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A Flame from the Past: Niklas Hagman

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryley Delaney

Sep 9, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 9, 2026, 00:23 EDT

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Do you remember Niklas Hagman?

Every once in a while, we take a look at a player who once played for the Calgary Flames in a series called “A Flame From the Past.” This player has to have played a significant number of games for the Flames. I’ll put every Flames’ season into a Wheel of Names, and this time, it landed on the 2010-11 season. In this article, we’ll look at Niklas Hagman.

Before being included in one of the biggest trades in franchise history, Hagman played his junior days in his home nation of Finland. The left winger became a professional in 1997-98, scoring a goal in eight games with HIFK Helsinki.

In 1998-99, the Espoo product scored a goal and two points in 17 games with HIFK Helsinki, as well as a goal and two points in 14 games for Kiekko-Espoo. He added a playoff goal as well, leading the Florida Panthers to select him in the third round of the 1999 draft.

Remaining in Finland for the next two seasons, Hagman spent his 1999-2000 season with second-tiered Oulun Kärpät, scoring 17 goals and 35 points in 41 games. He helped the team earn a promotion and scored 28 goals and 46 points in 56 games.

Kärpät has remained in SM-Liiga ever since, going on to win the Kanada-malja (Finland’s version of the Stanley Cup) seven times from 2004 until 2018.

But by that point, Hagman had already made his way statestate. Debuting with the Panthers in 2001-02, the Finn scored 10 goals and 28 points. He followed it up with eight goals and 23 points in 80 games in 2002-03, then another 10 goals and 23 points in 75 games during the 2003-04 season.

Like many players, Hagman played hockey in Europe in 2004-05 due to the lockout. Joining National League team Davos HC, Hagman scored 18 goals and 40 points in 44 games, with an additional 10 goals and 17 points in 15 playoff games, helping the Swiss team win its championship.

Hagman struggled upon his return to the NHL, scoring just two goals and six points in the Panthers’ first 30 games in 2005-06. In December 2005, Hagman was traded to the Dallas Stars, finishing the season with six goals and 15 points in 54 games, or eight goals and 21 points in 84 games. Moreover, he added two goals and three points in five post-season games.

Funnily enough, the Finn is one of 109 players who have played 84 or more games in one season. With the NHL’s schedule expanding to 84 games in 2026-27, that fact won’t really matter, but for the time being, it’s pretty cool.

Texas is where Hagman was at his best. In 2006-07, Hagman scored 17 goals and 29 points in 82 games, then picked up an assist in seven playoff games. He scored a career-high 27 goals with the Stars in 2007-08, also amassing a then-career high 41 points. The Stars went all the way to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Detroit Red Wings, with Hagman scoring two goals and three points in 18 games.

That off-season, Hagman signed a four-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, hitting the 20+ goal mark again as he scored 22 goals and 42 points in 65 games during the 2008-09 season. He was on pace for 28 goals and 52 points had he played a full 82 games.

Hagman’s final season with the Leafs was in 2009-10, scoring 20 goals and 33 points in 55 games. On Jan. 31, 2010, the Leafs sent Hagman, Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan, and Ian White to the Flames for Dion Phaneuf and a few other players. Hagman scored five goals and 11 points in his final 27 games, giving him a career-best 44 points.

The lone full-season Hagman played with the Flames was in 2010-11, scoring 11 goals and 27 points in 71 games. He began the 2011-12 season with the team, scoring a goal and four points in eight games, but was waived and claimed by the Anaheim Ducks. Hagman played 63 more NHL games, scoring eight goals and 19 points with the Ducks to give him nine goals and 23 points.

However, Hagman returned to Europe for the 2012-13 season, joining the Kontinental Hockey League’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. In 49 games, he scored 12 goals and 20 points while being held pointless in six games.

Hagman returned to Finland for the 2013-14 season, scoring 21 goals and 38 points in 44 games, before finishing the year in the National League. He only played four regular season games, but scored three goals and six points in 10 playoff games.

The Espoo product’s next two seasons were spent with the KHL’s Jokerit Helsinki, based in Finland. His best season with the team was in 2014-15, scoring 19 goals and 28 points in 456 games, with two more goals in 10 playoff games. Hagman’s final season was where it first began, the SM-Liiga. With HPK and Kärpät, the left winger scored six goals and 15 points in 31 games, ending his career after seven pointless playoff games.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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