Duha ranks the best all time Flames.....by alphabet.

[transplant99]

So, without further preamble, here is one man’s view of the 24 best players in Calgary Flames history, by alphabet, in the 40 years since they moved here from Atlanta. (NB: There have not been any players whose surnames began with U or X to play in Calgary for the Flames, which is why we came up two letters short. As noted, Unger was traded to L.A. just before the relocation).

A – Tommy Albelin

Yes you need to subscribe.


https://theathletic.com/1720326/2020...urce=twittered

[Johnny Makarov]

S - Steve Smith

[FanIn80]

Spoilers, for those unable to see the entire list.

Spoiler!

I - Iginla

Spoiler!

PS. I cancelled my sub awhile ago, so I can't see the list either.

[troutman]

Z - was there anyone besides Zarley?

[FanIn80]

I always thought Gary Unger was an Oiler. I seem to remember getting copies of his card in almost every pack I opened and absolutely hating him for it.

Edit: I was right! He only played one year in LA after Atlanta, and then finished his career in EDM with his last year in the bigs being the season before their first Cup. Bahahaha. Suck it, you card stealing dirty Oiler.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yes you need to subscribe.

I believe the Athletic is currently offering a free 90 day trial. I don’t think there is a specific link but I’ve seen it mentioned a few times.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by troutman

Z - was there anyone besides Zarley?

From the article:

There are actually more Z than Y candidates in Calgary (where have you gone, Miles Zaharko, Richard Zemlak and Andrei Zyuzin?)

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

From the article:

Zyuzin... was that the gigantic, 6'6" Russian we traded for because of his size, and then during his first interview with the media he announced he was a pacifist?

Edit: Also, now I have "Mrs. Robinson" playing in my head, so... thanks for that.

[EastCoastFlamesFan]

Z – Zarley Zalapski

Spoiler!

There are actually more Z than Y candidates in Calgary (where have you gone, Miles Zaharko, Richard Zemlak and Andrei Zyuzin?) but Zalapski tops the charts. He played in Calgary for the ’84 Olympic team and then returned in a big six-player trade with Hartford that brought in James Patrick and Michael Nylander, but cost them Wilson, Suter and Ted Drury. Zalapski’s finest moments probably came in the ’94 playoff series against Vancouver, when he was given the unenviable task of shutting down Pavel Bure and did it exceptionally well until Bure left him standing still on the winning goal, which eliminated Calgary and eventually propelled the Canucks to the Stanley Cup final. Zalapski’s strength was his ability to process information. He followed game plans as well as anyone. ZZ clearly topped the Zs.

I was always a big fan of ZZ and remember thinking that we had robbed Hartford in that trade. ZZ and Patrick seemed like a great addition to the D-Corp that year along with Chopper, Musil, Yawney and a combo of Dahl and Dahlquist. I remember Nylander also being a super hyped up player who just never really blossomed until the end of his career with NYR.

Anyway, back to ZZ. When he came up in the league he was much more known as a Coffey type offensive dman. Had he turned it around that much by 94 he was shadowing Bure?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Zyuzin... was that the gigantic, 6'6" Russian we traded for because of his size, and then during his first interview with the media he announced he was a pacifist?

Edit: Also, now I have "Mrs. Robinson" playing in my head, so... thanks for that.

I think you are thinking of Nazarov

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I always thought Gary Unger was an Oiler. I seem to remember getting copies of his card in almost every pack I opened and absolutely hating him for it.

Edit: I was right! He only played one year in LA after Atlanta, and then finished his career in EDM with his last year in the bigs being the season before their first Cup. Bahahaha. Suck it, you card stealing dirty Oiler.

Really good dude though and a terrific hockey player....still lives in Braeside last I heard (many years ago).

[troutman]

I don't see any X players, even by first name.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...s.php?tmi=5090

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't see any X players, even by first name.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...s.php?tmi=5090

Xian Huselius

[scobel]

just an observation, I can’t believe how many players we have had on this team born in Edmonton vs born in Calgary. I wonder why that is?

[Vox]

Originally Posted by scobel

just an observation, I can’t believe how many players we have had on this team born in Edmonton vs born in Calgary. I wonder why that is?

Players work a lot harder so they can get out of Edmonton, and keep working harder so they don't get sent back?

[looooob]

would M be the deepest letter?


I think MacInnis (IMO) is a no-brainer but I count 4 HOFers plus Macoun, Monahan, Sarge and some nice tertiary names

[Johnny Rotten]

Mullen and Lanny McDonald too... I was just thinking about the M's.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

Mullen and Lanny McDonald too... I was just thinking about the M's.

yes and Makarov- so 4 in the Hall

[getbak]

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't see any X players, even by first name.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/...s.php?tmi=5090

It's not just the Flames. In NHL history, there has never been a player whose last name started with the letter X.

The players' name list jumps from Randy Wyrozub to Jeremy Yablonski.

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Zyuzin... was that the gigantic, 6'6" Russian we traded for because of his size, and then during his first interview with the media he announced he was a pacifist?

Edit: Also, now I have "Mrs. Robinson" playing in my head, so... thanks for that.

I *warned* you Zyuzin.