We continue our offseason series taking a look back at past Calgary Flames rosters with the 2006–07 squad. With Darryl Sutter stepping down from his head coach position following a disappointing first round exit in 2006, the 2006–07 season would be new head coach Jim Playfair’s first behind the bench.
In typical Flames fashion, the team would squeak into the playoffs by finishing eighth in the Western Conference only to get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
From that team, Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy are the only members still in the Flames organization as they were both hired to their current positions this summer as general manager and special advisor to the general manager.
Forwards
Jarome Iginla
You’re gonna be seeing a lot of Iginla in this series. After a disappointing 2005–06 season with just 67 points, Iginla would bounce back in a big way with Sutter out of the picture in 2006–07 with 39 goals and 94 points to lead the Flames by a wide margin. He’d finish 15th in Hart Trophy Voting. As we all know Iginla would be dealt at the trade deadline in 2013 and retire after a few more seasons in 2017.
In 2020, Iginla was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Since retiring in 2017, he was not directly involved with any NHL team until of course this summer when he was hired as the special assistant to the general manager in Calgary.
Craig Conroy
After leaving as a free agent following the lockout, current Flames general manager Craig Conroy would return to Calgary via trade during the 2006–07 season. Conroy would play just 28 games in Calgary to close out the season, posting 21 points.
Conroy would finish his career in Calgary and would eventually retire in 2011 as a Flame. He quickly moved into a management role with the Flames that same year and has worked his way up the organization, eventually being named general manager this summer.
Alex Tanguay
The 2006–07 season was Alex Tanguay’s first as a Flame after being acquired during the 2006 offseason for Jordan Leopold. Tanguay would immediately gel with Iginla on the team’s top line, finishing second on the Flames with 81 points. He’d spend one more year in Calgary in 2007–08 and then return for a second stint between 2010 and 2013.
After retiring in 2016, Tanguay worked as an assistant coach in the AHL and most recently as an assistant for the Detroit Red Wings. This past summer he was linked with both the Flames head coach and assistant coaching roles but remained in Detroit.
Daymond Langkow
Daymond Langkow’s second season in Calgary in 2006–07 was no doubt his best. He’d register 33 goals, 44 assists and 77 points playing on the team’s top line with Iginla and Alex Tanguay. All three totals were career highs. His 2006–07 season was the closest the Flames came to having a number one centre in a long time.
Langkow was eventually dealt to the Coyotes in 2011 and played one more season before retiring. He’s not currently working in hockey, however his son Colton is teammates with Flames first-round pick Samuel Honzek in the WHL.
Kristian Huselius
The analytical darling Kristian Huselius would also have the best season of his career in 2006–07, posting 34 goals, 43 assists and 77 points, all of which were career-highs. He’d finish seventh in Lady Byng voting that year. He’d leave the NHL in 2012 and spend one year in Sweden before retiring due to injury at the age of 34 in 2013.
Huselius was involved in a scary, freak accident in 2019 that led to him staying in the ICU for multiple days. Luckily he escaped mostly unscathed and was most recently a strength and conditioning coach for his daughters’ handball team in Sweden.
Matthew Lombardi
Like many other names here, Matthew Lombardi’s 2006–07 season in Calgary was his best as a Flame. He’d post 20 goals and 46 points, with the 20 goals being a career-high. He’d be traded in 2009 in the first trade that brought Olli Jokinen to Calgary. He’d spend another five years in the NHL after the deal before going over to Switzerland in 2013. Lombardi played for Geneve Servette for three seasons, winning the Spengler Cup in 2015, and retired in 2016.
Tony Amonte
The 2006–07 season was Tony Amonte’s last in the NHL. He’d retire following the season at the age of 36 years old. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame soon after retiring in 2009. Starting in 2010, Amonte served as the head coach of the US High School Prep team Thayer Academy until 2022. He’s not currently working in hockey.
Stephen Yelle
Underrated defensive stud Stephen Yelle would be limited to 56 games in 2006–07, posting 10 goals and 24 points. Yelle left the Flames in 2008 and retired following the 2009–10 season. After retiring, Yelle spent one year as a development coordinator with the Avalanche and two as an assistant coach for Valor Christian High School. He’s currently a managing partner at MCE Brand Solutions, helping companies better market their products on Amazon.
David Moss
A seventh-round pick by the Flames in 2001, David Moss would make his rookie debut in 2006–07. He’d put up 18 points in 41 games as a 25-year-old, and play in all six playoff games. Moss would spend six seasons as a Flame and then head to Arizona as a free agent in 2012. He’d leave the NHL in 2015 and spend one year in Switzerland before retiring in 2016.
A fun fact about Moss is that he married Survivor season 18 contestant Erinn Lobdell in 2014, who he now has four children with.
Chuck Kobasew
The 2006–07 season would be Chuck Kovasew’s last in Calgary after being drafted by the Flames 14th overall in 2001. He’d play in 40 games for the Flames in 2006–07 registering 17 points before being dealt at the trade deadline to the Boston Bruins for Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart.
He’d eventually go over to Switzerland in 2014 where he would play for SC Bern for two seasons before retiring in 2016. After leaving hockey, Kobasew was involved with Highmark Interactive, a firm that uses video games to fight against brain injuries and is currently a licensed realtor in Arizona.
Marcus Nilson
Marcus Nilson was a depth piece for the Flames and would spend four years in Calgary before going over to Europe in 2008. From 2008–09 to 2014–15, he spent his time playing in the KHL and SHL. He’d retire in 2015 and currently does not work in hockey.
Byron Ritchie
A journeyman NHLer, Byron Ritchie joined the Flames during the 2005–06 season with the 2006–07 season being his last in Calgary. Ritchie would spend one more year in the NHL before leaving for Europe in 2008 where he would play for nine years between the KHL, Swiss-A and SHL.
He’d retire from hockey in 2017 and actually worked at the RINK Hockey Academy in Kelowna with Iginla between 2020 and 2022. No, he doesn’t have any relation to Brett or Nick.
Defencemen
Dion Phaneuf
Following up on his Calder finalist rookie season, Dion Phaneuf took another step in 2006–07 with 50 points in 79 games to lead the Flames blueline. The season earned him the sixth most votes for the Norris Trophy at just 21 years old.
Despite his early success, Phaneuf would be dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010 in one of the most questionable trades in Flames history. Phaneuf would spend another 11 years in the NHL and retired in 2021. In 2022, Phaneuf joined CBD and vitamin supplement company CaniBrands as the company’s strategic advisor.
Mark Giordano
The 2006–07 season was the beginning of Mark Giordano’s long career as a full time skater in Calgary. Giordano played in seven games in 2005–06, but the year after was when he became a regular NHLer with 48 games played. Giordano would actually go over to the KHL the following season before coming back to Calgary in 2008, and the rest is history.
From 2008 to 2021, he’d play for the Flames for 13 consecutive seasons and log the second most games ever as a Flame before being claimed in the 2021 expansion draft. He’s currently playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs at the age of 39.
Andrew Ference
The 2006–07 season would be Andrew Ference’s last as a Flame as after four years in Calgary he was dealt to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline that season. He’d go on to win a cup in Boston four years later. He’d finish his career as an Edmonton Oiler and retired in 2016. Ference joined the NHL as its first Director of Social Impact in 2018 and is also an avid environmentalist.
Roman Hamrlik
Similarly, the 2006–07 season was Roman Hamrlik’s final season as a Flame. He’d leave as a free agent for Montreal following the season. After another six seasons in the NHL, Hamrlik retired from hockey in 2013. He was inducted into the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019 and has worked with Hockey Quebec and the Montreal Canadiens at various summer hockey clinics in recent years.
Robyn Regehr
After Robyn Regehr averaged the most minutes of any Flame in 2005–06, he took a bit of a step back in 2006–07 with the fourth most minutes on the blueline. Eventually after 11 seasons in Calgary, Regehr was dealt to Buffalo in 2011 for Chris Butler and Paul Byron. He’d spend five more seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with Sutter and the L.A. Kings in 2014.
After retiring in 2015, Regehr—who is an avid outdoorsman—has spent his time snowmobiling, and wakeboarding in Calgary and teaches kids outdoor safety.
Rhett Warrener
Depth defenceman Rhett Warrener suited up for 62 games in Calgary during the 2006–07 season, posting 10 points and 67 PIMs. He’d spend one more year in Calgary before retiring in 2008. After retiring Warrener served as a scout for the Flames for a brief time being moving to radio as a host on Sportsnet960 and is now podcasting.
Goaltenders
Miikka Kiprusoff
Another season, another year of Miikka Kiprusoff carrying the Flames. The legendary keeper would play 74 games in 2006–07, posting a .917 save percentage and 2.46 GAA to finish third in Vezina Voting. Kiprusoff would finish his career in Calgary following the 2013–14 season. He’s since returned to Finland and has lived a notoriously quiet life away from the spotlight.
