2005–06 Calgary Flames season


The 2005–06 Calgary Flames season was the team's 26th season in the National Hockey League in Calgary while the team celebrated its 25th season of play.
During the off-season following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Flames general manager Darryl Sutter announced that he would not re-sign free agent Martin Gelinas for the 2005–06 season. Instead, Sutter brought in three ageing veterans, Bryan Marchment, Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty, as free agent reclamation projects to start the season. Nonetheless, the season began with high expectations following Calgary's surprising run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.
The season opened with a disappointing October, as the Flames started 4–7–2 before an eight-game November winning streak propelled Calgary back into contention in the Northwest Division. The Flames would battle the Colorado Avalanche down the stretch, ultimately finishing eight points ahead of both Colorado and the Edmonton Oilers to capture the team's sixth division crown in franchise history.
However, during the playoffs, Calgary was eliminated by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round in seven games.
Star goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff led the NHL in shutouts and goals against average while setting a franchise record for wins with 42. His exploits would win him the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy, along with being named a First Team All-Star. Kiprusoff was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
Rookie phenom Dion Phaneuf earned a nomination for the Calder Memorial Trophy after his 20-goal campaign set a franchise record for goals by a rookie defenceman, and fell just three shy of Brian Leetch's NHL record of 23 set in 1988–89.
The Flames sold out all 45 home games in 2005–06 as 19,289 fans packed the Pengrowth Saddledome for every regular season and playoff game played in Calgary.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics, three Flames players represented their countries: Jarome Iginla and Robyn Regehr represented Canada, while Jordan Leopold represented the United States. Kiprusoff had also been named to the Finnish team, but declined to participate due to an injury.

Regular season

The Flames finished first in the NHL in shutouts for with 10 and allowed the fewest goals in the NHL with 193.

Season standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The Flames entered the playoffs as the Northwest Division champions, and the third seed in the Western Conference. They met the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round in a hard fought seven game series. The goaltending of Ilya Bryzgalov would prove the turning point in the series after he replaced the ineffective starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere after game 3 and would stonewall the Flames for the rest of the series.

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Awards and records

Trophies and awards

Flames team records

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 2005–06 season.

Trades

Free agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Due to the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season, the 2005 draft order was determined by a random draw, with each team gaining one to three "balls" based on recent performance. Each team started with three balls, and lost one for each time they made the post-season in the previous three years, with a minimum of one ball per team. The Flames had two balls in the lottery, however were very unlucky, ending up with the 26th overall pick.

Farm teams

Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights

The Flames returned to having their own American Hockey League affiliate in 2005–06 with the debut of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in Omaha, Nebraska. This ended a two-year relationship with the Lowell Lockmonsters, whom the Flames shared the affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes. 2005–06 marked the first season the Flames had a full affiliate since suspending the Saint John Flames franchise in 2003. The team is co-owned by the Calgary Flames, and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, a philanthropist organization in Omaha.
The Knights had a disappointing inaugural season, finishing sixth in the Western Division, and out of the playoffs, with a record of 35–31–3–11. Carsen Germyn led the team in goals with 24, while Mark Giordano led in assists, 42, and points, 58. Brent Krahn led the way in goal with 26 wins, while both he and Curtis McElhinney finished with three shutouts each.

Las Vegas Wranglers

marked the third season the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers were affiliated with the Flames. The Wranglers iced a strong team in 2005–06, setting franchise records for wins, 56, goals for, 267, and fewest goals against, 176. Despite their 56–13–6 record, the Wranglers only finished 2nd in the West Division, one point back of the Alaska Aces. Their point total of 112 was second best in the league, behind only the Aces. The Wranglers needed seven games to defeat the Idaho Steelheads in the West Division semi-finals before being knocked out of the playoffs by the eventual Kelly Cup champion Aces in five games.