The 1996–97 Calgary Flames season was the 17th National Hockey League season in Calgary. It was another season of decline, as the Flames began the rebuilding process after remaining near the top of the league standings for nearly a decade. Finishing 5th in the Pacific Division, the Flames missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992, and for only the second time since coming to Calgary.Year-by-year results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 106
As a result of missing the playoffs, the Flames fired head coach Pierre Page following the season, replacing him with Brian Sutter. Page ended his Flames career with a coaching record of 66–78–20. His .463 winning percentage was, at the time, the worst for any coach in Flames history.Head Coaches, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 103
On November 23, 1996, rugged forward Sasha Lakovic authored one of the more memorable moments in the history of the Battle of Alberta when he attempted to leap over the glass at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton to attack a drunken fan who had reached over the barrier to dump a beer on the head of Flames assistant coach Guy Lapointe. Lakovic, who was held back by his teammates from going into the crowd, was suspended two games, while the Edmonton Oilers were fined $20,000 for having inadequate security.Francis, Eric, The Uncivil War, Calgary Sun, September 19, 2003, accessed January 26, 2007
Theoren Fleury was named to the Western Conference team at the 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game, where he recorded an assist.All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22
Rookie forward Jarome Iginla, acquired the previous season in a trade for Joe Nieuwendyk led all NHL rookies in scoring at 50 points.1996–97 season, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 115 Despite his success, Iginla failed to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, as defenceman Bryan Berard was voted the league's top rookie. Iginla was named to the All-Rookie team, however.
Regular season The Flames allowed the most shorthanded goals in the league in 1996–97, with 19.
Season standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 5 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Vancouver || || Kidd || 17,501 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Buffalo || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 17,311 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 9 || St. Louis || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,011 || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 11 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Detroit || || Kidd || 19,983 || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 13 || Calgary || 1 – 0 || Philadelphia || || Kidd || N/A || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 14 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || NY Rangers || || Kidd || 18,200 || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 16 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Montreal || || Tabaracci || 20,597 || 3–4–0 || 6 ||
| 8 || October 20 || Edmonton || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,295 || 4–4–0 || 8 ||
| 9 || October 22 || Colorado || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || Kidd || 15,644 || 5–4–0 || 10 ||
| 10 ||October 24 || Pittsburgh || 5 – 7 || Calgary || || Kidd || 15,856 || 6–4–0 || 12 ||
| 11 ||October 26 || Calgary || 0 – 0 || Los Angeles || OT || Kidd || 12,787 || 6–4–1 || 13 ||
| 12 ||October 27 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Anaheim || || Tabaracci || 16,592 || 7–4–1 || 15 ||
| 13 ||October 30 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || San Jose || || Kidd || 17,442 || 7–5–1 || 15 ||
| 14 || November 1 || Phoenix || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 16,246 || 7–6–1 || 15 ||
| 15 || November 2 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || || Kidd || 17,546 || 7–7–1 || 15 ||
| 16 || November 9 || St. Louis || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,786 || 7–8–1 || 15 ||
| 17 || November 13 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Dallas || OT || Roloson || 16,149 || 7–8–2 || 16 ||
| 18 || November 14 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Chicago || OT || Kidd || 17,359 || 8–8–2 || 18 ||
| 19 || November 16 || Calgary || 0 – 2 || St. Louis || || Kidd || 16,834 || 8–9–2 || 18 ||
| 20 || November 18 || NY Rangers || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,173 || 9–9–2 || 20 ||
| 21 || November 20 || Dallas || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Kidd || 15,173 || 9–10–2 || 20 ||
| 22 || November 22 || Chicago || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,613 || 9–11–2 || 20 ||
| 23 || November 23 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Edmonton || || Roloson || 16,829 || 9–12–2 || 20 ||
| 24 || November 26 || Edmonton || 10 – 1 || Calgary || || Kidd || 17,146 || 9–13–2 || 20 ||
| 25 || November 28 || Los Angeles || 0 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,367 || 10–13–2 || 22 ||
| 26 || November 30 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Phoenix || || Roloson || 15,988 || 10–14–2 || 22 ||
| 27 || December 3 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || NY Islanders || || Kidd || 8,716 || 10–15–2 || 22 ||
| 28 || December 5 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || New Jersey || || Roloson || 13,539 || 10–16–2 || 22 ||
| 29 || December 7 || Calgary || 1 – 1 || Boston || OT || Kidd || 15,055 || 10–16–3 || 23 ||
| 30 || December 10 || Ottawa || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 16,103 || 10–16–4 || 24 ||
| 31 || December 12 || Calgary || 5 – 1 || Los Angeles || || Roloson || 9,620 || 11–16–4 || 26 ||
| 32 || December 14 || Colorado || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || N/A || 12–16–4 || 28 ||
| 33 || December 16 || New Jersey || 5 – 0 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,186 || 12–17–4 || 28 ||
| 34 || December 18 || Detroit || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Kidd || 16,237 || 12–17–5 || 29 ||
| 35 || December 20 || Calgary || 0 – 7 || Anaheim || || Kidd || 17,084 || 12–18–5 || 29 ||
| 36 || December 22 || Calgary || 7 – 2 || Phoenix || || Roloson || 15,537 || 13–18–5 || 31 ||
| 37 || December 23 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Colorado || || Roloson || 16,061 || 13–19–5 || 31 ||
| 38 || December 29 || Philadelphia || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,882 || 13–20–5 || 31 ||
| 39 || December 31 || San Jose || 5 – 1 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,882 || 13–21–5 || 31 ||
| 40 || January 2 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Colorado || || Kidd || 16,061 || 13–22–5 || 31 ||
| 41 || January 4 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || San Jose || || Kidd || 17,442 || 14–22–5 || 33 ||
| 42 || January 7 || Toronto || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Kidd || 17,345 || 15–22–5 || 35 ||
| 43 || January 9 || Hartford || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,121 || 16–22–5 || 37 ||
| 44 || January 11 || Florida || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,273 || 16–23–5 || 37 ||
| 45 || January 15 || Anaheim || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,207 || 17–23–5 || 39 ||
| 46 || January 21 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || Kidd || 16,764 || 17–24–5 || 39 ||
| 47 || January 22 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Toronto || || Roloson || 15,685 || 17–25–5 || 39 ||
| 48 || January 24 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Ottawa || OT || Kidd || 13,306 || 17–25–6 || 40 ||
| 49 || January 28 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,072 || 18–25–6 || 42 ||
| 50 || January 30 || San Jose || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,117 || 18–26–6 || 42 ||
| 51 || February 1 || Vancouver || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,661 || 19–26–6 || 44 ||
| 52 || February 3 || Los Angeles || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,328 || 19–27–6 || 44 ||
| 53 || February 5 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Edmonton || || Kidd || 16,770 || 19–28–6 || 44 ||
| 54 || February 7 || Washington || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,686 || 20–28–6 || 46 ||
| 55 || February 9 || Anaheim || 1 – 6 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,219 || 21–28–6 || 48 ||
| 56 || February 11 || Boston || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,332 || 22–28–6 || 50 ||
| 57 || February 13 || Edmonton || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Kidd || 18,882 || 23–28–6 || 52 ||
| 58 || February 15 || Toronto || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,882 || 24–28–6 || 54 ||
| 59 || February 18 || Calgary || 5 – 5 || Buffalo || OT || Roloson || 15,867 || 24–28–7 || 55 ||
| 60 || February 19 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || Detroit || || Kidd || 19,983 || 24–29–7 || 55 ||
| 61 || February 21 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Dallas || || Kidd || 16,924 || 24–30–7 || 55 ||
| 62 || February 23 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || St. Louis || || Roloson || 19,154 || 25–30–7 || 57 ||
| 63 || February 26 || Phoenix || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,651 || 25–31–7 || 57 ||
| 64 || February 28 || Montreal || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,882 || 26–31–7 || 59 ||
| 65 || March 1 || Dallas || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,787 || 27–31–7 || 61 ||
| 66 || March 4 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Washington || || Roloson || 10,003 || 27–32–7 || 61 ||
| 67 || March 5 || Calgary || 0 – 2 || Hartford || || Kidd || 12,140 || 27–33–7 || 61 ||
| 68 || March 7 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Florida || || Roloson || 14,703 || 28–33–7 || 63 ||
| 69 || March 9 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Tampa Bay || OT || Roloson || 15,636 || 28–34–7 || 63 ||
| 70 || March 12 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Colorado || || Kidd || 16,061 || 29–34–7 || 65 ||
| 71 || March 15 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Los Angeles || || Kidd || 15,135 || 30–34–7 || 67 ||
| 72 || March 16 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Anaheim || OT || Kidd || 17,174 || 30–34–8 || 68 ||
| 73 || March 19 || San Jose || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Kidd || 16,610 || 31–34–8 || 70 ||
| 74 || March 21 || Tampa Bay || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Kidd || 17,278 || 31–35–8 || 70 ||
| 75 || March 25 || Anaheim || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kidd || 17,118 || 32–35–8 || 72 ||
| 76 || March 29 || Vancouver || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,882 || 32–36–8 || 72 ||
| 77 || April 2 || Colorado || 5 – 1 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,882 || 32–37–8 || 72 ||
| 78 || April 4 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Vancouver || OT || Kidd || 18,422 || 32–37–9 || 73 ||
| 79 || April 6 || Chicago || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Kidd || 18,397 || 32–38–9 || 73 ||
| 80 || April 7 || Detroit || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 17,841 || 32–39–9 || 73 ||
| 81 || April 11 || Calgary || 3 – 7 || Chicago || || Roloson || 22,475 || 32–40–9 || 73 ||
| 82 || April 12 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Toronto || || Roloson || 15,726 || 32–41–9 || 73 ||
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 RW81293867−12104 51 C82273360248 13 LW79223052−1236 12 RW82212950−437 26 C70162743−222 44 LW68191635−412 34 C61111526−1932 16 LW5862026−614 20 LW5871118−249 22 RW7971017−4157 23 C417916−1134 21 D4751116−1132 36 D4611516424 5 D7241115−814 27 D8211314−14208 42 LW405813−349 32 RW675611−1110 19 D27281002 6 D76459−2349 15 RW33358−8113 18 C10347−12 29 D63167−291 3 D1931426 4 D13134−119 7 D390442117 17 LW1012312 41 C9123−42 12 LW14202−430 37 G55022 16 8 D301110 38 LW19011−154 2 D20000−435 45 C3000−10 28 C200004 30 G31000 2 35 LW100012 31 G7000 0 33 D2000−10
Goaltending = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. Player Regular season 37 Trevor Kidd 55 21 23 6 1416 141 2.84 .900 4 2979 30 Dwayne Roloson 31 9 14 3 760 78 2.89 .897 1 1618 31 Rick Tabaracci 7 2 4 0 155 14 2.33 .910 1 361
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honourRecipientRef League(annual) NHL All-Rookie Team Jarome Iginla (Forward) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Theoren Fleury Team Molson Cup Trevor Kidd Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award Mike Sullivan
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Jonas Hoglund October 5, 1996 Chris O'Sullivan Marko Jantunen October 9, 1996 Sasha Lakovic October 11, 1996 Dwayne Roloson November 13, 1996 Sami Helenius December 14, 1996 Dale McTavish December 31, 1996
Transactions The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.
Trades