Let’s be honest: the National Hockey League’s All-Star Game is an utterly meaningless event. It’s full of pomp and circumstance, but there’s nothing on the line and it’s all a bit of harmless fun right before the season’s stretch drive.
The Flames, a team with an appetite for some fun after a pretty roller-coastery first two-thirds of the season, will be sending three players to this year’s All-Star Game in St. Louis.
Here’s a quick snapshot of Flames’ All-Star Game representation in the Lockout Era:
Year
Flames Representation
2006
No game due to Winter Olympics
2007
Miikka Kiprusoff
Dion Phaneuf
2008
Jarome Iginla
Dion Phaneuf
2009
Jarome Ignla
2010
No game due to Winter Olympics
2011
nobody (Iginla named but declined for family reasons)
2012
Jarome Iginla
2013
No game due to lockout
2014
No game due to Winter Olympics
2015
Johnny Gaudreau
Mark Giordano
2016
Johnny Gaudreau
Mark Giordano
2017
Johnny Gaudreau
2018
Johnny Gaudreau
Mike Smith
2019
Johnny Gaudreau
2020
David Rittich
Mark Giordano
Matthew Tkachuk
This is the first All-Star Game since 2007 (and second since 2000) where the Flames will be represented by somebody other than Johnny Gaudreau or Jarome Iginla. It’s also the first time since 1992 (and sixth time ever) where the Flames will have three representatives.

Flames All-Star Game Leaders:

  • 6 – Theoren Fleury, Jarome Iginla, Al MacInnis
  • 5 – Mike Vernon, Johnny Gaudreau, Gary Suter
  • 4 – Joe Nieuwendyk
  • 3 – Tom Lysiak, Mark Giordano
  • 2 – Curt Bennett, Kent Nilsson, Lanny McDonald, Joe Mullen, Gary Roberts, Dion Phaneuf
  • 1 – Randy Manery, Al McDonagh, Eric Vail, Bill Clement, Pekka Rautakallio, Paul Reinhart, Brad McCrimmon, Valeri Bure, Phil Housley, Miikka Kiprusoff, Mike Smith, David Rittich, Matthew Tkachuk
The All-Star Games have been downright watchable since they switched to the three-on-three format, full of end to end action and wacky fun. Rittich and Tkachuk being at the game and the ongoing feud with the Edmonton Oilers adds a nice story storyline to the proceedings, and the presence of so many former members of the CWHL’s Calgary Inferno (and other female hockey stars) in the skills competition should also be fun and fresh.
So for those of you hoping for a full week away from hockey, bad news: the All-Star Weekend will probably be worth watching.