The Flames roster has changed substantially since they were the 2004 Stanley Cup runners up (although the puck was in in 2004). However, they do have some noticeable pieces still with the team, albeit in different roles.
2004 was a magical time for the city, and hopefully we get to see a similar run in the near future. It’s been 16 years so we asked and answered: whatever happened to the ’04 team and where are they now?
Most prominently, Martin Gelinas is an assistant coach with the Flames and his linemate Craig Conroy is an assistant general manager with the team. Noticeably, only Jarome Iginla from that line is not involved with the Flames currently, choosing to live a quiet life in Boston.
However, what happened to the rest of the team? We take a look at players that played at least 10 games:
Forwards
Jarome Iginla
Jarome Iginla is the greatest Calgary Flame in history and holds almost every major offensive record for the team. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in their 2020 class, cementing his legacy as one of the best to play the sport. Iginla currently lives a quiet life with his family in Boston and is not directly involved in professional hockey.
Craig Conroy
Serving as one of the Flames’ Assistant General Managers, Craig Conroy has been in management with the team since 2011 when he assumed the role of Special Assistant to the General Manger for Jay Feaster. He was promoted to AGM in 2014. Conroy is also one of the NHL’s biggest up-and-coming executives, and will likely be a GM at some point; the Buffalo Sabres reportedly asked to interview him for their vacant GM job in 2017 but the Flames denied their request.
Martin Gelinas
Martin Gelinas, or “The Eliminator”, was one of the most important figures on the 2004 team, scoring the series winning goal in all three eliminating games the Flames played. He also scored the goal that was not counted in Game 6 of the finals. He has been an assistant coach with the Flames since 2012.
Josh Green
Josh Green played just 36 games with the Flames that year before being claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers. After finishing his career in Finland, Green is currently an Assistant Coach with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL.
Dave Lowry
Dave Lowry was an NHL veteran when he joined the Flames in the 2000-01 season. Although he only had one goal and one assist in 18 regular season games in his final season, he played in 10 playoff games in the playoff run. He retired after that season and immediately joined the Calgary Hitmen as an assistant coach. He also was an assistant coach with the Flames from 2009 until 2012. Today, he is the Head Coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Lynn Loyns
Lynn Loyns played 12 of his 34 total NHL games with the Flames that season. He only was in the league for a couple of seasons, then bounced between European leagues before retiring in England at the end of the 2013-14 season. Since then, he has gotten his MBA and has been with Dell EMC, most recently an account executive based out of Boston.
Dean McAmmond
Dean McAmmond found his greatest success in Calgary putting up 51 points in 73 games in the 2001-02 season. However due to injury he did not play in the famous playoff run. Today, McAmmond has retired in Vernon, BC, helping coach his son’s hockey team and helping with the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.
Jason Morgan
Jason Morgan played 13 of his 44 NHL games with the Flames that season. Since his retirement, he has coached across Europe. Starting in Denmark with the Aaborg Pirates, he now coaches HSC Csíkszereda in the Romanian League. Interestingly, former Stockton Heat Captain Rod Pelley is one of his players.
Marcus Nilson
The Flames picked up Marcus Nilson in March 2004 for a second round pick. He put up 11 points in the playoffs that season, and played for the Flames until 2008. There are few details on where he is now since he retired in Sweden in 2014-15.
Krzysztof Oliwa
Krzystof Oliwa is the only Polish player to have won the cup, which he did with the New Jersey Devils in 2000. He played his final (mostly) full NHL season with the Flames before heading back to Poland.
Following his retirement, he was the owner, GM and Head Coach of the Kalkaska Rhinos in the USPHL prior to it folding in 2018, for reasons that are murky. According to his LinkedIn, he is also a director of the Kalkaska Kaliseum Recreation Complex in Michigan. Reviews of his management style have been very mixed.
Oleg Saprykin
Oleg Saprykin put up 29 points in 69 games in the 2003-04 season. He scored the overtime goal in game five of the finals against Tampa during “The Shift”. After the season, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Daymond Langkow. He bounced between the NHL and KHL for the remainder of his career.
He currently lives between Phoenix and Moscow, and is a dual citizen of Canada and Russia. On New Years Day of 2019, his verbal and physical abuse of a flight attendant caused the flight he was on to be diverted, and he was detained.
Chris Simon
Wawa, Ontario is known for two things: a large goose statue and Chris Simon. Simon played two seasons with the Flames racking up 27 points and 119 penalty minutes. He also had seven playoff points in the magical year.
Unfortunately Simon has struggled since his playing days. Numerous injuries have rendered him unable to work and he has had to file for bankruptcy in 2017. We wish him nothing but the best going forward.
Blair Betts
Blair Betts was drafted in the second round by the Flames in 1998, and played just 20 games with the Flames in the 2003-04 that season. He found success with the New York Rangers in the mid 2000s. Today, he lives in Edmonton working for Strathcona Manufacturing firm as an office administrator.
Matthew Lombardi
The speedy Flame with the great name, Matthew Lombardi was a staple with the team through the 2000s. He finished his career in Switzerland with Geneve-Servette HC. Unfortunately little is know of where he is today. He retired from professional hockey in 2016 to spend more time with his family.
Steve Reinprecht
Steve Reinprecht only played the one season with the Flames, appearing in 44 regular season games, however shoulder surgery precluded him from playing in the playoffs. He finished his career in the German DEL before moving to Denver, where he once played and won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2001. He served as a volunteer coach with the University of Denver Men’s Team, prior to joining the Avalanche in a player development role.
Stephane Yelle
A former Oshawa General and 8th round draft pick of the Avalanche, Stephane Yelle played 23 games in the playoffs recording six points. Although he was a forward, he was an excellent two-way player and would occasionally play defence as needed.
Today, he has retired from hockey and now works for MCE Brand Solutions, helping companies better market their products on Amazon.
Chris Clark
Drafted by the Flames, Chris Clark played all 82 regular season games and all 26 playoff games in the 2003-04 season. Following his time in Calgary, he was traded to the Washington Capitals, where was the third longest tenured captain. He last played in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he is currently the General Manager of their AHL affiliate Cleveland Monsters.
Shean Donovan
Shean Donovan had a breakout season in 2003-04 with 42 regular season points to go along with 10 playoff points. He played one more season with the Flames in the year following the lockout, and finished his career with the Ottawa Senators.
Today he is a player development coach with the Senators, helping their young players find their way from Junior to the NHL.
Chuck Kobasew
An Osoyoos BC native, Chuck Kobasew was drafted in the first round by the Flames in 2001. He was with the team until the 2006-07 season when he was traded to Boston with Andrew Ference for Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau.
He finished his career in Switzerland with SC Bern, and is now the Head of Professional Athlete Sales for digital therapeutics firm Highmark Interactive. The firm uses video games to fight against brain injuries.
Ville Nieminen
The loudmouthed Finn, Ville Niemenen played 19 regular season and 24 playoff games with the Flames. He bounced around the league before finishing his career in Finland. He is currently the head coach of Modo Hockey in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, the second highest league.
Defencemen
Mike Commodore
Although he only played 12 regular season games, Mike Commodore became a fan favorite with his afro hair and big personality. He played with numerous NHL teams following his season with the Flames before finishing his career with Vladivostok of the KHL.
Commodore today dabbles in Uber driving, playing lots of golf in Scottsdale Arizona, and lambasting Mike Babcock on Twitter following his firing.
Andrew Ference
Traded to Calgary for future considerations, Andrew Ference played all 26 playoff games for the Flames. He was part of the same trade as Kobasew to Boston in 2007. He later played for the Edmonton Oilers, and was their captain for two seasons.
Today, Ference is with the NHL as the director of social impact focusing on growing the game and engaging with minority fans and players. He is also an avid environmentalist.
Denis Gauthier
Denis Gauthier only played six playoff games, putting up one assist. He finished his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings in 2008-09. He is currently an analyst with Reseau des Sports, a CTV owned sports media group in French. He is a colour commentator for many Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens games.
Jordan Leopold
Jordan Leopold put up 33 regular season points in the 2003-04 season, and also had 10 assists through the playoffs. He bounced around the league before finally ending his career back home in Minnesota. In fact, it was his daughter writing to the team that helped cement the deal.
Today, Leopold runs Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens Event Centre in Minneapolis. They host weddings and other private events at their site.
Toni Lydman
The former Flames fourth round pick, Toni Lydman only played in six playoff games. He retired with the Anaheim Ducks in 2013, and is now living in Finland mountain biking, playing guitar and listening to heavy metal.
Steve Montador
Steve Montador played 20 playoff games registering three points. He was traded to the Florida Panthers for Kristian Huselius in 2005, and finished his career with Zagreb of the KHL.
On February 15, 2015, Montador passed away at his home. Four days following, his girlfriend gave birth to his son. Prior to his passing, he spoke about his depression, brought on by concussion issues from his playing. We hope his family has found peace after such a tragic loss.
Robyn Regehr
Born in Brazil and raised in Indonesia, Robyn Regher was a staple with the Flames. He was the youngest nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy after playing just four months after breaking both his legs in a car accident. He played most of his career with the Flames, and had nine playoff points in the 2003-04 run.
He retired after the 2014-15 season with the Los Angeles Kings, and lives in Calgary with his family. He spends his time with his family by the lake.
Rhett WarrEner
Rhett Warrener played his last few seasons with the Flames after being traded from Buffalo for Chris Drury. He only had one playoff point in the famous playoffs, and retired a Flame four years later.
After hanging up his skates, he briefly served with the Flames as a scout before turning to broadcasting. He currently hosts the morning radio show Boomer & Warrener on Fan 960.
Goalies
Miikka Kiprusoff
A hero among Flames fans, Miikka Kiprusoff played the majority of his career with the team, and backstopped the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003-04. He retired from hockey after the 2013-14 season, and moved back to Finland to live the quiet life.
Jamie McLennan
The journeyman, Jamie McLennan played 26 regular season games for the Flames in 2003-04 prior to being traded to the New York Rangers at the deadline that season. He returned to the Flames in 2006-07 before finishing his career with the now dissolved Nippon Paper Cranes in Japan.
He served as a goalie coach in 2008 then assistant coach in 2009 with the Flames under Brent Sutter after he retired. Today he is an analyst with TSN, commentating on many Eastern Canadian games.
Roman Turek
A one time starting goalie with the Flames, Roman Turek played just 18 regular season games with the Flames in 2003-04, and only 19 minutes in the playoffs that year. That season marked the end of his NHL career, and he played in the Czech leagues until 2010.
He then turned to coaching, where he was the goaltending coach of HC Ceske Budejovice in the Czech ELH. Today he serves as the team’s president.
