Long-Timers: An introduction
By Ryan Pike
3 years agoIn the 102-year history of the National Hockey League, 348 individuals have played 1,000 or more regular season games. 44 of them, or 12.6%, have played some part of their career with the Atlanta or Calgary Flames. We call these players Long-Timers.
20 of these 44 players were already profiled in some detail as part of our Top 40 Flames countdown, but rather than skip over them we’ll acknowledge them here.
Brad Marsh [#40 on Top 40]
1,086 NHL games, 257 with the Flames (1978-82); first captain of the Flames in Calgary, ended career with expansion Ottawa.
Lanny McDonald [#10 on Top 40]
1,111 NHL games, 492 with the Flames (1981-89); Hall of Famer was co-captain for several seasons and won Stanley Cup in 1989
Joe Mullen [#16 on Top 40]
1,062 NHL games, 345 with the Flames (1985-90); Hall of Famer was multi-time 50 goal scorer and won Stanley Cup in 1989 (and another pair with Pittsburgh)
Doug Gilmour [#21 on Top 40]
1,474 NHL games, 266 with the Flames (1988-92); Hall of Famer scored Stanley Cup winning goal in 1989, then was centerpiece of worst trade in club history
Jamie Macoun [#31 on Top 40]
1,128 NHL games, 586 with the Flames (1982-92); reliable defender big part of 1989 Stanley Cup run, then traded to Toronto for magic beans (and Gary Leeman)
Gary Suter [#7 on Top 40]
1,145 NHL games, 617 with the Flames (1985-94); superb offensive defender won Stanley Cup in 1989
Al MacInnis [#2 on Top 40]
1,416 NHL games, 803 with the Flames (1981-94); Hall of Famer boasted booming shot, strong play at both ends of the ice. MVP of 1989 Stanley Cup run, traded to St. Louis for Phil Housley
Joe Nieuwendyk [#5 on Top 40]
1,257 NHL games, 577 with the Flames (1986-95); Hall of Famer had size, smarts, scoring ability. Won Stanley Cup in 1989, briefly team captain, traded to Dallas for Jarome Iginla, won two more Cups
Gary Roberts [#8 on Top 40]
1,224 NHL games, 585 with the Flames (1985-96); buzzsaw forward battled injuries, but was huge part of 1989 Stanley Cup run
Theo Fleury [#4 on Top 40]
1,084 NHL games, 791 with the Flames (1989-99); small but determined, won Stanley Cup as a rookie and became centerpiece of team and briefly captain. Traded to Colorado for package that included Robyn Regehr
Phil Housley [#35 on Top 40]
1,495 NHL games, 328 with the Flames (1994-96, 1998-2001); offensive defender had two somewhat short stints with club but was always productive
Cory Stillman [#33 on Top 40]
1,025 NHL games, 393 with the Flames (1994-2001); reliable two-way center traded to St. Louis for Craig Conroy
Martin Gelinas [Honourable mention]
1,273 NHL games, 157 with the Flames (2002-04); multi-time Stanley Cup winner joined Flames as free agent, scored three or four series-clinching goals (depending on how goal reviews work). Currently an assistant coach
Dion Phaneuf [#37 on Top 40]
1,084 NHL games, 378 with the Flames (2005-10); physical blueliner was early contender for Calder and Norris but peaked early. Traded to Toronto for package that included Matt Stajan
Daymond Langkow [#26 on Top 40]
1,090 NHL games, 392 with the Flames (2005-11); strong two-way center hampered by injuries late but was reliable offensive contributor
Robyn Regehr [#14 on Top 40]
1,089 NHL games, 826 with the Flames (1999-2011); shutdown blueliner was team’s defensive conscience for better part of a decade. Won Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2014, one of trio of 2004 alumni to win Cup elsewhere
Craig Conroy [#24 on Top 40]
1,009 NHL games, 507 with the Flames (2000-04, 2006-11); occasional Selke nominee served as Jarome Iginla’s center for most of his best seasons. Briefly team captain, now assistant general manager
Jarome Iginla [#1 on Top 40]
1,554 NHL games, 1,219 with the Flames (1996-2013); Hall of Famer and best player in franchise history leads team in every offensive category and was captain for a decade
Alex Tanguay [#27 on Top 40]
1,088 NHL games, 342 with the Flames (2006-08, 2010-13); played on Iginla’s left side for many seasons but didn’t hang around for team’s rebuild
Matt Stajan [#39 on Top 40]
1,003 NHL games, 558 with the Flames (2009-18); two-way forward initially maligned for inclusion in ill-fated Phaneuf trade, transformed into bottom-six stalwart and rookie mentor
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