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.Shea, Kevin, One on One with Cliff Fletcher , legendsofhockey.net, accessed May 14, 2007 Doug Risebrough, Fletcher's former assistant, took over the reins for the Flames.
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.Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames, cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed May 14, 2007 The deal is often regarded as one of the most lopsided in NHL history,Patrick, Anthony, Fear and Loathing in Calgary , Calgarypuck, June 8, 2001, accessed May 14, 2007 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.Gilmour begins again with Leafs in Calgary, cbc.ca, March 13, 2003, accessed May 14, 2007
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 1982–83Year-by-year results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 106 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.All-star selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22 Roberts' 53 goals tied him for third in the NHL, behind Brett Hull (70) and Kevin Stevens (54).1991–92 scoring leaders, hockeydb.com, accessed May 14, 2007
Fleury and MacInnis also represented Canada at the 1991 Canada Cup, winning the tournament.1991 Canada Cup - Team Canada roster , hhof.com, accessed May 16, 2007 MacInnis was named a tournament all-star. Joel Otto and Gary Suter suited up for the Americans.1991 Canada Cup - Team USA roster , hhof.com, accessed May 16, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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
Season standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 4 || Edmonton || 2 – 9 || Calgary || || 1–0–0 || 2
| 2 || October 6 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Winnipeg || || 1–1–0 || 2
| 3 || October 8 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || San Jose || || 1–2–0 || 2
| 4 || October 10 || Calgary || 7 – 1 || Los Angeles || || 2–2–0 || 4
| 5 || October 12 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Edmonton || || 2–3–0 || 4
| 6 || October 15 || Minnesota || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || 3–3–0 || 6
| 7 || October 17 || Toronto || 4 – 6 || Calgary || || 4–3–0 || 8
| 8 || October 19 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Vancouver || || 4–4–0 || 8
| 9 || October 22 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Minnesota || || 5–4–0 || 10
| 10 || October 24 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Chicago || || 6–4–0 || 12
| 11 || October 26 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || St. Louis || OT || 6–4–1 || 13
| 12 || October 30 || New Jersey || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || 6–5–1 || 13
| 13 || November 1 || Calgary || 7 – 6 || Winnipeg || OT || 7–5–1 || 15
| 14 || November 4 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || NY Rangers || || 7–6–1 || 15
| 15 || November 6 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Hartford || || 8–6–1 || 17
| 16 || November 7 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Boston || OT || 8–6–2 || 18
| 17 || November 9 || Calgary || 6 – 1 || Toronto || || 9–6–2 || 20
| 18 || November 12 || Detroit || 5 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 9–7–2 || 20
| 19 || November 14 || Vancouver || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || 9–7–3 || 21
| 20 || November 16 || Buffalo || 5 – 4 || Calgary || || 9–8–3 || 21
| 21 || November 21 || Vancouver || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || 10–8–3 || 23
| 22 || November 22 || Calgary || 5 – 6 || Vancouver || OT || 10–9–3 || 23
| 23 || November 25 || Winnipeg || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 10–9–4 || 24
| 24 || November 28 || Los Angeles || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 11–9–4 || 26
| 25 || November 30 || San Jose || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || 11–10–4 || 26
| 26 || December 3 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Detroit || || 11–11–4 || 26
| 27 || December 5 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || New Jersey || || 11–12–4 || 26
| 28 || December 7 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Montreal || || 11–13–4 || 26
| 29 || December 8 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Buffalo || || 12–13–4 || 28
| 30 || December 10 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Washington || || 12–14–4 || 28
| 31 || December 14 || Detroit || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 12–15–4 || 28
| 32 || December 17 || Winnipeg || 4 – 7 || Calgary || || 13–15–4 || 30
| 33 || December 19 || Quebec || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 13–15–5 || 31
| 34 || December 21 || Calgary || 2 – 7 || Winnipeg || || 13–16–5 || 31
| 35 || December 23 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Edmonton || || 13–17–5 || 31
| 36 || December 28 || Philadelphia || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 14–17–5 || 33
| 37 || December 29 || Los Angeles || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || 15–17–5 || 35
| 38 || December 31 || Montreal || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 16–17–5 || 37
| 39 || January 4 || Edmonton || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || 16–18–5 || 37
| 40 || January 5 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Edmonton || || 17–18–5 || 39
| 41 || January 8 || San Jose || 3 – 10 || Calgary || || 18–18–5 || 41
| 42 || January 10 || Pittsburgh || 5 – 7 || Calgary || || 19–18–5 || 43
| 43 || January 13 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Montreal || OT || 19–18–6 || 44
| 44 || January 14 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || Quebec || || 20–18–6 || 46
| 45 || January 16 || Calgary || 4 – 6 || NY Rangers || || 20–19–6 || 46
| 46 || January 22 || NY Rangers || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 20–19–7 || 47
| 47 || January 24 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || San Jose || || 21–19–7 || 49
| 48 || January 25 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 21–20–7 || 49
| 49 || January 27 || Chicago || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 21–21–7 || 49
| 50 || January 30 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Boston || || 21–22–7 || 49
| 51 || February 1 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Washington || || 21–23–7 || 49
| 52 || February 2 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || NY Islanders || || 21–24–7 || 49
| 53 || February 5 || Quebec || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 22–24–7 || 51
| 54 || February 7 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Winnipeg || || 22–25–7 || 51
| 55 || February 11 || NY Islanders || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || 22–26–7 || 51
| 56 || February 13 || Washington || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 22–26–8 || 52
| 57 || February 15 || Calgary || 2 – 7 || St. Louis || || 22–27–8 || 52
| 58 || February 16 || Calgary || 5 – 5 || Chicago || OT || 22–27–9 || 53
| 59 || February 19 || Boston || 4 – 6 || Calgary || || 23–27–9 || 55
| 60 || February 21 || Los Angeles || 7 – 9 || Calgary || || 24–27–9 || 57
| 61 || February 23 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || San Jose || || 25–27–9 || 59
| 62 || February 25 || Buffalo || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 25–28–9 || 59
| 63 || February 27 || Philadelphia || 3 – 0 || Calgary || || 25–29–9 || 59
| 64 || March 1 || Calgary || 0 – 11 || Vancouver || || 25–30–9 || 59
| 65 || March 3 || Pittsburgh || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || 25–31–9 || 59
| 66 || March 5 || Toronto || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 25–31–10 || 60
| 67 || March 7 || St. Louis || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 26–31–10 || 62
| 68 || March 10 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Pittsburgh || || 26–32–10 || 62
| 69 || March 12 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Philadelphia || OT || 26–33–10 || 62
| 70 || March 14 || Vancouver || 6 – 4 || Calgary || || 26–34–10 || 62
| 71 || March 16 || Hartford || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || 26–35–10 || 62
| 72 || March 19 || San Jose || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || 27–35–10 || 64
| 73 || March 21 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Los Angeles || || 27–36–10 || 64
| 74 || March 24 || Edmonton || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 27–36–11 || 65
| 75 || March 26 || Los Angeles || 2 – 7 || Calgary || || 28–36–11 || 67
| 76 || March 28 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || 29–36–11 || 69
| 77 || March 31 || Edmonton || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || 30–36–11 || 71
| 78 || April 12 || Winnipeg || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || 30–37–11 || 71
| 79 || April 15 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || San Jose || || 31–37–11 || 73
| 80 || April 16 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Vancouver || OT || 31–37–12 || 74
Legend:
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 Roberts 1076533790207----- Al MacInnis 27220577783----- Theoren Fleury 1480334073133----- Sergei Makarov 426822487060----- Joe Nieuwendyk 256922345655----- Gary Suter 2070124355128----- Robert Reichel 267020345432----- Paul Ranheim 288023204332----- Doug Gilmour‡ 393811273846----- Joel Otto 2978132134161----- Carey Wilson 334211122337----- Ron Stern 227213922338----- Marc Habscheid 17467111842----- Tomas Forslund 2738591412----- Jamie Macoun‡ 34372121453----- Michel Petit† 7363101379----- Trent Yawney 1847491345----- Frank Musil 3784812103----- Gary Leeman† 112927927----- Mark Osiecki 555027924----- Chris Lindberg 321725717----- Mike Vernon 30630778----- Craig Berube† 23/1636145155----- Ric Nattress‡ 61905531----- Paul Kruse 121631465----- Martin Simard 1321134119----- Tim Hunter 1930134167----- Tim Sweeney 7111234----- Neil Sheehy 1535123119----- Nevin Markwart† 231021325----- Greg Smyth† 6711215----- Stephane Matteau 23410119----- Richard Zemlak 21501142----- Alexander Godynyuk† 2160114----- Jeff Reese† 351201112----- Jim Kyte 421011107----- Darryl Olsen 3210000----- Scott Sharples 110000----- Trevor Kidd 3720000----- Kevan Guy 530002----- Todd Harkins 3750007----- Rick Wamsley‡ 3190000----- Rich Chernomaz 16110006-----
†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 Vernon 306336402430921723.58------- Scott Sharples 1165001403.69------- Jeff Reese† 35125873223713.78------- Trevor Kidd 372120110804.00------- Rick Wamsley‡ 3194573403404.46-------