1991–92 Calgary Flames season

NHL team season

1991–92 Calgary Flames
Division5th Smythe
Conference8th Campbell
1991–92 record31–37–12
Home record19–14–7
Road record12–23–5
Goals for296 (5th)
Goals against305 (19th)
Team information
General managerDoug Risebrough
CoachDoug Risebrough
Guy Charron (interim)
CaptainJoe Nieuwendyk
Alternate captainsAl MacInnis
Joel Otto
ArenaOlympic Saddledome
Average attendance19,719
Team leaders
GoalsGary Roberts (53)
AssistsAl MacInnis (57)
PointsGary Roberts (90)
Penalty minutesRonnie Stern (338)
Plus/minusGary Roberts (+32)
WinsMike Vernon (24)
Goals against averageMike Vernon (3.58)

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.[1] 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.[2] The deal is often regarded as one of the most lopsided in NHL history,[2][3] 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.[4]

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 1982–83[5] 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.[6] Roberts' 53 goals tied him for third in the NHL, behind Brett Hull (70) and Kevin Stevens (54).[7]

Fleury and MacInnis also represented Canada at the 1991 Canada Cup, winning the tournament.[8] MacInnis was named a tournament all-star. Joel Otto and Gary Suter suited up for the Americans.[9]

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.[10][11][12][13]

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.[14]

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.

Season standings

Smythe Division[15]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Vancouver Canucks 80 42 26 12 285 250 96
Los Angeles Kings 80 35 31 14 287 250 84
Edmonton Oilers 80 36 34 10 295 297 82
Winnipeg Jets 80 33 32 15 251 244 81
Calgary Flames 80 31 37 12 296 305 74
San Jose Sharks 80 17 58 5 219 359 39
Campbell Conference[16]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Detroit Red Wings NRS 80 43 25 12 320 256 98
2 Vancouver Canucks SMY 80 42 26 12 285 250 96
3 Chicago Blackhawks NRS 80 36 29 15 257 236 87
4 Los Angeles Kings SMY 80 35 31 14 287 296 84
5 St. Louis Blues NRS 80 36 33 11 279 266 83
6 Edmonton Oilers SMY 80 36 34 10 295 297 82
7 Winnipeg Jets SMY 80 33 32 15 251 244 81
8 Calgary Flames SMY 80 31 37 12 296 305 74
9 Minnesota North Stars NRS 80 32 42 6 246 278 70
10 Toronto Maple Leafs NRS 80 30 43 7 234 294 67
11 San Jose Sharks SMY 80 17 58 5 219 359 39

Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs


Schedule and results

1991–92 Game Log
October: 6–5–1 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 3–4–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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
November: 5–5–3 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 3–2–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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
December: 5–7–1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 1–6–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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
January: 5–5–2 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 3–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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
February: 4–7–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 1–4–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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
March: 5–7–2 (Home: 5–3–2; Road: 0–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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
April: 1–1–1 (Home: 0–1–0; Road: 1–0–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts
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

Playoffs

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[5]

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 10 76 53 37 90 207 - - - - -
Al MacInnis 2 72 20 57 77 83 - - - - -
Theoren Fleury 14 80 33 40 73 133 - - - - -
Sergei Makarov 42 68 22 48 70 60 - - - - -
Joe Nieuwendyk 25 69 22 34 56 55 - - - - -
Gary Suter 20 70 12 43 55 128 - - - - -
Robert Reichel 26 70 20 34 54 32 - - - - -
Paul Ranheim 28 80 23 20 43 32 - - - - -
Doug Gilmour‡ 39 38 11 27 38 46 - - - - -
Joel Otto 29 78 13 21 34 161 - - - - -
Carey Wilson 33 42 11 12 23 37 - - - - -
Ron Stern 22 72 13 9 22 338 - - - - -
Marc Habscheid 17 46 7 11 18 42 - - - - -
Tomas Forslund 27 38 5 9 14 12 - - - - -
Jamie Macoun‡ 34 37 2 12 14 53 - - - - -
Michel Petit† 7 36 3 10 13 79 - - - - -
Trent Yawney 18 47 4 9 13 45 - - - - -
Frank Musil 3 78 4 8 12 103 - - - - -
Gary Leeman† 11 29 2 7 9 27 - - - - -
Mark Osiecki 55 50 2 7 9 24 - - - - -
Chris Lindberg 32 17 2 5 7 17 - - - - -
Mike Vernon 30 63 0 7 7 8 - - - - -
Craig Berube† 23/16 36 1 4 5 155 - - - - -
Ric Nattress‡ 6 19 0 5 5 31 - - - - -
Paul Kruse 12 16 3 1 4 65 - - - - -
Martin Simard 13 21 1 3 4 119 - - - - -
Tim Hunter 19 30 1 3 4 167 - - - - -
Tim Sweeney 7 11 1 2 3 4 - - - - -
Neil Sheehy 15 35 1 2 3 119 - - - - -
Nevin Markwart† 23 10 2 1 3 25 - - - - -
Greg Smyth† 6 7 1 1 2 15 - - - - -
Stephane Matteau 23 4 1 0 1 19 - - - - -
Richard Zemlak 21 5 0 1 1 42 - - - - -
Alexander Godynyuk† 21 6 0 1 1 4 - - - - -
Jeff Reese† 35 12 0 1 1 12 - - - - -
Jim Kyte 4 21 0 1 1 107 - - - - -
Darryl Olsen 32 1 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Scott Sharples 1 1 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Trevor Kidd 37 2 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Kevan Guy 5 3 0 0 0 2 - - - - -
Todd Harkins 37 5 0 0 0 7 - - - - -
Rick Wamsley‡ 31 9 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Rich Chernomaz 16 11 0 0 0 6 - - - - -

†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 30 63 3640 24 30 9 217 2 3.58 - - - - - - -
Scott Sharples 1 1 65 0 0 1 4 0 3.69 - - - - - - -
Jeff Reese† 35 12 587 3 2 2 37 1 3.78 - - - - - - -
Trevor Kidd 37 2 120 1 1 0 8 0 4.00 - - - - - - -
Rick Wamsley‡ 31 9 457 3 4 0 34 0 4.46 - - - - - - -

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
‡Traded mid-season

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

Trades

August 26, 1991 To Calgary Flames
6th round pick in 1991 		To Hartford Whalers
Paul Fenton
January 2, 1992 To Calgary Flames
Gary Leeman
Alexander Godynyuk
Jeff Reese
Michel Petit
Craig Berube 		To Toronto Maple Leafs
Doug Gilmour
Jamie Macoun
Ric Nattress
Rick Wamsley
Kent Manderville

Free agents

Player Former team
Player New team
This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021)

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, held in Buffalo, New York.[17]

Rnd Pick Player Nationality Position Team (league) NHL statistics
GP G A Pts PIM
1 19 Niklas Sundblad  Sweden RW AIK (SEL) 2 0 0 0 0
2 41 Francois Groleau  Canada D Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 8 0 1 1 6
3 52 Sandy McCarthy  Canada RW Laval Titan (QMJHL) 736 72 76 148 1534
3 63 Brian Caruso  Canada LW UMD (WCHA)
4 85 Steve Magnusson  United States C Minnesota (WCHA)
5 107 Jerome Butler  United States G UMD (WCHA)
6 129 Bob Marshall  Canada D Miami University (CCHA)
7 140 Matt Hoffman  United States C Oshawa Generals (OHL)
7 151 Kelly Harper  Canada RW Michigan State (CCHA)
8 173 David St. Pierre  Canada C Longueuil (QMJHL)
9 195 David Struch  Canada C Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 4 0 0 0 4
10 217 Sergei Zolotov  Soviet Union LW Krylya Sovetov (USSR)
11 239 Marko Jantunen  Finland RW Reipas Lahti (FNL) 3 0 0 0 0
12 261 Andrei Trefilov  Soviet Union G HC Dynamo Moscow (USSR) 54 12–25–4, 3.45GAA
S 25 Dean Larson  Canada C N/A

See also

References

  • Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg 120
  • Game log: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg 138
  • Team standings: 1991–92 NHL standings @hockeydb.com
  • Trades:
  1. ^ Shea, Kevin, One on One with Cliff Fletcher Archived 2010-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, legendsofhockey.net, accessed May 14, 2007
  2. ^ a b Dolezar, Jon A., Say it aint so: Calgary Flames, cnnsi.com, August 8, 2001, Accessed May 14, 2007
  3. ^ Patrick, Anthony, Fear and Loathing in Calgary Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine, Calgarypuck, June 8, 2001, accessed May 14, 2007
  4. ^ Gilmour begins again with Leafs in Calgary, cbc.ca, March 13, 2003, accessed May 14, 2007
  5. ^ a b Year-by-year results, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 106
  6. ^ All-star selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, pg. 22
  7. ^ 1991–92 scoring leaders, hockeydb.com, accessed May 14, 2007
  8. ^ 1991 Canada Cup - Team Canada roster Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, hhof.com, accessed May 16, 2007
  9. ^ 1991 Canada Cup - Team USA roster Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, hhof.com, accessed May 16, 2007
  10. ^ "1988-89 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  11. ^ "1989-90 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  12. ^ "1990-91 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  13. ^ "1991-92 Calgary Flames Schedule and Results".
  14. ^ "1991-92 NHL Summary".
  15. ^ "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  16. ^ "1991-1992 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
  17. ^ Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed May 14, 2007
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