Favourite Flames of the decade

[TheScorpion]

The 2010s are coming to a close. It's been an interesting decade of Flames hockey to say the least.

Looking back, who are your favourite Flames players of the decade?

Some of mine, in no particular order:

- Deryk Engelland: consummate professional, a warrior on skates. Terrific fighter who was underrated as a defenseman. Really big part of the 2015 team.
- Brian McGrattan: great guy, undefeated fighter. The salute is iconic and his role in the Tortorella brawl is just so memorable.
- Kris Versteeg: stolen from the Oilers, which is fun. Somehow ran the powerplay for a year. Shootout legend. Great chirps.
- Johnny Gaudreau: one of the first true glimmers of hope and young superstardom on this team in a long time. The playoff goal in game 3 against the Ducks is still incredible.
- Mark Giordano: nobody will ever wear #5 for the Flames again. Fearsome presence on the ice with his offense and underrated physicality. One of the best all-around Flames ever.
- Steve Staios: only because of one improbable game-tying goal against the Oilers, a critical formative memory.
- Mike Cammalleri: was better in 2008-09, but still really fun to watch all the time. Best one-timer in Flames history (love you, Jarome, but still).
- Curtis Glencross: my favourite player growing up. Not the most skilled but had tons of speed and an underrated scoring touch.
- Sean Monahan: super consistent. The first true number-one centre the Flames have had in ages. Underrated across the board.
- Jyrki Jokipakka: best name in Flames history.
- David Jones: unheralded player who did his job every night. Really good in the playoffs against the Canucks with 3 points in the critical game 6.
- TJ Brodie: just an all-around great defenseman, minus his below-average shot. Tremendous skater. Great value contract. If Kylington turns into a similar player, I think we'd all be very happy.
- Milan Lucic: brings the Dome to its collective feet every night. Easily lovable. Underrated passing ability.
- Jiri Hudler: best NHL awards speech of all time. His 76-point season was incredible to watch and quite possibly the most improbable season in Flames history.
- Micheal Ferland: battled the odds every step of the way towards becoming a great NHL player. One of the best Gaudreau linemates ever. A total wrecking ball with Stajan and Jones in 2015.
- Derek Ryan: makes every line better. One of the best glue guys of the decade. Skates like he's 23, thinks the game like he's a 40-year-old coach.

There are many more but these were the first guys who came to mind. Who are some of your favourites?

[CroFlames]

Does Iggy count? He's my all time favorite Flame & player, so he's #1.

Other than Iggy, Monahan has been my favorite since his first season. I got his jersey in his rookie year and still wear it.

[VilleN]

David Jones over Iginla...

[TheScorpion]

I personally don't associate Iginla w this decade but he's my favourite player of all time.

[TheIronMaiden]

1. Sean Monahan*
2. Jarome Iginla
3. Mark Giordano
4. Deryk Engelland
5. Matthew Tkachuk
6. Rasmus Andersson
7. Garnet Hathaway
8. David Rittich**
9. Jiri Hudler
10. Matt Stajan

* I associate Iginla with the decade before
**Same argument as above for Kipper, I just have a ton of optimism for Rittich

[Wolfman]

[Bear]

Tkachuk followed by Gio for me.

[CSharp]

Iginla -all time favorite
Kipper - he will be with Odin
Regehr - this is the type of player the Flames need in their defensive makeup
Gio - one of the best offensive d-man the Flames ever had
Big Save Dave - he's the best goalie post-Kipper era
Ferland - this was the perfect player that Tre had in mind when he drafted for truculence.

[troutman]

Gio is everything I admire in a pro hockey player.


Rasmus is probably my favorite new player.

[Bourque's Twin]

This decade is really shaped by the post-Iginla era, so I will exclude those guys on my "favorite list". When I look back at this decade 20 years from now, I'll probably remember these guys for their contributions.

Ferland - Vancouver series
Gaudreau - Unbelievable skill
Giordano - Norris season, especially at his age
Tkachuk - His playing style and attitude

[Magnum PEI]

Byron
Backlund
Wideman

[ForeverFlameFan]

I enjoyed Matt Stajan on the bottom 6. Never complained.

Ferland for Vancouver series

Gio for taking over as captain after our franchise winger left in search for Lord Stanley

[Buff]

Iginla
Kiprusoff
Regehr
Stajan
Giordano
Brodie
Backlund
McGrattan
Monahan
Gaudreau
Engelland
Bennett
Dougie Hamilton
Tkachuk
Versteeg
Rittich
Lindholm
Hanifin
Andersson
Mangiapane
Dube
Kylington

Lots of guys, really.

[bigrangy]

Gio

Kylington

Is my 1/2

I really hope both retire as Flames

[DoubleK]

Put me down for Matt Stajan. The guy was just pure class on and off the ice and scored a couple clutch goals along the way.

[FireGilbert]

Mark Giordano is my favourite AINEC. No one else has played at as high a level over the course of the decade.

Thinking of the previous decades I have Iggy for the 00s, Theo for the 90s, and Lanny for the 80s.

I wonder who will be my favourite of the 20s? I'm thinking Tkachuk is the front runner if he re-signs with Valimaki having potential if he recovers. Also it would be pretty cool if Taylor Hall signed in the off season and ended up becoming like Lanny part 2.

[1qqaaz]

Backlund, Regehr, Iginla, Stajan, Giordano, even Dougie Hamilton and Sven Bärtschi all seem to do a ton of charity work.

I guess I like that about them.

[KelVarnsen]

Hanowski

[dammage79]

Lindholm
Monahan
Kylington
Andersson
Hudler
Big Ern
Brodie
Backlund
Granlund
Kipper
Henrik Karlsson (puts the mustard in the hot dog celly)
Reto Berra (worst slide control I ever saw in my life be man he had star potential if he could've just stayed in the crease.)
Brendan Morrison
Cory Sarich

[Reggie Dunlop]

Players come and go, but have to respect the career Mark Giordano has forged for himself.