Craig Conroy (+20)
Wins	Miika Kiprusoff (45)
Goals against average	Mikka Kiprusoff (2.84)

The 2008–09 Calgary Flames season was the 29th season for the Calgary Flames, and the 37th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flames finished second in the Northwest Division, and qualified for the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, their fifth consecutive appearance in the post season. Their season ended when they were defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference quarter-finals.

The year began with the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, which saw the Flames select forward Greg Nemisz with their first round selection. The Flames made several trades during the draft, acquiring forward Mike Cammalleri from the Los Angeles Kings as part of a three way trade that saw Calgary deal the 17th overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks. They then sent Alex Tanguay to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 25th overall pick, with each team adding lower round picks to the deal. The Flames signed forward Todd Bertuzzi during the off-season, a move that generated controversy amongst a fan base with which he had been previously unpopular. Calgary was also active at the trade deadline, making three deals, including a significant trade to add Olli Jokinen from the Phoenix Coyotes.

Jarome Iginla surpassed Theoren Fleury's franchise record of 830 points during the season, scoring his 831st point on the same night he recorded his 400th goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of his second career five point game. Iginla also scored his 400th career assist during the season, and scored his first all-star goal in his fifth appearance at the 2009 All-Star Game in Montreal. Eight players made their NHL debuts with the Flames in 2008–09.

Regular season

The Flames began the season with five games against divisional opposition. Despite holding leads in four of those games, Calgary won only one game, lost three in regulation, and a fourth in overtime.^[1] Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff became the focus of the team's early struggles, as his play was argued to be a major cause of the Flames' inability to hold a lead.^[2] Calgary rebounded with a six-game winning streak, during which Kiprusoff allowed only nine goals on 152 shots.^[3] The team again struggled to win games at the start of November, losing five games in seven, including a pair of 6–1 losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks that led head coach Mike Keenan to cancel a planned mini-vacation for the players.^[4] The cancellation appeared to be a turning point in the season, as the Flames recorded a mark of 15–4–3 following the loss, including a dominating 5–2 victory over the Sharks at home.^[5] The Flames again beat the Sharks, 3–2 in San Jose, on January 15, to end the Sharks streak of 31 games without a home loss in regulation.^[6]

Rookie Brett Sutter became the 8th member of the Sutter family to play in the NHL on December 23 when he made his debut against the Anaheim Ducks. The son of general manager Darryl Sutter, Brett scored a goal in his first game to help the Flames enter the Christmas break with a one-point lead on the Vancouver Canucks in the Northwest Division.^[7] Calgary expanded on that lead to five points after both Jarome Iginla and Mike Cammalleri posted career-high five point nights in a 6–4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on New Year's Eve.^[8]

The Flames lost one of their original owners early in the new year as Daryl "Doc" Seaman died January 11, 2009. Seaman had been one of the original group of six owners who brought the team to Calgary in 1980 and remained with the ownership group until his death.^[9]

Iginla reached numerous personal milestones throughout the season. He recorded his 400th career assist in an early season game against Colorado.^[10] He represented the Flames at the 2009 All-Star Game, his fifth appearance, and recorded his first All-Star goal.^[11] On March 1, Iginla surpassed Theoren Fleury's franchise record of 830 career points as part of another five point night against Tampa Bay, a game where he also scored his 400th career goal.^[12]

Injuries became a serious concern for the Flames entering March, as Mark Giordano (shoulder surgery), Rene Bourque (high ankle sprain), Todd Bertuzzi (knee surgery), Brandon Prust (concussion) and Daymond Langkow (hand) were all on injured reserve to start the month.^[13] Looking to improve the team, Sutter completed two significant deals at the March 4 trade deadline, acquiring defenceman Jordan Leopold from the Colorado Avalanche and centre Olli Jokinen from the Phoenix Coyotes.^[14] The deals paid immediate dividends, as Jokinen scored twice and Leopold once in a 5–1 victory the next night against the Philadelphia Flyers allowing the Northwest Division leading Flames to move ten points ahead of the second place Canucks.^[15]

The Tim Hortons Brier took over the Saddledome in early March, forcing the Flames on a season long, seven-game road trip, during which the team struggled to a 3–4 record that saw them suffer lopsided losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs; the Flames surrendered 27 goals in the final five games of the trip. Consequently, the Flames saw their lead for the division shrink to five points barely a week after the victory in Philadelphia.^[16] Calgary's lead fell to one point following consecutive shutout losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets in late March.^[17] The Flames and Canucks ended the season in a battle for top spot, as both teams repeatedly took over the division lead heading into the final week of play.^[18]

Injuries continued to batter the Flames towards the end of the regular season, as defencemen Robyn Regehr (MCL) and Cory Sarich (broken foot) were both lost in early April.^[19] The injuries led the Flames to call up rookies Matt Pelech and John Negrin, the latter of whom had just finished his junior season and had never played a professional game, to make their NHL debuts against the Minnesota Wild.^[20] The Flames were forced to play their final games of the regular season with as few as 15 skaters, below the normal 18, as the team lacked available salary cap space to call up replacements without sending other players down to their minor league affiliate in Quad City.^[21]

Calgary's late season collapse ended with Vancouver winning the Northwest Division in the final weekend of the regular season following consecutive victories by the Canucks over the Flames, Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche while the Flames lost against Vancouver and Edmonton.^[22] As a result, the Flames finished the regular season second in the Northwest Division, and fifth in the Western Conference.

The Flames finished the regular season having allowed the most shorthanded goals in the League, with 15.^[23]

Divisional standings

Northwest Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	y – Vancouver Canucks	82	45	27	10	246	220	100
2	Calgary Flames	82	46	30	6	254	248	98
3	Minnesota Wild	82	40	33	9	219	200	89
4	Edmonton Oilers	82	38	35	9	234	248	85
5	Colorado Avalanche	82	32	45	5	199	257	69

Conference standings

Western Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – San Jose Sharks	PA	82	53	18	11	257	204	117
2	y – Detroit Red Wings	CE	82	51	21	10	295	244	112
3	y – Vancouver Canucks	NW	82	45	27	10	246	220	100
4	Chicago Blackhawks	CE	82	46	24	12	264	216	104
5	Calgary Flames	NW	82	46	30	6	254	248	98
6	St. Louis Blues	CE	82	41	31	10	233	233	92
7	Columbus Blue Jackets	CE	82	41	31	10	226	230	92
8	Anaheim Ducks	PA	82	42	33	7	245	238	91
8.5
9	Minnesota Wild	NW	82	40	33	9	219	200	89
10	Nashville Predators	CE	82	40	34	8	213	233	88
11	Edmonton Oilers	NW	82	38	35	9	234	248	85
12	Dallas Stars	PA	82	36	35	11	230	257	83
13	Phoenix Coyotes	PA	82	36	39	7	208	252	79
14	Los Angeles Kings	PA	82	34	37	11	207	234	79
15	Colorado Avalanche	NW	82	32	45	5	199	257	69

bold - qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner
CE - Central Division, NW - Northwest Division, PA - Pacific Division

Schedule and results

2008–09 Game log
October: 6–3–1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 9 Calgary 0 – 6 Vancouver Kiprusoff 18,630 0–1–0 0 2 October 11 Vancouver 5 – 4 Calgary OT Kiprusoff 19,289 0–1–1 1 3 October 14 Colorado 4 – 5 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 1–1–1 3 4 October 17 Edmonton 4 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 1–2–1 3 5 October 18 Calgary 2 – 3 Edmonton Kiprusoff 16,839 1–3–1 3 6 October 21 Washington 1 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 2–3–1 5 7 October 23 Calgary 5 – 3 Nashville Kiprusoff 12,042 3–3–1 7 8 October 25 Calgary 4 – 1 Phoenix Kiprusoff 15,038 4–3–1 9 9 October 28 Colorado 0 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 5–3–1 11 10 October 30 Boston 2 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 6–3–1 13
November: 8–6–0 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 3–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 11 November 1 Calgary 3 – 2 Los Angeles Kiprusoff 16,279 7–3–1 15 12 November 2 Calgary 2 – 3 Anaheim Kiprusoff 16,965 7–4–1 15 13 November 4 Phoenix 4 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 7–5–1 15 14 November 6 Nashville 6 – 7 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 8–5–1 17 15 November 8 Calgary 1 – 3 Columbus McElhinney 14,088 8–6–1 17 16 November 9 Calgary 1 – 6 Chicago Kiprusoff 21,169 8–7–1 17 17 November 11 Toronto 3 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 9–7–1 19 18 November 13 Calgary 1 – 6 San Jose McElhinney 17,496 9–8–1 19 19 November 18 Colorado 1 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 10–8–1 21 20 November 20 Calgary 1 – 0 Colorado Kiprusoff 14,536 11–8–1 23 21 November 22 Detroit 5 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 11–9–1 23 22 November 25 Los Angeles 2 – 6 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 12–9–1 25 23 November 27 Calgary 4 – 3 Vancouver Kiprusoff 18,630 13–9–1 27 24 November 29 Vancouver 1 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 14–9–1 29
December: 8–2–3 (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 4–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 25 December 2 Dallas 3 – 1 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 14–10–1 29 26 December 5 Calgary 4 – 3 St. Louis OT Kiprusoff 17,365 15–10–1 31 27 December 7 Calgary 3 – 0 NY Rangers Kiprusoff 18,200 16–10–1 33 28 December 9 Calgary 1 – 4 Montreal Kiprusoff 21,273 16–11–1 33 29 December 10 Calgary 3 – 4 Detroit OT McElhinney 19,335 16–11–2 34 30 December 12 Florida 3 – 2 Calgary SO Kiprusoff 19,289 16–11–3 35 31 December 16 Calgary 6 – 3 St. Louis Kiprusoff 16,426 17–11–3 37 32 December 17 Calgary 3 – 2 Minnesota OT Kiprusoff 18,568 18–11–3 39 33 December 19 Chicago 3 – 2 Calgary OT Kiprusoff 19,289 18–11–4 40 34 December 23 Anaheim 3 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 19–11–4 42 35 December 27 Ottawa 3 – 6 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 20–11–4 44 36 December 29 Minnesota 1 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 21–11–4 46 37 December 31 Edmonton 4 – 6 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 22–11–4 48
January: 7–3–0 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 38 January 3 Calgary 3 – 2 Nashville Kiprusoff 14,321 23–11–4 50 39 January 4 Calgary 2 – 5 Chicago Kiprusoff 22,146 23–12–4 50 40 January 6 San Jose 2 – 5 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 24–12–4 52 41 January 8 NY Islanders 2 – 5 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 25–12–4 54 42 January 13 St. Louis 1 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 26–12–4 56 43 January 15 Calgary 3 – 2 San Jose Kiprusoff 17,496 27–12–4 58 44 January 17 Phoenix 4 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 27–13–4 58 45 January 18 Calgary 2 – 6 Colorado McElhinney 16,113 27–14–4 58 46 January 21 Columbus 4 – 5 Calgary SO Kiprusoff 19,289 28–14–4 60 47 January 28 Buffalo 2 – 5 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 29–14–4 62 48 January 30 Nashville 1 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 30–14–4 64
February: 7–4–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 49 February 2 Calgary 3 – 4 Colorado Kiprusoff 13,409 30–15–4 64 50 February 3 Calgary 1 – 3 Dallas Kiprusoff 16,395 30–16–4 64 51 February 5 Chicago 5 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 30–17–4 64 52 February 7 Anaheim 2 – 1 Calgary McElhinney 19,289 30–18–4 64 53 February 9 Montreal 2 – 6 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 31–18–4 66 54 February 11 Calgary 2 – 3 Anaheim OT Kiprusoff 17,270 31–18–5 67 55 February 12 Calgary 2 – 0 Los Angeles Kiprusoff 17,286 32–18–5 69 56 February 14 Calgary 7 – 5 Phoenix Kiprusoff 16,981 33–18–5 71 57 February 17 Vancouver 4 – 3 Calgary SO Kiprusoff 19,289 33–18–6 72 58 February 19 Calgary 3 – 2 Minnesota OT Kiprusoff 18,568 34–18–6 74 59 February 21 Calgary 3 – 2 Edmonton SO Kiprusoff 16,839 35–18–6 76 60 February 24 Columbus 1 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 36–18–6 78 61 February 27 Minnesota 1 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 37–18–6 80
March: 6–9–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 3–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 62 March 1 Tampa Bay 8 – 6 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 37–19–6 80 63 March 3 Calgary 6 – 3 Ottawa Kiprusoff 18,865 38–19–6 82 64 March 5 Calgary 5 – 1 Philadelphia Kiprusoff 19,513 39–19–6 84 65 March 6 Calgary 1 – 6 Carolina McElhinney 18,108 39–20–6 84 66 March 8 Calgary 2 – 5 Atlanta Kiprusoff 13,469 39–21–6 84 67 March 10 Calgary 2 – 3 New Jersey Kiprusoff 14,598 39–22–6 84 68 March 12 Calgary 6 – 5 Detroit SO Kiprusoff 20,066 40–22–6 86 69 March 14 Calgary 6 – 8 Toronto McElhinney 19,356 40–23–6 86 70 March 18 Dallas 1 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 41–23–6 88 71 March 20 St. Louis 3 – 2 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 41–24–6 88 72 March 23 Detroit 3 – 5 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 42–24–6 90 73 March 25 Calgary 0 – 2 Pittsburgh Kiprusoff 17,083 42–25–6 90 74 March 26 Calgary 0 – 5 Columbus Kiprusoff 16,327 42–26–6 90 75 March 28 Minnesota 2 – 3 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 43–26–6 92 76 March 30 San Jose 2 – 1 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 43–27–6 92
April: 3–3–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 77 April 2 Calgary 2 – 1 Dallas Kiprusoff 17,106 44–27–6 94 78 April 3 Calgary 0 – 4 Minnesota Kiprusoff 18,568 44–28–6 94 79 April 6 Los Angeles 1 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 45–28–6 96 80 April 7 Calgary 1 – 4 Vancouver Kiprusoff 18,630 45–29–6 96 81 April 10 Calgary 1 – 5 Edmonton Kiprusoff 16,839 45–30–6 96 82 April 11 Edmonton 1 – 4 Calgary McElhinney 19,289 46–30–6 98
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The Flames qualified for the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, and faced the fourth seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. The two teams met four times in the regular season, all of which resulted in Chicago victories.^[24] It was the fourth time the two teams met in the playoffs. Calgary defeated Chicago in 1981 and 1989, while Chicago prevailed in 1996.^[25]

The Western Conference quarter-final series opened in Chicago; the first Blackhawk playoff games in seven years.^[26] The Flames dropped the first two games, each by identical 3–2 scores. In both games, they played strong to start the games, earning 1–0 and 2–0 leads respectively before conceding the advantage.^[27] The Flames lost the first game after just 12 seconds of overtime.^[26] An angry Flames team returned to Calgary for games three and four, promising to improve their play.^[27] They won game three, 4–2, on the strength of Kiprusoff's 36-save performance in goal.^[28] The first three games of the series were physically intense and occasionally violent, prompting the league to warn both teams to tone down both the verbal attacks they were exchanging as well as to remain within the rules when engaging in scrums after the play ended.^[29] TSN commentator Pierre McGuire, stationed between each team's benches, insisted that Iginla in particular had taken more verbal abuse than he had ever seen.^[30] A "fired up" Iginla responded with two goals and an assist in game four as the Flames tied the series with a 6–4 victory.^[31]

Iginla and the Flames were unable to maintain their momentum when the series returned to Chicago for game five. Iginla recorded only one shot, while Miikka Kiprusoff was pulled early in the second period as the Blackhawks easily won the game 5–1.^[32] Forward Andre Roy missed the fifth game after being suspended and fined $2,500 after he initiated contact with Chicago's Aaron Johnson during the warm-up prior to game four.^[33] The Flames' season came to an end in the sixth game as Nikolai Khabibulin's 43-save performance led the Hawks to a 4–1 win over the Flames. It was the first time Chicago had won a playoff series since they last defeated the Flames in 1996.^[34]

The Flames revealed the true extent of their injury situation following the loss, noting that Dion Phaneuf, who missed game six, was playing with broken ribs, while Cory Sarich was playing on a fractured ankle. With Rhett Warrener, Mark Giordano and Robyn Regehr all sidelined for the entire series, the Flames had five defencemen either out or playing hurt the entire series. In addition, Craig Conroy, Rene Bourque and Daymond Langkow were all playing despite various ailments.^[35] In spite of the Flames' injury situation, the team's fourth consecutive first round defeat led to new demands that head coach Mike Keenan be replaced as the team's head coach.^[36] Keenan was fired on May 22.^[37]

2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Western Conference quarter-final vs. Chicago (4) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series 1 April 16 Calgary 2 – 3 Chicago OT Kiprusoff 22,478 Chicago leads 1 – 0 2 April 18 Calgary 2 – 3 Chicago Kiprusoff 22,514 Chicago leads 2 – 0 3 April 20 Chicago 2 – 4 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 Chicago leads 2 – 1 4 April 22 Chicago 4 – 6 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 Series tied 2 – 2 5 April 25 Calgary 1 – 5 Chicago Kiprusoff 22,563 Chicago leads 3 – 2 6 April 27 Chicago 4 – 1 Calgary Kiprusoff 19,289 Chicago wins series 4 – 2 Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals 

Goaltenders

Note:  Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OTL GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Kiprusoff, MiikkaMiikka Kiprusoff 76 4417 45 24 5 209 2.84 2155 1946 .903 4 McElhinney, CurtisCurtis McElhinney 14 517 1 6 1 31 3.59 280 249 .889 0

Playoffs
Player GP Min W L GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Kiprusoff, MiikkaMiikka Kiprusoff 6 323 2 4 19 3.52 164 145 .884 0 McElhinney, CurtisCurtis McElhinney 1 33 0 0 1 1.78 10 9 .900 0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Flames. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
^‡Traded mid-season
Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

Several players made their NHL debuts with the Flames in 2008–09. Adam Pardy began the season with the Flames, while Warren Peters, Brett Sutter, David Van der Gulik, Kris Chucko, John Negrin and Matt Pelech were each recalled from the Quad City Flames during the season. The latter two made their debuts on the same night, April 3, after the Flames lost three defencemen in previous games.^[38] 2007 first round pick Mikael Backlund played one game with the Flames after leaving his Swedish team before being sent to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.^[39]

NHL awards
Player	Award
Jarome Iginla	First Star of the Week (October 20–26)	[40]
Jarome Iginla	Second Star of the Week (Feb. 23–Mar. 1)	[41]
Olli Jokinen	Second Star of the Week (March 9–15)	[42]
Jarome Iginla	First Team All-Star	[43]
Jarome Iginla	Mark Messier Leadership Award	[44]
Team awards
Miikka Kiprusoff	Molson Cup	[45]
David Moss	Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award	[45]
Craig Conroy	J. R. "Bud" McCaig Award	[45]

Records and milestones

Player	Milestone	Reached
Adam Pardy	1st NHL game	October 9, 2008	[46]
Brandon Prust	1st NHL point	October 11, 2008	[47]
Brandon Prust	1st NHL goal	October 25, 2008	[47]
Adrian Aucoin	100th NHL goal	November 1, 2008	[48]
Jarome Iginla	400th NHL assist	November 20, 2008	[10]
Cory Sarich	100th NHL point	November 25, 2008
Warren Peters	1st NHL game	December 7, 2008	[49]
Adam Pardy	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	December 12, 2008	[46]
Jarome Iginla	800th NHL point	December 19, 2008	[50]
Brett Sutter	1st NHL game 1st NHL goal 1st NHL point	December 23, 2008	[7]
Craig Conroy	500th NHL point	January 3, 2009	[51]
Mikael Backlund	1st NHL game	January 9, 2009	[52]
Adam Pardy	1st NHL goal	January 9, 2009	[52]
David Van der Gulik	1st NHL game	February 27, 2009	[53]
Jarome Iginla	831st NHL Point (franchise record) 400th NHL Goal	March 1, 2009	[12]
Warren Peters	1st NHL goal 1st NHL point	March 3, 2009	[54]
David Van der Gulik	1st NHL point	March 3, 2009	[55]
Kris Chucko	1st NHL game	March 5, 2009	[56]
Matt Pelech	1st NHL game	April 3, 2009	[57]
John Negrin	1st NHL game	April 3, 2009	[57]
Matt Pelech	1st NHL point	April 6, 2009	[58]
John Negrin	1st NHL point	April 11, 2009	[59]
Curtis McElhinney	1st NHL win	April 11, 2009	[59]

Transactions

The Flames made two trades at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, sending forward Alex Tanguay to Montreal and acquiring Mike Cammalleri from Los Angeles in two separate deals. Calgary sent the 17th overall selection in the draft to the Kings, and received the 25th overall pick from the Canadiens as part of the trades.^[60]

Todd Bertuzzi was signed by the Flames as a free agent on July 8, 2009.^[61] The controversial forward best known for his attack on Steve Moore in 2003–04, had previously been extremely unpopular with Flames fans.^[62] Bertuzzi, who had previously been booed by Calgary fans every time he touched the puck was greeted with loud cheers when he was introduced before the Flames' first exhibition game of the season.^[63]

The trade deadline on March 4 saw the Flames emerge as one of the most active teams on the day, completing three trades. Calgary acquired defenceman Jordan Leopold from Colorado for Lawrence Nycholat, who was picked up on waivers from Vancouver one day prior and never played with Calgary, minor leaguer Ryan Wilson and a draft pick.^[64] General Manager Darryl Sutter then completed what was considered the biggest deal of the day, acquiring Olli Jokinen and a third round pick from the Coyotes in exchange for Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a first round pick.^[14] The Flames then ended the day with a minor move, sending minor-league goaltender Kevin Lalande to Columbus for a fourth round pick.^[65]

Trades

June 20, 2008	To Calgary Flames Mike Cammalleri Second-round pick in 2008 draft	To Los Angeles Kings First-round pick (17th overall) in 2008 Second-round pick in 2009
June 20, 2008	To Calgary Flames First-round pick (25th overall) in 2008 Second-round pick in 2009	To Montreal Canadiens Alex Tanguay Fifth-round pick in 2008
June 30, 2008	To Calgary Flames Kyle Greentree	To Philadelphia Flyers Tim Ramholt
July 1, 2008	To Calgary Flames Rene Bourque	To Chicago Blackhawks Conditional second-round pick in 2009
March 4, 2009	To Calgary Flames Jordan Leopold	To Colorado Avalanche Lawrence Nycholat Ryan Wilson Montreal's second-round pick (previously acquired) in 2009
March 4, 2009	To Calgary Flames Olli Jokinen Third-round pick in 2009	To Phoenix Coyotes Matthew Lombardi Brandon Prust First-round pick in 2009 or 2010
March 4, 2009	To Calgary Flames Fourth round pick in 2009	To Columbus Blue Jackets Kevin Lalande

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Mark Giordano HC Dynamo Moscow Free agency Curtis Glencross Edmonton Oilers Free agency Todd Bertuzzi Anaheim Ducks Free agency Jamie Lundmark HC Dynamo Moscow Free agency Andre Roy Tampa Bay Lightning Free agency Lawrence Nycholat Vancouver Canucks Waivers

Subtractions Player New team Via Eric Godard Pittsburgh Penguins Free agency Curtis Joseph Toronto Maple Leafs Free agency Kristian Huselius Columbus Blue Jackets Free agency Owen Nolan Minnesota Wild Free agency David Hale Phoenix Coyotes Free agency

Draft picks

The Flames entered the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa with the 17th overall selection. They dealt that pick to Los Angeles, and acquired the 25th overall selection from Montreal. With that pick, the Flames selected centre Greg Nemisz from the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires.^[66] Listed at six-foot-three and 197 pounds, Nemisz is described as being a potential power forward who is not afraid of working hard.^[67] Calgary drafted six other players, led by second-round selection Mitch Wahl, whom the Flames project to be a potential top-six forward.^[68]

Rnd	Pick	Player	Nationality	Position	Team (league)	NHL statistics
						GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1	25	Greg Nemisz	Canada	C/RW	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)	15	0	1	1	0
2	48	Mitch Wahl	United States	C	Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
3	78	Lance Bouma†	Canada	C/LW	Vancouver Giants (WHL)	199	22	31	53	108
4	108	Nick Larson	United States	LW	Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
4	114	T. J. Brodie†	Canada	D	Saginaw Spirit (OHL)	266	19	81	100	74
6	168	Ryley Grantham	Canada	C	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
7	198	Alexander Deilert	Sweden	D	Djurgården Jr. (J20 SuperElit)

Statistics are updated to the end of the 2014–15 NHL season. ^† denotes player was on an NHL roster in 2014–15.

Farm teams

Quad City Flames

The Quad City Flames entered their second season in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2008–09. The team was dogged throughout the season by rumours that the franchise would relocate to Abbotsford, British Columbia in 2009–10.^[69] The owners in Quad Cities acknowledged that the Flames had been considering a change, but expected the franchise would remain in Moline, Illinois.^[70] Despite these assurances, Calgary confirmed on March 11 that they had reached an agreement with the owners in Quad Cities to end their affiliation agreement after only two seasons, and announced their intent to move into Abbotsford.^[71] The proposed relocation was approved by the AHL board of governors on April 29, 2009.^[72]

On the ice, Quad City finished with a 36–31–6–7 record, fifth in the West Division, and one point shy of making the playoffs.^[73] Quad City played its final game on April 11, 2009 with a 5–3 win over the Iowa Chops. Kyle Greentree led the team in scoring, with a franchise high 76 points.^[74]

Las Vegas Wranglers

The Las Vegas Wranglers remained Calgary's ECHL affiliate for the sixth season, where they finished 2nd in the Pacific division with a 34–31–2–6 record.^[75] In the Kelly Cup playoffs, the Wranlgers defeated the Bakersfield Condors and Stockton Thunder in seven games each to reach the National Conference finals.^[76][77] The season came to an end against the Alaska Aces, who eliminated Las Vegas in four games.^[78]

As part of their affiliation agreement with Las Vegas, the Flames assigned four players to the Wranglers to begin the season: Gord Baldwin, Hugo Carpentier, Kevin Lalande and Dan Spang.^[79] Lalande led the team amongst goaltenders with 21 games played, recording a record of 9–8–0–3, while Glen Fisher led the team with 11 wins. Dan Riedel, acquired from the Dayton Bombers during the season led the team with 23 goals and 57 points.^[80]

References