Current Flames on the all-time franchise leaderboard

Folks, it’s been an absolute decade of a year. Between the pandemic, the general state of the world, and the up and down play of the local hockey heroes, it’s been a grind. But while the overall team

performances of the Calgary Flames haven’t been quite up to snuff, let’s not forget one thing: there have been some really nice individual performances by players that have put them in prime positions on the all-time franchise leaderboard.

Mark Giordano has played a lot of hockey for the Flames, and let’s not forget he lost half a season to the 2012-13 lockout and a full season when he went to Russia in 2007-08 rather than sign a two-way contract. Despite all that, Giordano has played 943 games, second behind Jarome Iginla all-time. Giordano is 276 games (or 3.4 regular seasons) behind Iginla, but also just 57 games behind the 1,000 game mark.

Mikael Backlund has also carved out a nice spot here. He’s played 738 games, good for sixth all-time. He’s 53 games back of Theoren Fleury (791) and is reeling in Al Macinnis (803) to become the Flames first round pick who played the most games with the club.

Further down the list, Sean Monahan is 11th (589 games) and Johnny Gaudreau is tied with Guy Chouinard (514) for 19th all-time. He’ll take over sole possession of 19th on Wednesday and likely surpass Paul Reinhart (517) for 18th before the season ends.

(How long ago was the most recent rebuild? Well, Monahan and Gaudreau have both played over 500 games…)

Monahan (204 goals) is ninth all-time and the active leader. He’s two goals behind Eric Vail and beyond that is slightly behind the likes of Al MacInnis (213), Lanny McDonald (215) and Kent Nilsson (229). Monahan might not be the Nathan MacKinnon first line centre that everyone dreamed about, but the guy can score goals. A lot of them.

Gaudreau (169) is 13th all-time and creeping up on Hall of Famer Joey Mullen (190). Giordano (142) is 20th all-time, second among defensemen behind MacInnis, and just eight back of Willi Plett for 19th.

Backlund is third in shorthanded goals with 15, behind only Fleury and Nilsson. Monahan is third in game-winning goals with 45, behind only Iginla and Fleury.

Giordano (364) is fifth all-time, behind only MacInnis, Iginla, Fleury and Gary Suter.

Gaudreau (315) is ninth. Backlund (239) is 16th. Monahan (235) is 18th, one behind Hakan Loob.

Giordano (506) is eighth all-time. Gaudreau (484) is 10th.

Monahan (439) is 13th, six back of Paul Reinhart. Backlund (392) is 19th.