As part of a celebration of the first 25 years of the current century – the 21st century – the National Hockey League is unveiling each club’s Quarter-Century Teams during the first month of 2025. As part of these festivities, the NHL announced their two Quarter-Century Teams for the Calgary Flames on Saturday morning.

There weren’t a ton of surprises, as the players involved all seem like really strong picks. Among those chosen for these teams include franchise legends, current stalwarts, long-time captains, and a couple members of the club’s front office. Each club’s First and Second Quarter-Century Teams was selected by a panel of media, retired players and executives specific to that club.

Let’s delve in!

A fourth-round pick by the Flames in 2011, Gaudreau was an undersized college standout that became an undersized NHL standout. He played for the Flames for 602 games and is the only player in the past quarter century to maintain a point-per-game scoring pace (at 1.01 points-per-game). He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2016-17, was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2014-15, the year-end First All-Star Team in 2021-22, and represented the Flames in seven All-Star Games. He left the club in free agency in 2022.

A Dallas Stars draft choice in 1995, Iginla was acquired by the Flames in the Joe Nieuwendyk trade later that year and ended up becoming a franchise icon – the second-such instance of the Flames trading their all-time leading scorer at the time for a player that would end up surpassing him. Iginla basically defined the Flames for the first 13 years of the 2000s, pacing the team in countless ways and taking them to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. He captained the team from 2003-13, won the Art Ross Trophy in 2001-02, the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2001-02 and 2003-04, four different awards for leadership and humanitarianism, played in six All-Star Games, was a year-end First All-Star three times, a Second All-Star once, and was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020. He was, quite simply, the greatest Flame of all-time. He left the club via a trade with Pittsburgh in 2013.

A first-round pick by the Flames in 2016, Tkachuk made the team out of his first training camp and ended up becoming one of the team’s most defining players. He formed a crucial part of two of the era’s best Flames lines: the 3M shutdown line with Michael Frolik and Mikael Backlund as a rookie, and subsequently a superb scoring line with Elias Lindholm and Johnny Gaudreau. A versatile, tenacious player, Tkachuk represented the Flames in the 2020 All-Star Game and was voted a year-end First All-Star in 2021-22. He left the club via a trade with Florida in 2022.

Undrafted in both the OHL and NHL, Giordano ended up becoming one of the best Flames in franchise history anyway. Originally signed in 2004 as depth for the farm team, he ended up first becoming a reliable depth NHLer, then an NHL regular, then the club’s captain and a Norris Trophy contender. Giordano might not have boasted the dynamism or elite attributes of other star blueliners in the NHL, but he was good at everything and his work ethic elevated himself and everyone around him. He represented the Flames in three All-Star Games, won two NHL awards for leadership and humanitarianism, and was a Norris Trophy winner and year-end First All-Star in 2018-19. Only Jarome Iginla served as Flames captain for longer than Giordano. Giordano left the club via the Seattle expansion draft in 2021.

Drafted by Colorado in 1998, Regehr joined the Flames via the Theo Fleury trade in 1999. His career nearly ended before it began during the summer of 1999 in a car accident that broke both of Regehr’s legs, but he ended up recovering from his injury and played NHL games just a few months later – a preview of the grit and determination that would define his NHL career. Regehr didn’t put up sexy offensive numbers with the Flames, but he was arguably the most terrifying blueliner in club history – his side of the ice was nicknamed “the Tunnel of Death” for how quickly and effectively he could close out forwards along the side boards. Only three men played more games for the Flames this quarter-century: Mikael Backlund, Jarome Iginla and Mark Giordano. He left the club via a trade with Buffalo in 2011.

Drafted by San Jose in 1996, Kiprusoff joined the Flames via a trade in 2003 and began a career-long attack on the club’s goaltending record books. He took the Flames to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final and set a modern day single-season goals against average record in his first season with the Flames. He proceeded to become the team’s all-time leader in every meaningful goaltending category. He won the Vezina Trophy, the William Jennings Award and was named a year-end First All-Star in 2005-06. He left the club via retirement in 2013.

A first-round pick by the Flames in 2007, Backlund took a little while to reach his full potential, but he eventually became the best two-way player in club history. Backlund has embraced being a shutdown centre in the NHL, frequently going head-to-head with the NHL’s best and brightest – and frustrating them with his ability to stymie their offensive skills. A fixture on Selke Trophy ballots over his career, Backlund is second on the team’s all-time games played leaderboard behind only Jarome Iginla. Backlund is currently with the Flames, serving as the team’s captain.

Acquired via trade with St. Louis prior to the 2001 trade deadline, Conroy quickly became an integral part of their team and formed one third of a superb offensive line with Jarome Iginla and Dean McAmmond. As the Flames reached their 2000s heydey, Conroy was the two-way yin to Iginla’s dynamic offensive yang. Conroy served as captain before passing the torch onto Iginla, and was a perpetual contender for the Selke Trophy for much of his Flames run. He retired in early 2011 and went right into the Flames’ hockey operations department. He became general manager in 2023.

A first-round pick by the Flames in 2013, Monahan joined the Flames right out of training camp and became a fixture for the team as they emerged from their rebuild as a contender. Before injuries slowed him down he was the team’s most reliable goal-scorer, and only Jarome Iginla has scored more goals for the Flames during the past quarter-century. Along with Johnny Gaudreau, Monahan was a defining player for the Flames for much of his run with the team. He departed the Flames via a trade with Montreal in 2022.

A second-round pick by the Flames in 2015, Andersson spent some time in the AHL before joining the Flames full-time in 2018-19. Andersson’s built up his role since then, becoming a player relied upon in every game situation and one of the biggest minute-munchers in club history on the blueline. Andersson does a lot of things well – big hits, big goals, big penalty kills – and his on-ice swagger and attitude is something that has proven to be a big difference-maker for the club over his tenure. He’s currently with the Flames and serves as an alternate captain.

A first-round pick by the Flames in 2003, Phaneuf joined the Flames after the 2004-05 lockout and became one of their most dynamic blueliners. He contended for the Calder Trophy as a rookie and Norris Trophy soon after, and maintained a very high standard of offensive play throughout his Flames tenure. He was the third rookie blueliner in NHL history to score 20 goals. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2005-06, was a year-end First All-Star in 2007-08 and represented the Flames in two All-Star Games. He left the Flames via a trade with Toronto in 2010.

Acquired in free agency in 2020, Markstrom was signed to provide the club with consistent, high-end goaltending and he met that challenge. He was relied upon heavily by the club for many starts and always gave the Flames a chance to win. He was runner-up for the Vezina Trophy in 2021-22 and was named a year-end Second All-Star that season. He left the Flames via a trade with New Jersey in 2024.