1998–99 Calgary Flames season

File:CalgaryFlameshorselogo.PNG

Calgary Flames 3rd jersey logo, introduced in 1998

The 1998–99 Calgary Flames season was the 19th National Hockey League season in Calgary. The Flames opened their season up at "home", in Tokyo, Japan, as the NHL scheduled a two-game series in the Asian country between the Flames and the San Jose Sharks.

The Flames were plagued by numerous injuries to their goaltenders, including both starter Ken Wregget and backup Tyler Moss at the same time. Ultimately, the Flames were forced to recall Tyrone Garner from his junior team on an emergency basis before finally signing Fred Brathwaite, who was playing in Europe with the Canadian National team. The highly popular Brathwaite recorded a shutout against the Dallas Stars in his first start, allowing the Flames goaltending situation to stabilize. In all, the Flames used six different goaltenders.

February 28, 1999, marked the end of an era for the Flames, as diminutive star Theoren Fleury was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in a five player trade that ultimately saw prospect Robyn Regehr come to the Flames as part of the deal. Fleury was the Flames' all-time leading scorer when he was dealt. The deal was made as the small-market Flames felt they would be unable to meet Fleury's contract demands, as he was set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent in the summer.

Despite losing their top star, the Flames proceeded to win seven of their first ten games without Fleury, propelling them into a playoff position. Calgary would win only two of their last eleven games, however, falling to 9th in the conference and missing the playoffs by six points.

Before being dealt, Fleury represented the Flames at the 1999 NHL All Star Game, recording two assists for the North American team.

During this season, the Flames introduced the "flaming horse" third jerseys in conjunction with the "Year of the Cowboy."

Prior to the season, the Flames lost defenceman Joel Bouchard to the Nashville Predators in the 1998 NHL expansion draft. In addition, the Flames dealt Jim Dowd to the Preds in exchange for a promise not to draft a goaltender in the draft.

Regular season

Season standings

Northwest Division

R	CR		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
1	2	Colorado Avalanche	82	44	28	10	239	205	1619	98
2	8	Edmonton Oilers	82	33	37	12	230	226	1373	78
3	9	Calgary Flames	82	30	40	12	211	234	1389	72
4	13	Vancouver Canucks	82	23	47	12	192	258	1764	58

Schedule and results

Template:Game log start Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-tied | 1 || October 9 || San Jose || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Wregget || N/A^† || 0–0–1 || 1 || T |- Template:Game-won | 2 || October 10 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || San Jose || || Wregget || N/A^† || 1–0–1 || 3 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 3 || October 16 || Toronto || 7 – 3 || Calgary || || Wregget || 17,104 || 1–1–1 || 3 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 4 || October 18 || Calgary || 0 – 2 || Detroit || || Wregget || 19,983 || 1–2–1 || 3 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 5 || October 20 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Dallas || || Wregget || 16,181 || 1–3–1 || 3 || L |- Template:Game-won | 6 || October 23 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || Nashville || || Wregget || 14,902 || 2–3–1 || 5 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 7 || October 24 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || St. Louis || || Wregget || 19,036 || 2–4–1 || 5 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 8 || October 28 || Pittsburgh || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || Wregget || 15,112 || 2–5–1 || 5 || L |- Template:Game-tied | 9 || October 30 || Washington || 0 – 0 || Calgary || OT || Wregget || 15,164 || 2–5–2 || 6 || T |- |colspan="11"| ^†The Flames and Sharks opened the season with a "home and home" series in Tokyo, Japan. |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 10 || November 1 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Chicago || || Wregget || 15,034 || 3–5–2 || 8 || W |- Template:Game-won | 11 || November 3 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Detroit || || Moss || 19,983 || 4–5–2 || 10 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 12 || November 6 || Nashville || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,471 || 4–6–2 || 10 || L |- Template:Game-won | 13 || November 8 || Colorado || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Giguère || 16,556 || 5–6–2 || 12 || W |- Template:Game-won | 14 || November 10 || Los Angeles || 4 – 5 || Calgary || OT || Giguère || 15,247 || 6–6–2 || 14 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 15 || November 12 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,358 || 6–7–2 || 14 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 16 || November 14 || Anaheim || 1 – 0 || Calgary || || Moss || 16,288 || 6–8–2 || 14 || L |- Template:Game-won | 17 || November 16 || Detroit || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,896 || 7–8–2 || 16 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 18 || November 19 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Montreal || || Giguère || 20,102 || 7–9–2 || 16 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 19 || November 21 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Ottawa || || Moss || 17,154 || 7–10–2 || 16 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 20 || November 23 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Toronto || || Giguère || 15,726 || 7–11–2 || 16 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 21 || November 25 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Nashville || || Giguère || 14,511 || 7–12–2 || 16 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 22 || November 27 || Edmonton || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Moss || 17,104 || 7–13–2 || 16 || L |- Template:Game-won | 23 || November 28 || Chicago || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || Giguère || 15,642 || 8–13–2 || 18 || W |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-won | 24 || December 3 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,203 || 9–13–2 || 20 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 25 || December 5 || Phoenix || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,285 || 9–14–2 || 20 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 26 || December 7 || Dallas || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Moss || 16,351 || 9–15–2 || 22 || L |- Template:Game-won | 27 || December 11 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Tampa Bay || || Giguère || 11,614 || 10–15–2 || 24 || W |- Template:Game-won | 28 || December 12 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Florida || || Giguère || 17,337 || 11–15–2 || 26 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 29 || December 14 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || NY Rangers || || Giguère || 18,200 || 11–16–2 || 26 || L |- Template:Game-tied | 30 || December 17 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Philadelphia || OT || Giguère || 19,449 || 11–16–3 || 27 || T |- Template:Game-won | 31 || December 18 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || New Jersey || || Giguère || 17,324 || 12–16–3 || 29 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 32 || December 22 || Vancouver || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || Giguère || 16,874 || 12–17–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 33 || December 23 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Vancouver || || Giguère || 15,987 || 12–18–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 34 || December 27 || Colorado || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Giguère || 17,104 || 12–19–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 35 || December 29 || Philadelphia || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Trefilov || 17,104 || 12–20–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 36 || December 31 || Montreal || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || N/A || N/A || 12–21–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 37 || January 2 || Calgary || 1 – 7 || Buffalo || || Trefilov || 16,419 || 12–22–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 38 || January 4 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Boston || || Garner|| 14,491 || 12–23–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 39 || January 5 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Pittsburgh || || Garner || 11,992 || 12–24–3 || 29 || L |- Template:Game-won | 40 || January 8 || Dallas || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 16,278 || 13–24–3 || 31 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 41 || January 10 || Florida || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 15,348 || 13–25–3 || 31 || L |- Template:Game-won | 42 || January 13 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Anaheim || || Brathwaite || 13,542 || 14–25–3 || 33 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 43 || January 14 || Calgary || 0 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Brathwaite || 10,334 || 14–26–3 || 33 || L |- Template:Game-tied | 44 || January 16 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || San Jose || OT || Brathwaite || 17,483 || 14–26–4 || 34 || T |- Template:Game-won | 45 || January 19 || Detroit || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 15,840 || 15–26–4 || 36 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 46 || January 21 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Colorado || || Brathwaite || 16,061 || 15–27–4 || 36 || L |- Template:Game-tied | 47 || January 28 || Chicago || 6 – 6 || Calgary || OT || Brathwaite || 15,807 || 15–27–5 || 37 || T |- Template:Game-won | 48 || January 30 || St. Louis || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Brathwaite || 15,822 || 16–27–5 || 39 || W |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-tied | 49 || February 1 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Dallas || OT || Brathwaite || 16,928 || 16–27–6 || 40 || T |- Template:Game-tied | 50 || February 2 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Phoenix || OT || Brahwaite || 14,117 || 16–27–7 || 41 || T |- Template:Game-tied | 51 || February 4 || Nashville || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Brathwaite || 15,062 || 16–27–8 || 42 || T |- Template:Game-lost | 52 || February 6 || Ottawa || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 16,498 || 16–28–8 || 42 || L |- Template:Game-won | 53 || February 8 || Edmonton || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 16,842 || 17–28–8 || 44 || W |- Template:Game-won | 54 || February 9 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Colorado || || Wregget || 16,061 || 18–28–8 || 46 || W |- Template:Game-won | 55 || February 12 || Boston || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 15,856 || 19–28–8 || 48 || W |- Template:Game-won | 56 || February 19 || Anaheim || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || Wregget || 16,347 || 20–28–8 || 50 || W |- Template:Game-tied | 57 || February 20 || Los Angeles || 2 – 2 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 16,758 || 20–28–9 || 51 || T |- Template:Game-won | 58 || February 22 || NY Rangers || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 17,104 || 21–28–9 || 53 || W |- Template:Game-tied | 59 || February 24 || Buffalo || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Brathwaite || 15,382 || 21–28–10 || 54 || T |- Template:Game-lost | 60 || February 26 || St. Louis || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 16,103 || 21–29–10 || 54 || L |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 61 || March 1 || San Jose || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Wregget || 16,358 || 21–30–10 || 54 || L |- Template:Game-won | 62 || March 5 || Calgary || 5 – 1 || Vancouver || || Brathwaite || 14,005 || 22–30–10 || 56 || W |- Template:Game-won | 63 || March 6 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Los Angeles || || Brathwaite || 14,451 || 23–30–10 || 58 || W |- Template:Game-won | 64 || March 9 || Calgary || 7 – 4 || St. Louis || || Wregget || 14,861 || 24–30–10 || 60 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 65 || March 12 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Carolina || || Wregget || 8,564 || 24–31–10 || 60 || L |- Template:Game-won | 66 || March 13 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Washington || OT || Brathwaite || 19,740 || 25–31–10 || 62 || W |- Template:Game-won | 67 || March 16 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Nashville || || Wregget || 17,298 || 26–31–10 || 64 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 68 || March 17 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Chicago || || Brathwaite || 15,650 || 26–32–10 || 64 || L |- Template:Game-won | 69 || March 21 || NY Islanders || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Wregget || 16,571 || 27–32–10 || 66 || W |- Template:Game-tied | 70 || March 22 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Edmonton || OT || Wregget || 17,100 || 27–32–11 || 67 || T |- Template:Game-won | 71 || March 25 || Montreal || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Wregget || 17,104 || 28–32–11 || 69 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 72 || March 27 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Phoenix || || Wregget || 16,210 || 28–33–11 || 69 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 73 || March 28 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Anaheim || || Brathwaite || 15,975 || 28–34–11 || 69 || L |- Template:Game-tied | 74 || March 30 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Colorado || OT || Wregget || 16,061 || 28–34–12 || 70 || T |- Template:Game log section end Template:Game log section start |- Template:Game-lost | 75 || April 1 || Phoenix || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Wregget || 16,453 || 28–35–12 || 70 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 76 || April 3 || Toronto || 5 – 1 || Calgary || || Wregget || 17,104 || 28–36–12 || 70 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 77 || April 7 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Edmonton || || Wregget || 17,100 || 28–37–12 || 70 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 78 || April 9 || Edmonton || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Wregget || 17,104 || 28–38–12 || 70 || L |- Template:Game-lost | 79 || April 12 || Vancouver || 2 – 0 || Calgary || || Brathwaite || 15,238 || 28–39–12 || 70 || L |- Template:Game-won | 80 || April 14 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Vancouver || || Brathwaite || 15,135 || 29–39–12 || 72 || W |- Template:Game-won | 81 || April 15 || Colorado || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Wregget || 17,104 || 30–39–12 || 74 || W |- Template:Game-lost | 82 || April 17 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Edmonton || || Brathwaite || 17,100 || 30–40–12 || 74 || L |- Template:Game log section end |- | Legend:

1. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline
2. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline
3. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• Template:Dagger = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
• Template:Double-dagger = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

No.	Player	Pos	Regular season
			GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
14	Template:Double-dagger	RW	60	30	39	69	18	68
16		C	76	27	30	57	7	38
6		D	79	11	43	54	14	52
8		RW	80	26	27	53	0	22
12		RW	82	28	23	51	1	58
21		C	70	12	25	37	−12	18
53		D	71	7	27	34	4	73
11	Template:Dagger	C	69	12	17	29	15	40
24		C	78	8	13	21	−12	177
23		C	78	10	8	18	11	53
55		D	69	1	14	15	3	80
62	Template:Dagger	LW	36	5	9	14	1	30
18	Template:Dagger	C	61	4	10	14	−7	14
32		D	73	3	9	12	−8	117
17		C	23	5	5	10	−4	11
27		D	73	2	8	10	18	151
20	Template:Dagger	LW	20	5	4	9	−2	10
42		RW	68	3	5	8	−4	67
3		D	55	3	4	7	3	68
25		C	36	3	3	6	−1	44
5		D	60	1	5	6	−11	8
26	Template:Double-dagger	C	9	2	3	5	1	2
28		C	41	1	2	3	−13	35
33	Template:Double-dagger	RW	18	0	3	3	0	20
18	Template:Double-dagger	C	6	1	1	2	−1	6
15Template:Efn		C	13	1	1	2	−2	10
40	Template:Dagger	G	28	0	2	2		2
29	Template:Dagger	D	9	0	1	1	3	23
38		D	12	0	1	1	−6	14
44Template:Efn		C	20	0	1	1	0	4
47		G	15	0	1	1		4
26		C	3	0	1	1	1	0
30		G	11	0	1	1		0
19	Template:Double-dagger	D	10	0	1	1	−1	2
31		G	27	0	1	1		8
26	Template:Dagger	LW	7	0	0	0	−5	2
1		G	3	0	0	0		0
4	Template:Double-dagger	D	4	0	0	0	−2	8
33	Template:Dagger	D	2	0	0	0	−3	0
22		RW	3	0	0	0	0	25
35	Template:Dagger	G	4	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

• Template:Dagger = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

No.	Player	Regular season
		GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
40	Fred BrathwaiteTemplate:Dagger	28	11	9	7	796	68	2.45	.915	1	1663
31	Ken Wregget	27	10	12	4	712	67	2.87	.906	1	1590
47	Jean-Sebastien Giguere	15	6	7	1	447	46	3.21	.897	0	860
30	Tyler Moss	11	3	7	0	295	23	2.51	.922	0	550
1	Tyrone Garner	3	0	2	0	74	12	5.18	.838	0	139
35	Andrei TrefilovTemplate:Dagger	4	0	3	0	84	11	4.01	.869	0	162

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honour	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Theoren Fleury
Team	Molson Cup	Fred Brathwaite
	Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award	Ed Ward

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Rico Fata	October 9, 1998
	Martin St. Louis
	Clarke Wilm
	Tyrone Garner	January 2, 1999
	Lee Sorochan	March 27, 1999

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1998–99 season.

Trades

June 17, 1998	To Calgary Flames Ken Wregget Dave Roche	To Pittsburgh Penguins German Titov Todd Hlushko
June 26, 1998	To Calgary Flames Future Considerations	To Nashville Predators Jim Dowd
July 2, 1998	To Calgary Flames David Cooper	To Toronto Maple Leafs Ladislav Kohn
July 14, 1998	To Calgary Flames Bob Bassen	To Dallas Stars Aaron Gavey
August 7, 1998	To Calgary Flames Future Considerations	To Washington Capitals Rick Tabaracci
October 27, 1998	To Calgary Flames Jeff Shantz Steve Dubinsky	To Dallas Stars Jamie Allison Marty McInnis Erik Andersson
December 29, 1998	To Calgary Flames Andrei Trefilov	To Chicago Blackhawks Future Considerations
February 28, 1999	To Calgary Flames Rene Corbet Wade Belak Robyn Regehr	To Colorado Avalanche Theoren Fleury Chris Dingman
March 22, 1999	To Calgary Flames Tom Chorske	To Washington Capitals Future Considerations
March 23, 1999	To Calgary Flames Cash considerations	To San Jose Sharks Greg Pankewicz

Free agents

Player Former team

Player New team

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1998 NHL entry draft, held in Buffalo, New York.

Rnd	Pick	Player	Nationality	Position	Team (league)	NHL statistics
						GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1	6	Rico Fata		RW	London Knights (OHL)	230	27	36	63	104
2	33	Blair Betts		C	Prince George Cougars (WHL)	477	41	37	78	118
3	62	Paul Manning		D	Colorado College (NCAA)	8	0	0	0	2
4	102	Shaun Sutter		RW	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
4	108	Dany Sabourin		G	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)	57	17–23–2–4, 2.87GAA
5	120	Brent Gauvreau		RW	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
7	192	Radek Duda		RW	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
8	206	Jonas Frogren		D	Färjestads BK (SEL)	41	1	6	7	28
9	234	Kevin Mitchell		D	Guelph Storm (OHL)

Farm teams

Saint John Flames

The Baby Flames finished the 1998–99 AHL season with a record of 31–40–8–1, fourth in the Atlantic Division with 71 points. They proceeded to shock the division winning Lowell Lock Monsters in the first round of the playoffs 3 games to 0. The Flames would then be swept themselves by the Fredericton Canadiens. Martin St. Louis led the Flames in both goals (28) and points (62). Saint John used five different goaltenders as a result of Calgary's injury woes in goal. Jean-Sebastien Giguere played the most games, going 18–16–3 in 39 games.

Johnstown Chiefs

The Flames signed a secondary affiliation deal with the Johnstown Chiefs of the East Coast Hockey League prior to the start of the season. They finished 27–34–9, fifth, and last, in the Northeast Division. The Chiefs missed the playoffs.

See also

• 1998–99 NHL season

References

• Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 113.