Introducing the 2020-21 Calgary Flames

Photo credit:Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports

3 years ago

The Calgary Flames have set their 2020-21 opening roster. For your education and amusement, here is a quick rundown of the 20 players on the Flames’ roster (and six on their taxi squad).

The main roster

#4 – Rasmus Andersson (RD)

24 years old; from Malmo, Sweden
$4.55 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2025-26 season
Calgary’s second round pick (53rd overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Barrie Colts (OHL) as an import
160 career NHL games, all with the Flames

#5 – Mark Giordano (LD)

37 years old; from Toronto, Ontario
$6.75 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2021-22 season
Captain since 2013 (previously alternate captain 2011-13)
Signed as a free agent
Played junior hockey with the Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
893 career NHL games, all with the Flames (second-most in franchise history behind Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla)
Won Messier Leadership Award (2019-20), Norris Trophy (2018-19), NHL Foundation Player Award (2015-16) and Spengler Cup (2007)

#6 – Juuso Valimaki (LD)

22 years old; from Nokia, Finland
$894,166 AAV (plus $290,244 in pro-rated potential bonuses); will be restricted free agent following this season
Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Tri-City Americans (WHL) as an import
24 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Missed entire 2019-20 season with knee injury (and subsequent surgery)

#8 – Chris Tanev (RD)

31 years old; from Toronto, Ontario
$4.5 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Signed as a free agent
Played college hockey with the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers (NCAA)
514 career NHL games, all with Vancouver

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#11 – Mikael Backlund (C)

31 years old; from Vasteras, Sweden
$5.35 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Alternate captain since 2018
Calgary’s first round pick (24th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) as an import
690 career NHL games, all with the Flames

#13 – Johnny Gaudreau (LW)

27 years old; from Carney’s Point, New Jersey
$6.75 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2021-22 season
Calgary’s fourth round pick (104th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft
Played college hockey with the Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
464 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Won Lady Byng (2016-17), Hobey Baker (2013-14) and World Junior gold (2012-13)

#17 – Milan Lucic (LW)

32 years old; from Vancouver, British Columbia
$5.25 million AAV (Edmonton’s covering the other $750,000 of his $6 million total cap hit); will be unrestricted free agent following 2022-23 season
Boston’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2006 NHL Draft
Acquired via trade with Edmonton
Played junior hockey with the Vancouver Giants (WHL)
958 career NHL games with Boston, Los Angeles, Edmonton and the Flames
Won Stanley Cup (2011) and Memorial Cup (2007)

#19 – Matthew Tkachuk (LW)

23 years old; from St. Louis, Missouri
$7 million AAV; will be restricted free agent following 2021-22 season
Alternate captain (since 2018)
Calgary’s first round pick (6th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the U.S. National Development Team (USHL) and the London Knights (OHL)
293 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Won Memorial Cup (2016)

#20 – Joakim Nordstrom (LW)

28 years old; from Stockholm, Sweden
$700,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Chicago’s third round pick (90th overall) in the 2010 NHL Draft
Signed as a free agent
400 career NHL games, with Chicago, Carolina and Boston

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#23 – Sean Monahan (C)

26 years old; from Brampton, Ontario
$6.375 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2022-23 season
Alternate captain (since 2015)
Calgary’s first round pick (6th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
541 career NHL games, all with the Flames

#27 – Josh Leivo (RW)

27 years old; from Innisfil, Ontario
$875,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Toronto’s third round pick (86th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft
Signed as a free agent
Played junior hockey with the Kitchener Rangers and Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
169 career NHL games, with Toronto and Vancouver

#28 – Elias Lindholm (C)

26 years old; from Boden, Sweden
$4.85 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Carolina’s first round pick (5th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft
Acquired in a trade with Carolina
525 career NHL games, with Carolina and the Flames

#29 – Dillon Dube (LW)

22 years old; from Cochrane, Alberta
$778,333 AAV (plus $22,195 in pro-rated potential bonuses); will be restricted free agent following this season
Calgary’s second round pick (56th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
70 career NHL games, all with the Flames

#25 – Jacob Markstrom (G)

30 years old (turns 31 on Jan. 31); from Galve, Sweden
$6 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following the 2025-26 season
Florida’s second round pick (31st overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft
Signed as a free agent
272 career NHL games, with Florida and Vancouver

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#33 – David Rittich (G)

28 years old; from Jihlava, Czech Republic
$2.75 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Signed as a free agent
115 career NHL games, all with the Flames
“Big Save Dave”

#55 – Noah Hanifin (LD)

23 years old (turns 24 on Jan. 25); from Boston, Massachusetts
$4.95 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following 2023-24 season
Carolina’s first round pick (5th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Acquired in a trade with Carolina
Played junior hockey with the U.S. National Development Team (USHL)
Played college hockey with the Boston College Eagles (NCAA)
389 career NHL games, with Carolina and the Flames

#81 – Dominik Simon (RW)

26 years old; from Praha, Czech Republic
$700,000; will be restricted free agent following this season
Pittsburgh’s fifth round pick (137th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Signed as a free agent
173 career NHL games, all with Pittsburgh

#88 – Andrew Mangiapane (LW)

24 years old; from Bolton, Ontario
$2.425 million AAV; will be restricted free agent following the 2021-22 season
Calgary’s sixth round pick (166th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
Played college hockey with the Barrie Colts (OHL)
122 career NHL games, all with the Flames

#89 – Nikita Nesterov (RD)

27 years old; from Chelyabinsk, Russia
$700,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Tampa Bay’s fifth round pick (148th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft
Signed as a free agent
132 career NHL games, with Tampa Bay and Montreal
Won Olympic gold medal in 2018

#93 – Sam Bennett (LW/C)

24 years old; from East Gwilliambury, Ontario
$2.55 million AAV; will be restricted free agent following this season
Calgary’s first round pick (4th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft
Played junior hockey with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
364 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Best facial hair on the team

The taxi squad

#3 – Connor Mackey (LD)

24 years old; from Tower Lakes, Illinois
$925,000 AAV (plus $290,244 in pro-rated potential bonuses); will be restricted free agent following this season
Signed as a free agent
Played college hockey with the Minnesota State University Mavericks (NCAA)
0 career NHL games

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#10 – Derek Ryan (C)

34 years old; from Spokane, Washington
$3.125 million AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Signed as a free agent
Played junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Played college hockey with the University of Alberta Golden Bears (USports)
302 career NHL games, with Carolina and the Flames

#36 – Zac Rinaldo (LW)

30 years old; from Mississauga, Ontario
$700,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Signed as a free agent
Played junior hockey with the Mississauga Steelheads, London Knights and Barrie Colts (OHL)
370 career NHL games, with Philadelphia, Boston, Arizona, Nashville and the Flames

#53 – Buddy Robinson (RW)

29 years old; from Bellmawr, New Jersey
$700,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Signed as a free agent
Played college hockey with the Lake Superior State University Lakers (NCAA)
12 career NHL games, with Ottawa and the Flames
Went to high school with Johnny Gaudreau

#58 – Oliver Kylington (LD)

23 years old; from Stockholm, Sweden
$787,500 AAV; will be restricted free agent following this season
Calgary’s second round pick (60th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft
87 career NHL games, all with the Flames
Believe it or not, this will be his 8th season playing pro hockey – he made his debut in the SHL when he was 16

#70 – Louis Domingue (G)

28 years old; from St-Hyacinthe, Quebec
$700,000 AAV; will be unrestricted free agent following this season
Signed as a free agent
Played junior hockey with the Moncton Wildcats and Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
139 career NHL games, with Arizona, Tampa Bay, Vancouver and New Jersey

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