The 1997–98 Calgary Flames season was the 18th National Hockey League season in Calgary. After a disappointing 1996–97 season, the Flames looked to newly hired coach Brian Sutter to return the Flames to the playoffs.
The off-season featured the trade of highly popular forward Gary Roberts shortly before the season began. Roberts missed the entire 1996–97 NHL season due to injury after playing only 35 games in 1995–96. Feeling that playing in the Eastern Conference with its lower travel would help aid him in his comeback, the Flames agreed to trade Roberts. He was dealt, along with starting goaltender Trevor Kidd to the Carolina Hurricanes for Andrew Cassels and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames, cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed January 13, 2007.
The season would serve as a bitter disappointment for the Flames from start to end, as the Flames would struggle to score goals all season long, ultimately finishing with the worst record in Calgary history at 26–41–15, while 67 points was the lowest in franchise history since the expansion Atlanta Flames managed just 65 in 1972–73. The Flames finished eleven points behind the 8th place San Jose Sharks, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
Theoren Fleury was named to the North American team at the 1998 NHL All Star Game, where he recorded two assists playing on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Recchi. Defenceman Derek Morris was named a Rookie All Star.All Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22.
Fleury also represented Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.New York Rangers press release , July 8, 1999, accessed January 20, 2007.
Prior to the start of the season, the Flames purchased the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen for approximately $1.5 million. The struggling franchise was nearly destroyed by the fallout of the Graham James scandal.
Regular season On Friday, October 17, 1997, the Flames scored three short-handed goals in a 6-5 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Season standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 1 || Detroit || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 17,893 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 3 || Colorado || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,327 || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 7 || Toronto || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,831 || 0–3–0 || 0 ||
| 4 || October 9 || NY Rangers || 1 – 1 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 16,756 || 0–3–1 || 1 ||
| 5 || October 12 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Detroit || OT || Tabaracci || 19,983 || 0–3–2 || 2 ||
| 6 || October 14 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Dallas || OT || Roloson || 14,892 || 0–4–2 || 2 ||
| 7 || October 17 || Colorado || 5 – 6 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 16,432 || 1–4–2 || 4 ||
| 8 || October 18 || Boston || 3 – 0 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,673 || 1–5–2 || 4 ||
| 9 || October 22 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Buffalo || || Tabaracci || 11,222 || 1–6–2 || 4 ||
| 10 || October 23 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Roloson || 19,319 || 1–7–2 || 4 ||
| 11 || October 25 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Toronto || || Tabaracci || 15,726 || 1–8–2 || 4 ||
| 12 || October 28 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,645 || 2–8–2 || 6 ||
| 13 || October 30 || Phoenix || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,761 || 3–8–2 || 8 ||
| 14 || November 1 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Colorado || OT || Moss || 16,061 || 3–8–3 || 9 ||
| 15 || November 2 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Phoenix || || Tabaracci || 14,928 || 3–9–3 || 9 ||
| 16 || November 5 || Toronto || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Moss || 16,322 || 3–10–3 || 9 ||
| 17 || November 7 || Anaheim || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Moss || 16,487 || 3–11–3 || 9 ||
| 18 || November 9 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Detroit || || Tabaracci || 19,983 || 3–12–3 || 9 ||
| 19 || November 10 || Calgary || 1 – 1 || Chicago || OT || Roloson || 15,753 || 3–12–4 || 10 ||
| 20 || November 13 || Carolina || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,113 || 3–13–4 || 10 ||
| 21 || November 15 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Edmonton || OT || Tabaracci || 17,099 || 3–13–5 || 11 ||
| 22 || November 18 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || New Jersey || || Tabaracci || 15,092 || 3–14–5 || 11 ||
| 23 || November 20 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Florida || || Tabaracci || 14,703 || 4–14–5 || 13 ||
| 24 || November 22 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Tabaracci || 15,176 || 4–15–5 || 13 ||
| 25 || November 23 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Carolina || OT || Tabracci || 5,516 || 4–15–6 || 14 ||
| 26 || November 27 || Chicago || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 16,641 || 4–15–7 || 15 ||
| 27 || November 29 || Anaheim || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 18,334 || 5–15–7 || 17 ||
| 28 || December 1 || San Jose || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 15,268 || 6–15–7 || 19 ||
| 29 || December 3 || Detroit || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,310 || 6–16–7 || 19 ||
| 30 || December 5 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Dallas || || Roloson || 16,688 || 6–17–7 || 19 ||
| 31 || December 6 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || St. Louis || OT || Tabaracci || N/A || 6–18–7 || 19 ||
| 32 || December 9 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Tabaracci || 9,251 || 7–18–7 || 21 ||
| 33 || December 10 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || NY Rangers || || Tabaracci || 18,200 || 8–18–7 || 23 ||
| 34 || December 12 || Colorado || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 17,450 || 9–18–7 || 25 ||
| 35 || December 16 || Chicago || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 15,462 || 10–18–7 || 27 ||
| 36 || December 18 || Dallas || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,667 || 10–19–7 || 27 ||
| 37 || December 20 || Los Angeles || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,873 || 10–20–7 || 27 ||
| 38 || December 22 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Anaheim || || Tabaracci || 16,975 || 10–21–7 || 27 ||
| 39 || December 23 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Phoenix || OT || Roloson || 15,424 || 10–21–8 || 28 ||
| 40 || December 27 || Philadelphia || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,742 || 11–21–8 || 30 ||
| 41 || December 29 || Phoenix || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,742 || 11–22–8 || 30 ||
| 42 || December 31 || Montreal || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 18,742 || 11–23–8 || 30 ||
| 43 || January 3 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || St. Louis || || Tabaracci || N/A || 11–24–8 || 30 ||
| 44 || January 5 || Calgary || 1 – 1 || Chicago || OT || Tabaracci || 15,941 || 11–24–9 || 31 ||
| 45 || January 6 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Colorado || || Roloson || 16,061 || 12–24–9 || 33 ||
| 46 || January 9 || Florida || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 17,010 || 12–24–10 || 34 ||
| 47 || January 10 || St. Louis || 5 – 1 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,562 || 12–25–10 || 34 ||
| 48 || January 14 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Edmonton || || Roloson || 17,099 || 12–26–10 || 34 ||
| 49 || January 20 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Los Angeles || || Moss || 10,367 || 12–27–10 || 34 ||
| 50 || January 21 || Calgary || 1 – 7 || San Jose || || Roloson || 16,553 || 12–28–10 || 34 ||
| 51 || January 24 || Vancouver || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,627 || 13–28–10 || 36 ||
| 52 || January 28 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Anaheim || || Tabaracci || 16,758 || 14–28–10 || 38 ||
| 53 || January 29 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Los Angeles || || Tabaracci || 9,586 || 14–29–10 || 38 ||
| 54 || January 31 || New Jersey || 2 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,719 || 14–29–11 || 39 ||
| 55 || February 3 || Los Angeles || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,815 || 14–30–11 || 39 ||
| 56 || February 5 || San Jose || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,391 || 15–30–11 || 41 ||
| 57 || February 7 || Edmonton || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,719 || 16–30–11 || 43 ||
| 58 || February 27 || Vancouver || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 15,586 || 16–30–12 || 44 ||
| 59 || March 1 || Ottawa || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,463 || 17–30–12 || 46 ||
| 60 || March 3 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,831 || 18–30–12 || 48 ||
| 61 || March 5 || Calgary || 6 – 2 || Vancouver || || Roloson || 15,613 || 19–30–12 || 50 ||
| 62 || March 7 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Ottawa || || Roloson || 18,036 || 19–31–12 || 50 ||
| 63 || March 9 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Washington || || Tabaracci || 12,011 || 19–32–12 || 50 ||
| 64 || March 11 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || Roloson || 14,655 || 19–33–12 || 50 ||
| 65 || March 12 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Boston || || Roloson || 14,677 || 20–33–12 || 52 ||
| 66 || March 14 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Toronto || || Roloson || 15,726 || 20–34–12 || 52 ||
| 67 || March 16 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Montreal || OT || Roloson || 20,504 || 20–34–13 || 53 ||
| 68 || March 20 || NY Islanders || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 18,189 || 21–34–13 || 55 ||
| 69 || March 22 || St. Louis || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,675 || 22–34–13 || 57 ||
| 70 || March 24 || Buffalo || 2 – 0 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,296 || 22–35–13 || 57 ||
| 71 || March 26 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,782 || 23–35–13 || 59 ||
| 72 || March 28 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,998 || 24–35–13 || 61 ||
| 73 || March 30 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Edmonton || || Tabaracci || 17,099 || 24–36–13 || 61 ||
| 74 || April 1 || Dallas || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,012 || 25–36–13 || 63 ||
| 75 || April 5 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Anaheim || OT || Roloson || 17,174 || 25–36–14 || 64 ||
| 76 || April 7 || Calgary || 0 – 6 || San Jose || || Tabaracci || 17,483 || 25–37–14 || 64 ||
| 77 || April 9 || Vancouver || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 16,313 || 25–38–14 || 64 ||
| 78 || April 11 || Edmonton || 5 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,719 || 25–39–14 || 64 ||
| 79 || April 13 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Los Angeles || || Roloson || 12,049 || 25–40–14 || 64 ||
| 80 || April 15 || San Jose || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 16,567 || 25–40–15 || 65 ||
| 81 || April 17 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Vancouver || || Roloson || 16,602 || 26–40–15 || 67 ||
| 82 || April 18 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || San Jose || || Roloson || 17,483 || 26–41–15 || 67 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. Player Regular season 14 RW 82 27 51 78 0 197 16 LW 72 27 22 49 −9 40 18 LW 75 19 25 44 1 34 21 C 81 17 27 44 −7 32 13 C 68 18 22 40 −1 38 92 C 65 13 23 36 10 35 12 RW 70 13 19 32 −10 29 53 D 82 9 20 29 1 88 32 D 79 5 22 27 1 169 5 D 69 2 17 19 9 32 3 D 60 6 11 17 −2 26 17 LW 31 9 7 16 4 6 34 C 48 6 8 14 10 12 44 LW 50 6 8 14 −9 16 15 RW 52 8 5 13 −18 170 6 D 44 5 7 12 0 57 2 D 43 3 8 11 3 104 8 RW 16 5 4 9 0 2 42 LW 64 4 5 9 −1 122 33 D 35 2 7 9 −12 41 7 LW 70 3 3 6 −11 149 27 D 53 1 5 6 −10 109 24 LW 12 4 1 5 −1 28 23 C 26 2 3 5 −5 24 30 G 39 0 4 4 10 29 C 12 2 1 3 −4 8 19 D 12 0 2 2 4 10 11 C 12 1 0 1 −2 4 4 D 19 0 1 1 −3 6 20 LW 13 0 1 1 0 27 26 RW 4 0 1 1 2 0 31 G 42 0 1 1 14 57 C 5 0 0 0 0 23 43 LW 5 0 0 0 0 23 39 D 2 0 0 0 0 4 24 D 10 0 0 0 −5 16 1 G 6 0 0 0 0 28 C 2 0 0 0 1 2 8 LW 23 0 0 0 −6 113 55 D 12 0 0 0 0 61 58 LW 1 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending Player Regular season 31 Rick Tabaracci 42 13 22 6 1087 116 2.88 .893 0 2419 30 Dwayne Roloson 39 11 16 8 997 110 2.99 .890 0 2205 1 Tyler Moss 6 2 3 1 186 20 3.27 .892 0 367
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(annual) NHL All-Rookie Team Derek Morris (Defence) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Theoren Fleury Team Molson Cup Theoren Fleury Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award Ed Ward
Milestones