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The votes are in...We have decided our goalies!
With 883 total votes, Miikka Kiprusoff will be the starter and will be backstopped by Mike Vernon who was close behind with a total of 809 votes.
There were a total of 1051 people who participated. Good job guys!
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As many of you may have noticed, many bloggers around the site thought it would be a fun idea if we all participated in a “Greatest Team of All Time” series. These blogs will be intended to bring some hockey back into our hockey deprived lives! The roster for the Calgary Flames will be up to you fans, so make sure to vote!
For the next few days, we will go over each position starting from the net out and vote for our favorite all time player(s) per position. If you would like to see someone added to the list, please let me know as the team roster will ultimately be up to you!
The Calgary Flames have a long history in the NHL and were originally called founded as the Atlanta Flames in 1972 prior to moving to Calgary in 1980. Therefore, the “All Time Greatest Team” will incorporate any player part of the Flames from the 1972 roster, to the current. We will be choosing a 22 man roster (12 forwards, 6 defensemen, 2 goalies and 2 reserve). The reserve player(s) can either be a selected goon, used in a situation where we find a tie between players, or a player(s) who received many votes but didn’t make their respective roster spot.
Once the rosters are chosen, we will organize an EA-Sports type of simulation season where results can either be instant or games can be “watched” between two computerized teams. We anticipate all rosters to be selected by 5PM Eastern time on October 10th and the “Season Opener” will be announced the following day.
Today we will move onto the defensemen. Below you will find a list of the top defensemen to ever play for the Flames.
Please make (six) selections from the list, then hit “vote”. The blog will remain open for approximately 24 hours between voting for each position.
Enjoy!
Defensemen
Bob Boughner
Boughner was drafted 32nd overall in 1989 by the Detroit Red Wings and would play with the Calgary Flames from 2001-2003. He played a total of 148 games registering 23 points. Boughner was one of Calgary’s captains during the 2002 season.
Jay Bouwmeester
Bouwmeester was drafted third overall in 2002 by the Florida Panthers and joined the Calgary Flames in 2009. Bouwmeester has played a total of 226 games so far with the Flames and has registered a total of 82 points. He has not missed one regular season game while playing with the Flames and is one of their assistant captains.
Mike Commodore
Commodore was drafted 42nd overall in 1999 by the New Jersey Devils and joined the Calgary Flames in 2002. Although he only played 18 regular season games with the Flames, he helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004 and was a fan favorite.
Kari Eloranta
Eloranta was a top player in the Swedish Elite League and would join the NHL at the age of 25 with the Calgary Flames. Although Eloranta would struggle early in his career, he would work hard and establish himself as a great puck moving defenseman in the NHL. He played a total of 255 games with the Flames, registering 108 points.
Denis Gauthier
Gauthier was a first round selection by the Calgary Flames in 1995 where he played a total of 384 games while registering 58 points. Gauthier was an important piece to the 2004 roster, although would only play in the first round of the 2004 playoffs as he suffered a knee injury in game six against the Vancouver Canucks.
Phil Housley
Housley is currently the second leading American scorer in the NHL, with 1,232 points. Housley played a total of 328 games with the Flames, registering a total of 238 points. Housley was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004 and is currently eligible for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Steve Konroyd
Selected 39th overall by the Calgary Flames in 1980, Konroyd would play a total of 350 games as a Flame while registering 101 points. He has won medals at the international level and was a steady presence on the backend for any team he played for.
Jordan Leopold
Leopold was selected 44th overall by the Ducks in 1999 and was acquired by the Flames through trade. Leopold registered 71 points in 233 games and would help the Flames succeed to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004. Leopold’s early success would earn him a spot on the American National during the 2005 World Championships, and a spot on the 2006 Winter Olympics roster.
Toni Lydman
Drafted 89th overall by the Calgary Flames in 1996, Lydman would play 289 games for the Flames while registering 93 points. Lydman would often be among the top in team assists and would lead all defensemen during the 2002-03 season with 26 points. Lydman was missed during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs as he sat out for most of the series due to an injury.
Al MacInnis
Selected 15th overall in 1981 by the Calgary Flames, MacInnis would play 803 games and register 822 points with Calgary. He would go on to become a 13 time All Star, Conn Smythe Trophy Winner and would lead the Flames to the Stanley Cup in 1989. MacInnis would later be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
Jamie Macoun
Undrafted into the NHL, Macoun would join the Flames via free agency in 1983 and would play 586 games while registering 246 points. Macoun quickly made a name for himself and was soon recognized as a solid defensive defenseman. Macoun would help the Flames succeed to the Stanley Cup during the 1989 season.
Brad Marsh
Drafted by the Atlanta Flames in 1978, Marsh would play a total of 97 games while registering 14 points with the Flames. He would also be one of Calgary’s captains during the 1980-81 season.
Brad McCrimmon
McCrimmon played with the Calgary Flames from 1987-1990, registering a total of 231 games and 83 points. McCrimmon would play in the All Star Games and would be awarded with the Plus-Minus Award with a league leading +48 in 1988. He would help the Flames succeed to their first Stanley Cup in 1989 and holds a career total plus-minus of +444 which happens to be one of the highest in the history of the NHL.
Derek Morris
Drafted 13th overall by the Flames in 1996, Morris would play 343 games with Calgary while registering a total of 129 points. During his rookie season in 1997-98, he would score 9 goals and 29 points. His next season he would register 34 points, followed by 38 points in only his third professional season. Morris would reach 30 points during a regular season four times as a member of the Calgary Flames.
Dana Murzyn
Selected 5th overall by the Whalers in 1985, Murzyn would join the Flames in 1988 and would help the team win the Stanley Cup in 1989. Murzyn played a total of 201 games and registered a total of 55 points with the Flames.
Dion Phaneuf
Drafted 9th overall by the Flames in 2003, Phaneuf would set many records for the Flames with his point production as a defenseman. Although never a winner, he would be nominated for the Calder and Norris trophy early on in his career. Phaneuf is a three time NHL All Star and has registered 228 points in 378 games as a member of the Calgary Flames.
Rob Ramage
Ramage played with the Flames from 1987-1989, registering a total of 80 games and 23 points. He would be a part of the Stanley Cup winning team in 1989.
Robyn Regehr
Regehr was acquired by the Flames in 1998 and would play the very next season with Calgary. Regehr was never known for this offensive abilities, and would face the top opposition often. Regehr was an important piece to the Flames success in 2004 and would play the entire Finals series even though he suffered a torn ligament in his foot during game five. Regehr played a total of 827 games with the Flames and registered 163 points.
Paul Reinhart
A 12th overall selection by the Calgary Flames in 1979, Reinhart would play a total of nine seasons with the Flames, registering 438 games played and 397 points. Reinhart was a two time All Star and was a success during his play with Team Canada.
Phil Russel
Russel played a total of 229 games with the Flames and earned himself a reputation as a bruiser. Russel managed to record over 2000 penalty minutes and 424 points over his career, despite only registering 89 points as a member of the Calgary Flames.
Todd Simpson
One of the Calgary Flames captains from 1997-1999, Simpson would play 214 games with the Flames while registering a total of 30 points. Although not an offensive presence, he was a player who was defensively responsible on the ice.
Steve Smith
Another of Calgary’s former captains, Smith played with the Flames from 1998-2001, registering a total of 102 games played and 21 points. He was drafted 111th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 1981 and established himself as a top NHL defenseman during this 16 year career.
Gary Suter
Selected 180th overall by the Flames in 1984, Suter would play a total of 617 games and register a total of 565 points as a member of the Calgary Flames. Suter would also help the Flames succeed to the Stanley Cup in 1989 and would also be the first American born player to win the Calder Trophy in 1986.
Rhett Warrener
Warrener was acquired by the Calgary Flames in 2003 for Chris Drury and Steve Begin via trade. He would play with the Flames for six seasons, registering a total of 231 games played and 37 points. Warrener would be noted as one of the most underrated players by former head coach Darryl Sutter after helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004.
Honorable Mention:
Wade Belak
Belak would play as an enforcer for the Flames from 1998-2001, registering a total of 72 games played, 3 points, and 218 penalty minutes. Belak managed 122 penalty minutes in just 40 games with Calgary during the 1999-2000 season, and was not only a fan favorite, but also respected by his fellow teammates as well.
Now cast your vote!
*Please select a total of (six) defenders, then hit vote
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