1995–96 Calgary Flames season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=1995–96
Team=Calgary Flames
Conference=Western
ConferenceRank=6th
Division=Pacific
DivisionRank=2nd
Record=34–37–11
HomeRecord=18–18–5
RoadRecord=16–19–6
GoalsFor=241 (16th)
GoalsAgainst=240 (9th)
GeneralManager=Doug Risebrough (until Nov. 3)
Al Coates
Coach=Pierre Page
Captain=Theoren Fleury
AltCaptain= "Unknown"
"Unknown"
Arena=Canadian Airlines Saddledome
Attendance=18,000
GoalsLeader=Theoren Fleury (46)
AssistsLeader=Theoren Fleury (50)
PointsLeader=Theoren Fleury (96)
PIMLeader=Sandy McCarthy (173)
WinsLeader=Rick Tabaracci (19)
GAALeader=Trevor Kidd (2.78)

The 1995–96 Calgary Flames season was the 16th National Hockey League season in Calgary. The Flames entered the season with their fifth coach in five seasons, hiring Pierre Page to replace Dave King. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFDB163BF93BA25754C0A963958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fC%2fCoaches%20and%20Managers Flames turn to Page] , New York Times, July 18, 1995, accessed January 29, 2007] Page, who had previously been an assistant coach with the Flames in the 1980s, left his head coaching position with the Quebec Nordiques to move west.

The Flames began the season with a disastrous start, posting a 4–15–5 record through the end of November. The team's poor start was exacerbated by the holdout of Joe Nieuwendyk, who was unable to reach a contract agreement with the Flames.Dolezar, Jon A., [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/08/08/sayitaintso_flames/ Say it aint so: Calgary Flames] , cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed January 29, 2007] Also, the Flames began the season on a long, seven game road trip while renovations to the Olympic Saddledome were completed. [ [http://www.calgaryflames.com/history/team_history.html Calgary Flames history] , calgaryflames.com, accessed January 29, 2007] The Flames reached a low point on October 27, 1995 when they set a franchise record for futility, recording just eight shots in a 3–0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on home ice. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores95/95300/95300333.htm Boxscore: Detroit 3, Calgary 0] , usatoday.com, accessed January 29, 2007]

The Nieuwendyk saga finally came to a close when the Flames dealt him to the Dallas Stars for Corey Millen, and Western Hockey League star Jarome Iginla on December 19. Nieuwendyk immediately ended his holdout, signing a five-year, $11 million contract with Dallas.

The Flames began to turn the season around, led by Gary Roberts' comeback from neck injuries that had kept him out most of the 1994–95 season. Roberts' comeback lasted only 35 games before he was again sidelined with bone spurs and nerve damage in his neck. Roberts would score an incredible 22 goals and 42 points during that time, earning him the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey. [ [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11386 Legends of Hockey player profile: Gary Roberts] , legendsofhockey.net, accessed January 29, 2007]

The Flames recovered from their woeful start to finish second in the Pacific Division, and as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Flames were swept, however, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs, as the team once again failed to win a playoff series since they won the Stanley Cup in 1989. The Flames would not qualify for the playoffs again until 2004, missing the post season for the next seven years. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/04/02/flames-playoffs040402.html Longtime Flames relish playoff opportunity] , cbc sports, April 5, 2004, accessed January 29, 2007]

Theoren Fleury represented the Flames at the 46th National Hockey League All-Star Game. It was the first since since 1986 that the Flames had only one representative.All-Star Selections, "2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide", pg. 22]

Regular season

eason standings

December

Overall: 7–6–2; Home: 3–3–1; Road: 4–3–1

March

Overall: 7–6–0; Home: 2–4–0; Road: 5–2–0

Player stats

katers

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

Free Agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, held in Edmonton, Alberta. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000043.html Calgary Flames draft history] , hockeydb.com, accessed January 12, 2007]

Farm teams

Saint John Flames

The Baby Flames finished the 1995–96 American Hockey League season in second place in the Canadian Division with a 35–30–11–4 record. The tied the Prince Edward Island Senators in points, but lost out on the division title by virtue of having three fewer wins. The Flames defeated the St. John's Maple Leafs three games to one, then knocked off the Fredericton Canadiens four games to one before falling to the Portland Pirates in seven games. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php3?league=AHL1941&season=1996&leaguenm=AHL 1995–96 AHL playoffs] @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 29, 2007] Ladislav Kohn led the Flames with 28 goals and 73 points. Dwayne Roloson was the starting goaltender, posting an 33–22–11 record with a 2.83 GAA in 67 games. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0002601996.html Saint John Flames player stats] @ hockeydb.com, accessed January 29, 2007]

ee also

*1995–96 NHL season

References

*Player stats: "2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide", pg 116
*Game log: [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/shn/shn04sc.htm 1995–96 Calgary Flames game log] , usatoday.com, accessed January 26, 2007
*Team standings: [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/nhl19271996.html 1995–96 NHL standings] @hockeydb.com
*Trades: [http://www.hockeydb.com hockeydb.com] player pages