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Calgary4LIfe · 01-14-2026, 12:59 AM

Every generation has its own set of likeable players. The mid-to-late 80s with Lanny, MacInnis, Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Gilmour, Loob, Makarov, Hunter, Mullen (so many to name). Not only were they successful - two cup runs including a cup win - but they were bigger than life. Maybe i was simply a kid looking up at heroes in those days, but there were so many players that I loved to watch and follow. Bearcat Murray! Badger Bob! What about Sergei Pryakhin - the first Soviet player 'allowed' to come over in the history of the NHL, and led to the wave of the Russian Invasion? Started in Calgary! The Loob chants, with Loob getting longer with every goal he scored.

Then the Young Guns era. Not a whole lot of guys to inspire as compared to the previous decade, that's for sure. Those were dark times, with the team potentially leaving, while knowing that if the team did end up staying, the Flames were really a glorified farm team more like the Sparks than the Flames. Still, even in those unsteady years, there were guys that came out and made you love them - Iginla was a bright and shiny beacon. I always like Todd Simpson - pedestrian skill-set, but he was a gamer and a personality. Shouldn't have been named captain so early though, but I always appreciated him. German Titov. Sandy McCarthy and his crazy bouts with Probert, becoming the 'NHL Heavyweight Champion". The best name in hockey - Zarley Zalapski. What seemed to be every woman's dream - Ronnie Stern. Sheldon Kennedy and his battle (which we did not yet know about). Never forget Tabarracci coming out of his crease and laying a big hit in the corner! No, these weren't great days in terms of winning, or even overall 'outlook', but there were some great characters. A brief moment, but hard to forget when the dome was chanting "Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!".

Then of course the 'comeback' team - the '04 Flames and the year before, and the handful of years after. Iginla, Kipper, Conroy, Regehr.. Oliwa and SImon. Niemenen and his huge smile. The Eliminator. Jokinen and the memes. Darryl Sutter! After a long absence from the playoffs - and a long absence from any and all hope itself - this team came out. Didn't win anything really, but they won our hearts and minds that season, and that excitement lasted right up the late 2000s when it was evident that the team no longer had it.

The last rendition - Johnny "the highlight reel" Gaudreau, Boring Sean Monahan, Giordano, Brodie, Tkachuk, Backlund, Bennett, Andersson, Micheal "The Human Nuclear Missle" Ferland, and many other likable characters.. they didn't win squat, unfortunately. However, to say that there isn't any attachment to these players is not being honest. It was the first real rebuild here, and we watched them grow up. It sucks that they left - it absolutely sucks that one is gone forever too (seems every generation has some great guys leaving too soon). It sucks to see Andersson go - he is a real character. It sucks to see your children off too, right? Bittersweet, though it is a bit different.

It is ok to be upset about Andersson (and everyone else) leaving. I still cheer for former players that I like, and still follow their careers. It will be fun watching the new generation come in, show us who they are, entertain us, grow up in front of us, and give us a load of new memories too. That's the business side of hockey, and that's ok. I will always remember Hunter joining the team and giving the Flames that swagger that they were missing, and I will also always remember Lomberg and his oversized head with his oversized smile constantly being happy just to be here (and KO'ing Kassian too!).

Hockey is a sport for those that are playing, otherwise it is entertainment for the masses. Though the Flames haven't won much in their time here in Calgary, every single era has given us players that are hard to forget. Sure, lots of frustration and disappointment, but I honestly remember some of the great moments and some of the great players of each era. I will remember this past era fondly, even if I loudly complain about how unsuccessful they were. Lots of great memories with this last set of players.

Two players really stand out - Jarome Iginla, and Mikael Backlund. Both lasted through two generations. Backlund is looking at lasting through a third. I would argue that Jarome probably should have just stayed in Calgary his whole career, especially given that with hindsight, the returns didn't end up being useful. Would have been great to see him play alongside Gaudreau for a couple of seasons as Gaudreau fed him. Backlund came in as a young player through the tail-end of the Iginla-Regehr-Kipper generation, then blossomed in this last generation, and is still effective as the Flames transition into the next. Really happy to still see him going through the changes. With the way he is playing, maybe he will last through the next, right?

/long-wided nostalgic post out of nowhere.

01-14-2026, 12:59 AM	#56
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Every generation has its own set of likeable players. The mid-to-late 80s with Lanny, MacInnis, Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Gilmour, Loob, Makarov, Hunter, Mullen (so many to name). Not only were they successful - two cup runs including a cup win - but they were bigger than life. Maybe i was simply a kid looking up at heroes in those days, but there were so many players that I loved to watch and follow. Bearcat Murray! Badger Bob! What about Sergei Pryakhin - the first Soviet player 'allowed' to come over in the history of the NHL, and led to the wave of the Russian Invasion? Started in Calgary! The Loob chants, with Loob getting longer with every goal he scored. Then the Young Guns era. Not a whole lot of guys to inspire as compared to the previous decade, that's for sure. Those were dark times, with the team potentially leaving, while knowing that if the team did end up staying, the Flames were really a glorified farm team more like the Sparks than the Flames. Still, even in those unsteady years, there were guys that came out and made you love them - Iginla was a bright and shiny beacon. I always like Todd Simpson - pedestrian skill-set, but he was a gamer and a personality. Shouldn't have been named captain so early though, but I always appreciated him. German Titov. Sandy McCarthy and his crazy bouts with Probert, becoming the 'NHL Heavyweight Champion". The best name in hockey - Zarley Zalapski. What seemed to be every woman's dream - Ronnie Stern. Sheldon Kennedy and his battle (which we did not yet know about). Never forget Tabarracci coming out of his crease and laying a big hit in the corner! No, these weren't great days in terms of winning, or even overall 'outlook', but there were some great characters. A brief moment, but hard to forget when the dome was chanting "Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!". Then of course the 'comeback' team - the '04 Flames and the year before, and the handful of years after. Iginla, Kipper, Conroy, Regehr.. Oliwa and SImon. Niemenen and his huge smile. The Eliminator. Jokinen and the memes. Darryl Sutter! After a long absence from the playoffs - and a long absence from any and all hope itself - this team came out. Didn't win anything really, but they won our hearts and minds that season, and that excitement lasted right up the late 2000s when it was evident that the team no longer had it. The last rendition - Johnny "the highlight reel" Gaudreau, Boring Sean Monahan, Giordano, Brodie, Tkachuk, Backlund, Bennett, Andersson, Micheal "The Human Nuclear Missle" Ferland, and many other likable characters.. they didn't win squat, unfortunately. However, to say that there isn't any attachment to these players is not being honest. It was the first real rebuild here, and we watched them grow up. It sucks that they left - it absolutely sucks that one is gone forever too (seems every generation has some great guys leaving too soon). It sucks to see Andersson go - he is a real character. It sucks to see your children off too, right? Bittersweet, though it is a bit different. It is ok to be upset about Andersson (and everyone else) leaving. I still cheer for former players that I like, and still follow their careers. It will be fun watching the new generation come in, show us who they are, entertain us, grow up in front of us, and give us a load of new memories too. That's the business side of hockey, and that's ok. I will always remember Hunter joining the team and giving the Flames that swagger that they were missing, and I will also always remember Lomberg and his oversized head with his oversized smile constantly being happy just to be here (and KO'ing Kassian too!). Hockey is a sport for those that are playing, otherwise it is entertainment for the masses. Though the Flames haven't won much in their time here in Calgary, every single era has given us players that are hard to forget. Sure, lots of frustration and disappointment, but I honestly remember some of the great moments and some of the great players of each era. I will remember this past era fondly, even if I loudly complain about how unsuccessful they were. Lots of great memories with this last set of players. Two players really stand out - Jarome Iginla, and Mikael Backlund. Both lasted through two generations. Backlund is looking at lasting through a third. I would argue that Jarome probably should have just stayed in Calgary his whole career, especially given that with hindsight, the returns didn't end up being useful. Would have been great to see him play alongside Gaudreau for a couple of seasons as Gaudreau fed him. Backlund came in as a young player through the tail-end of the Iginla-Regehr-Kipper generation, then blossomed in this last generation, and is still effective as the Flames transition into the next. Really happy to still see him going through the changes. With the way he is playing, maybe he will last through the next, right? /long-wided nostalgic post out of nowhere.