The Calgary Flames have experienced considerable success in the draft, not just in recent seasons, but throughout the franchise’s entire history. They’ve selected superstars who have led the Flames to success, whether that be division titles, conference titles, or the Stanley Cup. Many of the league’s greats threw on the Flaming C on the stage when they heard their name called.
You may feel that some players are left out, but this list is based on where they were drafted, their success with Calgary, and their impact in the city. For that reason, Brett Hull painfully doesn’t count here. So, how do the best drafted Flames rank across the different eras of Calgary hockey? Let’s rank the top five.
Honourable Mention: Mikael Backlund
Before we get into the top five, we’ll go over some honourable mentions.
First up, we have Mikael Backlund. The current captain reached the 1000 game mark this past season, all of which have been with the Flames. He is a great two-way player in the NHL and consistently receives votes for the Selke Trophy. Backlund has also become beloved in the city and has become an important part of the team’s history.
Gary Suter
Next is Stanley Cup champion with the Flames in 1989, Gary Suter. Suter was a ninth-round selection by the Flames in the 1984 NHL Draft. A defenceman who would produce offence at nearly a point-per-game and was also solid in the defensive end. He played in the NHL for close to 20 seasons and in that time, was one of the premier defencemen in the league. Another gem found by the Flames late in the draft.
Now onto the top five.
#5 Gary Roberts
First on the list is the 12th overall pick in 1984: Gary Roberts. The big, power forward on the wing played the majority of his 21-year career with the Calgary Flames. Consistently in and around a point-per-game, he was also someone who struck fear into the hearts of his opponents. In just his second full NHL season, Roberts was a pivotal member of the Stanley Cup-winning team.
He retired with the Flames in 1996 due to serious neck injuries. The degeneration of the nerves in his neck ended his career with the Flames and should’ve ended his career as a whole. Roberts, however, didn’t let that stop him and came back after just a year off and played another ten seasons in the NHL.
He is now a performance trainer working with both junior players and pros, including Connor McDavid.
Also, bonus points for almost fighting Kris Draper in an Alumni game.
#4 Mike Vernon
Another member of the 1989 Stanley Cup-winning roster: Mike Vernon. The Calgary kid was drafted by his hometown team in the third round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft at 56th overall. In his lengthy career, Vernon was one of the best netminders. Winning two Stanley Cups with two different teams, he gave whatever team he was on a chance to win. That culminated in him being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Class of 2023.
He was consistently at the top of the NHL in wins and was the best of the league’s netminders. A career 2.98 goals-against-average and a .889 save percentage, which was completely affected by an abysmal first three games in the NHL. Vernon cemented himself as one of the best goalies in NHL history.
#3 Johnny Gaudreau
Beginning with the top three, we have the late Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau was drafted 104th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft. In a time when Flames hockey was at a low point, Gaudreau came in and brought hope to the fans. A generation of fans became enamoured by the Flames after watching Johnny grace the ice.
Gaudreau is fifth in the all-time points ranking for the Flames, having 609 points through 602 games. His 1.012 is the ninth highest of all-time Flames behind only the likes of Joe Nieuwendyk, Kent Nilsson, Doug Gilmour, Al MacInnis, and more. His total of 115 points in the 2022–23 season was the second-best season ever by a Flame, and his 90 even-strength points were good enough for a franchise record.
#2 Joe Nieuwendyk
Going back to the glory days of the 1980’s we have Joe Nieuwendyk. Nieuwendyk was a second-round selection (27th overall) in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. Another player who has played 20 NHL seasons, Nieuwendyk, was wanted by everyone in the NHL. As soon as he entered the league, he was a force to be reckoned with. He won the Calder Trophy and, to this day, is still the only player in franchise history to win the award. He was also just the second player ever to score 50 goals in their rookie season, after Mike Bossy.
A true leader, he epitomized what it meant to wear the Flaming C. “I’m just one player on the team. You can only do so much. The big thing is to focus on your own job and make sure you do the best you can.”
Fourth all-time in Flames scoring with 616 points through 577 games in Calgary, he is first in points-per-game out of players to have played a minimum of 500 games with the Flames. Third in goals and eighth in assists, oh, and he is also fourth all-time in Flames playoff points and second in playoff goals. Not to mention, he is a Hockey Hall of Famer and a member of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players list. There is a reason why he is still mentioned as one of the Flames’ best-ever centres.
#1 Al MacInnis
Number one on this list is Al MacInnis. The 15th overall pick in the 1981 NHL Draft, MacInnis played 803 games with the Calgary Flames. As a defenceman, he registered over a point-per-game in those 803 games with 822 points. Those 822 points are third in franchise history, and by a healthy margin, it is the most by a defenceman.
Known for his rocket of a shot, goalies were scared anytime MacInnis sent a puck barreling towards them. That shot got him to be the fifth defenceman ever to record a 100-point season when he did it with Calgary in the 1990–91 season. It wasn’t just goalies who were scared of him. Anyone lined up against him would have fear struck into their hearts, knowing that MacInnis would eventually pancake them.
A Norris Trophy winner with the Blues in 1998–99, MacInnis was a finalist several times with the Flames before Mark Giordano finally one it for Calgary in 2019. When Calgary won its only Stanley Cup, MacInnis was the one to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy, still being the only player in franchise history to win the award. 31 points in that one playoff run, which hasn’t been topped by anyone else in the history of the Flames.
While the Flames have had some great drafts and drafted some gems who went on to have amazing careers, MacInnis is, without a doubt, the best of all of them.
This list is different for everyone, even among The Win Column team. If there are any changes you would make, let us know in the comments!
All stats courtesy of Quant Hockey.
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