1991–92 Calgary Flames season

The 1991–92 Calgary Flames season was the 12th National Hockey League season in Calgary, 20th season overall for the franchise which was founded in 1972. This season represented the start of a new era for the Flames, as Cliff Fletcher, the only general manager the franchise had ever known, left the team to take up the same position with the Toronto Maple Leafs.[1] Doug Risebrough, Fletcher's former assistant, took over the reins for the Flames.

1991–92 Calgary Flames
Division5th Smythe
Conference8th Campbell
1991–92 record31–37–12
Home record19–14–7
Road record12–23–5
Goals for296 (5th)
Goals against305 (19th)
Team information
General managerDoug Risebrough
CoachDoug Risebrough
Guy Charron (interim)
CaptainJoe Nieuwendyk
Alternate captainsAl MacInnis
Joel Otto
ArenaOlympic Saddledome
Average attendance19,719
Team leaders
GoalsGary Roberts (53)
AssistsAl MacInnis (57)
PointsGary Roberts (90)
Penalty minutesRonnie Stern (338)
Plus/minusGary Roberts (+32)
WinsMike Vernon (24)
Goals against averageMike Vernon (3.58)

Fletcher quickly took advantage of his former team, orchestrating one of the largest trades in NHL history, a ten-player mega deal that saw disgruntled forward Doug Gilmour go to the Leafs, along with Ric Nattress, Jamie Macoun, Rick Wamsley and Kent Manderville for former 50–goal scorer Gary Leeman, Michel Petit, Jeff Reese, Alexander Godynyuk and Craig Berube.[2] The deal is often regarded as one of the most lopsided in NHL history,[2][3] and helped transform both clubs, as the formerly inept Leafs quickly rose to contention, making two trips to the conference finals in 1993 and 1994. The deal marked the beginning of the Flames' decline, which saw them ultimately bottom out by missing the playoffs for seven straight seasons between 1996 and 2003.[4]

Prior to the season, the Flames lost defenceman Rick Lessard to the San Jose Sharks in the 1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts.

The Flames finished fifth in the Smythe Division, seven points behind the fourth-place Winnipeg Jets and out of the playoffs. It was the first time the Flames had missed the playoffs since 1975, when they were known as the Atlanta Flames and their first losing season since 1982–83[5] This would be the only season that the Flames would miss the playoffs between 1976 and 1996.

Individually, three Flames represented the Campbell Conference at the 1992 All-Star Game: Forwards Gary Roberts and Theoren Fleury, and defenceman Al MacInnis.[6] Roberts' 53 goals tied him for third in the NHL, behind Brett Hull (70) and Kevin Stevens (54).[7]

Fleury and MacInnis also represented Canada at the 1991 Canada Cup, winning the tournament.[8] MacInnis was named a tournament all-star. Joel Otto and Gary Suter suited up for the Americans.[9]

Regular season

On November 4, 1991, the Flames were shut-out 4–0 by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Flames had not been shut out in a regular-season game since Sunday, February 26, 1989, when they lost 1–0 on the road to the Winnipeg Jets. Prior to their loss in New York, the Flames had gone 188 consecutive regular season games without being shut-out.[10][11][12][13]

The Flames' penalty-killing struggled during the regular season, as they most power-play goals (107) in the NHL. They were also the most penalized team in the league, being short-handed 489 times.[14]

Following an 11-0 blowout loss to the Vancouver Canucks on March 1, GM Doug Risebrough resigned as head coach and elevated assistant Guy Charron to the role on an interim basis. Unfortunately by that point of the season, it was too late to make the playoffs and the Flames went 6-7-3 following the change.

Season standings

Smythe Division[15]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Vancouver Canucks8042261228525096
Los Angeles Kings8035311428725084
Edmonton Oilers8036341029529782
Winnipeg Jets8033321525124481
Calgary Flames8031371229630574
San Jose Sharks801758521935939
Campbell Conference[16]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Detroit Red WingsNRS8043251232025698
2Vancouver CanucksSMY8042261228525096
3Chicago BlackhawksNRS8036291525723687
4Los Angeles KingsSMY8035311428729684
5St. Louis BluesNRS8036331127926683
6Edmonton OilersSMY8036341029529782
7Winnipeg JetsSMY8033321525124481
8Calgary FlamesSMY8031371229630574
9Minnesota North StarsNRS803242624627870
10Toronto Maple LeafsNRS803043723429467
11San Jose SharksSMY801758521935939

Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

1991–92 Game Log

Playoffs

The Flames finished 5th in the Smythe Division, seven points back of the 4th place Winnipeg Jets. As a result, the Flames missed the playoffs for the first time since their move to Calgary. The last time the franchise had missed the post season was in 1974–75 when the team was still known as the Atlanta Flames[5]

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Gary Roberts1076533790207-----
Al MacInnis27220577783-----
Theoren Fleury1480334073133-----
Sergei Makarov426822487060-----
Joe Nieuwendyk256922345655-----
Gary Suter2070124355128-----
Robert Reichel267020345432-----
Paul Ranheim288023204332-----
Doug Gilmour393811273846-----
Joel Otto2978132134161-----
Carey Wilson334211122337-----
Ron Stern227213922338-----
Marc Habscheid17467111842-----
Tomas Forslund2738591412-----
Jamie Macoun34372121453-----
Michel Petit7363101379-----
Trent Yawney1847491345-----
Frank Musil3784812103-----
Gary Leeman112927927-----
Mark Osiecki555027924-----
Chris Lindberg321725717-----
Mike Vernon30630778-----
Craig Berube23/1636145155-----
Ric Nattress61905531-----
Paul Kruse121631465-----
Martin Simard1321134119-----
Tim Hunter1930134167-----
Tim Sweeney7111234-----
Neil Sheehy1535123119-----
Nevin Markwart231021325-----
Greg Smyth6711215-----
Stephane Matteau23410119-----
Richard Zemlak21501142-----
Alexander Godynyuk2160114-----
Jeff Reese351201112-----
Jim Kyte421011107-----
Darryl Olsen3210000-----
Scott Sharples110000-----
Trevor Kidd3720000-----
Kevan Guy530002-----
Todd Harkins3750007-----
Rick Wamsley3190000-----
Rich Chernomaz16110006-----

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Mike Vernon306336402430921723.58-------
Scott Sharples1165001403.69-------
Jeff Reese35125873223713.78-------
Trevor Kidd372120110804.00-------
Rick Wamsley3194573403404.46-------

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
Traded mid-season

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

Trades

August 26, 1991 To Calgary Flames
6th round pick in 1991
To Hartford Whalers
Paul Fenton
January 2, 1992 To Calgary Flames
Gary Leeman
Alexander Godynyuk
Jeff Reese
Michel Petit
Craig Berube
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Doug Gilmour
Jamie Macoun
Ric Nattress
Rick Wamsley
Kent Manderville

Free agents

PlayerFormer team
PlayerNew team

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, held in Buffalo, New York.[17]

Rnd Pick Player Nationality Position Team (league) NHL statistics
GPGAPtsPIM
119Niklas Sundblad SwedenRWAIK (SEL)20000
241Francois Groleau CanadaDShawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)80116
352Sandy McCarthy CanadaRWLaval Titan (QMJHL)73672761481534
363Brian Caruso CanadaLWUMD (WCHA)
485Steve Magnusson United StatesCMinnesota (WCHA)
5107Jerome Butler United StatesGUMD (WCHA)
6129Bob Marshall CanadaDMiami University (CCHA)
7140Matt Hoffman United StatesCOshawa Generals (OHL)
7151Kelly Harper CanadaRWMichigan State (CCHA)
8173David St. Pierre CanadaCLongueuil (QMJHL)
9195David Struch CanadaCSaskatoon Blades (WHL)40004
10217Sergei Zolotov Soviet UnionLWKrylya Sovetov (USSR)
11239Marko Jantunen FinlandRWReipas Lahti (FNL)30000
12261Andrei Trefilov Soviet UnionGHC Dynamo Moscow (USSR)5412–25–4, 3.45GAA
S25Dean Larson CanadaCN/A

See also

References

  • Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg 120
  • Game log: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg 138
  • Team standings: 1991–92 NHL standings @hockeydb.com
  • Trades:
  1. Shea, Kevin, One on One with Cliff Fletcher Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, legendsofhockey.net, accessed May 14, 2007
  2. Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames, cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed May 14, 2007
  3. Patrick, Anthony, Fear and Loathing in Calgary Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine, Calgarypuck, June 8, 2001, accessed May 14, 2007
  4. Gilmour begins again with Leafs in Calgary, cbc.ca, March 13, 2003, accessed May 14, 2007
  5. Year-by-year results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 106
  6. All-star selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22
  7. 1991–92 scoring leaders, hockeydb.com, accessed May 14, 2007
  8. 1991 Canada Cup - Team Canada roster Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, hhof.com, accessed May 16, 2007
  9. 1991 Canada Cup - Team USA roster Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, hhof.com, accessed May 16, 2007
  10. "1988-89 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  11. "1989-90 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  12. "1990-91 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  13. "1991-92 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  14. "1991-92 NHL Summary".
  15. "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  16. "1991-1992 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  17. Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed May 14, 2007
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