12 players in the Hockey Hall of Fame have played for the Calgary Flames. Alongside them are five builders who spent time in Cow Town. Some of these legends spent quite some time with the Flames, whereas some didn’t. Either way, these 17 people are still a part of Calgary Flames history. This list does not include anyone from the Atlanta Flames, meaning Al Arbour and Pat Quinn are not on this list.

Players

Lanny McDonald–1992

The first-ever Calgary Flame to join the Hall of Fame was the captain of the Stanley Cup-winning team, Lanny McDonald. McDonald joined the Flames midway through the 1981-82 season in The Stampede City. Lanny was a Flame for 492 games, registering 402 points, along with leading them to the promised land. Calgary loves Lanny, and the fans show that anytime he is in the Dome.

Joe Mullen–2000

Eight years later, the next Flame entered the prestigious hall. Joe Mullen won three Stanley Cups in his illustrious career, the first being with the Flames in 1989. The St. Louis Blues signed him after he went undrafted. He proved his college success wasn’t a fluke, becoming the first American-born player to reach 500 goals and 1000 points. Mullen was over a point-per-game wearing the Flaming C with 388 points in 345 games.

Grant Fuhr–2003

While more known for his time three hours north of Calgary, Grant Fuhr is another former Flame to be inducted. He only played 23 games with the Flames in the final season of his career. His Vezina and four Stanley Cups cemented him as one of the best goalies of all time.

Al MacInnis–2007

Almost two weeks ago now, we broke down the five best draft picks, and topping that list was Al MacInnis. The man who won the Conn Smythe, the only time Calgary ever won the Stanley Cup. MacInnis went to St. Louis while being the Flames franchise leader in games and points. His shot terrorized goalies, and his bruising play had opponents fearing him. Everyone in the league respected MacInnis. After leaving Calgary, he added a Norris Trophy to his résumé before being inducted.

Brett Hull–2009

In 1984, the Flames drafted Brett Hull in the sixth round, 117th overall. He only played 57 games in a Flames uniform, registering 51 games–27 goals, 24 assists. Hull showed flashes of his offensive prowess with Calgary; however, the Flames traded him in 1988. Sent to St. Louis for Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley, management didn’t think that the team could win with Hull. While they won the Cup the very next season, who knows if they would’ve won more with the Hall of Famer.

Joe Nieuwendyk–2011

The first of two Flames to be inducted in 2011 was Joe Nieuwendyk. Arguably, the Flames’ greatest centre of all time, Nieuwendyk, was an integral part of the 1989 cup-winning team. In his 577 games, Nieuwendyk scored 616 points. On the top five Flames’ draft picks list, Nieuwendyk ranked second. A Calder winner, fourth in Flames scoring, and first in points-per-game for players to have played over 500 games in the Flaming C. He was then eventually traded for another Flames legend and Corey Millen.

Doug Gilmour–2011

The second to be inducted in 2011 was Doug Gilmour. While Nieuwendyk made a name for himself with the Calgary Flames, Gilmour is more well-known for his time outside of Calgary. Originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues, Gilmour joined the 1988–89 season to immediately win the Cup. In the regular season that year had 85 points through 72 games. In his 20-year career, Gilmour played 1474 games, producing 1414 points, 450 goals, and 964 assists.

Phil Housley–2015

The second Flames defenceman to make the Hall was coincidentally traded for the first. In 1994, the Flames traded Al MacInnis to the Blues in exchange for Phil Housley. Housley played 328 games with 238 points. While he wasn’t at his peak during his two stints with the Flames, Housley was still a very good defenceman. One of the most prolific scoring defencemen of all time, Housley cemented himself as a Hall of Famer.

Sergei Makarov–2016

Calgary only has two Calder winners, the first being Nieuwendyk, the second being the oldest winner ever: Sergei Makarov. Makarov was already a Hall of Fame-calibre player by the time he moved to the NHL. His Calder win in 1990 caused a rule change. They changed the rules so that a player must be younger than 26 years old by September 15th of their rookie year. Makarov was a star in the early ’90s.

Martin St. Louis–2018

One of the most painful decisions in franchise history is the decision to buy out Martin St. Louis after signing him. After going undrafted, the Flames brought in St. Louis and left him unprotected in the 2000 Expansion Draft. He wasn’t taken and subsequently bought out. He joined the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming an NHL great, winning the Stanley Cup in 2004 against you know who. At 5’8″, St. Louis was the first smaller player to make a name for himself.

Jarome Iginla–2020

The greatest Calgary Flame of all time is without a doubt Jarome Iginla. Brought over in the trade that sent the previously mentioned Joe Nieuwendyk to Dallas, Iggy is one of the most accomplished NHLers of all time. The franchise’s all-time leader in goals, points, and games played, Iginla is one of the greatest to never win the Cup. In the latter part of his career, he went on to attempt to win the ultimate prize, unfortunately falling short.

Mike Vernon–2023

The last Flame to make the hall is hometown hero Mike Vernon. A Two-time Stanley Cup champion, the first in ’89 and his second in 1997 with the Detroit Red Wings, while also winning the Conn Smythe. He had the opportunity to end his career back in Calgary, playing his final two seasons with them. At the time of retirement, Vernon was seventh in regular-season wins (385), fourth in goaltending playoff appearances (138) and fifth in playoff wins (77). In 2007, the Flames raised his number into the rafters of the Saddledome.

Builders

Bob Johnson–1992

The first builder is “Badger” Bob Johnson, the man who turned the Flames into a juggernaut in the ’80s. He then went over to the Pittsburgh Penguins and turned them into a powerhouse as well. While he didn’t win the Cup in Calgary, he will always be remembered as a major reason as to why the Flames ever won the Cup. Johnson underwent a battle with cancer and, unfortunately, passed away in 1991. He was inducted into the hall in 1992.

Cliff Fletcher–2004

From 1972, when they were the Atlanta Flames, to 1991, Cliff Fletcher was the General Manager of the Flames. Building a roster that went to the final in ’86 and would win in ’89. His drafting of guys mentioned earlier, and his ability to make a hard decision to move legends, paid off. Currently, he is a senior advisor to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Fletcher was enshrined in Toronto in 2004 and recently celebrated his 90th birthday a week ago.

Harley Hotchkiss–2006

A Canadian Merchant Marine during the Second World War, Hotchkiss settled in Calgary from Ontario during the 1950s. Hotchkiss led the group of investors that purchased the Flames and relocated them to Calgary. He held his share until selling it in 2009. He became an Officer of the Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence in 1997 and 1998, respectively. An amazing human being, Hotchkiss believed that his role in being successful was to give back. He passed away after battling cancer in 2011.

Daryl Seaman–2010

Another original owner of the Calgary Flames was Daryl Seaman. He was a decorated war veteran, flying multiple combat missions in North Africa and receiving a citation for bravery from the Government of France. Along with Hotchkiss, he played a pivotal role in building the Saddledome and bringing the Olympics to Calgary. The Hockey Hall of Fame renamed its archive and resource centre to the  “D.K. (Doc) Seaman Hockey Resource Centre” in honour of Seaman. Seaman was an officer of the Order of Canada, inducted into the Alberta Hall of Fame, and awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence. He was also a very strong supporter of grassroots hockey programs. He passed away in 2009.

Bill Hay–2015

A Calder winner and Stanley Cup champion in 1961, Bill Hay became the CEO of the Calgary Flames after his playing career. While he went into the oil business, where Hotchkiss and Seaman got their starts, Hay was never out of the game for long. From 1990–95, he was the President and COO of Hockey Canada; he was integral in the merger between Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey Association. From 1991–95, Hay was President and CEO of the Flames. He was a member of the Hall of Fame’s selection committee from 1980–97, and on its Board of Directors from 1995–2013. In late 2024, Hayes passed away at the age of 88.

Stats courtesy of Stat Muse.

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