We continue our offseason series taking a look back at past Calgary Flames rosters with the 2010–11 squad. After a disastrous 2009–10 season that saw the Flames miss the playoffs for the first time since 2003, things didn’t get much better in 2010–11.
With Brent Sutter back behind the bench the Flames came out of the gate incredibly slow to start the year. This eventually led to longtime general manager Darryl Sutter stepping down from his role mid-season in December. In his place, Jay Feaster was named general manager. The Flames would come within three points of a playoff spot, but ended up finishing 10th in the West and missing the playoffs again.
From that team, Jarome Iginla and Craig Conroy are both still with the Flames in management roles as general manager and special advisor to the general manager. Mikael Backlund meanwhile is the only member of the team still playing with the Flames. Lastly Cory Sarich works for the team on a recurring basis with FlamesTV during the season.
Forwards
Jarome Iginla
After a down season in 2009–10, Jarome Iginla would bounce back at 33 years old to post 43 goals and 86 points in 82 games in 2010–11. Once again he led all Flames in points by a wide margin as the next closest Flame had 17 fewer points and 16 fewer goals. Only one other Flame outside of Iginla posted more than 55 points.
Iginla was dealt a couple years later in 2013 when the Flames finally committed to a rebuild. He retired from hockey in 2017. In 2020, he was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Since retiring 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.
Alex Tanguay
After being dealt by the Flames a couple years prior in 2008, Calgary then brought back Alex Tanguay as a free agent prior to the 2010–11 season. Tanguay would immediately find success with Iginla again, posting 69 points in 79 games to finish second on the Flames in scoring.
Tanguay’s second spell in Calgary would last three seasons before being dealt during the 2013 offseason to Colorado. He’d play in the NHL for three more years and retired in 2016. After retiring Tanguay worked as an assistant coach in the AHL and most recently as an assistant coach 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.
Olli Jokinen
After trading Olli Jokinen the prior season due to his lack fit alongside Jarome Iginla, the Flames would then go out and sign him in free agency prior to the 2010–11 season. Jokinen would play mainly on the top line once again, this time registering 54 points to finish third on the Flames in scoring.
He’d spend one more year in Calgary before leaving as a free agent in 2012. After three more seasons in the NHL he’d retire in 2015. Jokinen is currently the head coach of Finnish team Jukurit in Liiga.
Rene Bourque
In his third year as a Flame in 2010–11, Rene Bourque would continue to be a productive forward for Calgary. He’d put up 27 goals and 50 points while skating mainly on the teams second line. Despite his success as a Flame Bourque would end being trade during the following season to Montreal. He’d then play five more seasons in the NHL and one in Sweden before eventually retiring in 2018.
Inspired by his upbringing, Bourque started the Bourque Buddies charity to help Metis children like himself have something to work towards growing up. He also started the Rene Bourque Hockey Fund to help provide hockey equipment to underprivileged children.
Curtis Glencross
Curtis Glencross would be a reliable middle-six option for the Flames in 2010–11 with 24 goals and 43 points. Both totals were career-highs at the time. Glencross would become one of the more well known Flames of the early 2010s before being dealt at the 2014 trade deadline. Unable to find a new contract during the 2015 offseason, Glencross retired at the age of 33.
Glencross has remained a huge part of the Calgary community as he has hosted a yearly Glencross Charity Camp and Poker Event and regularly takes part in Flames Alumni charity events and activities. He also currently works as a Client Relationship Manager for Cardinal Point Wealth Management in Calgary.
Mikael Backlund
The Flames’ first-round pick in 2007, Mikael Backlund made his full rookie season debut in 2010–11 with 25 points in 73 games. At just 21 years old, Backlund was the rare case of a young player finding opportunity on a Sutter-ran team. He’s the only member of this team still playing in Calgary in 2023.
Backlund of course has become one of the best Flames of all time and currently sits third all time for games played as a Flame. At 35 years old, his current status is up in the air as trade rumours swirl but regardless of what happens he’ll always be a fan favourite and all-time great in Calgary.
Brendan Morrison
Furthering Darryl Sutter’s obsession with veteran players, the Flames signed a 35-year-old Brendan Morrison prior to the 2010–11 season in a bid to boost the Flames offence. To his credit, Morrison had a solid first season in Calgary with 43 points in 66 games to finish sixth on the team in scoring.
His time in Calgary would be short lived though as the Flames would trade him to Chicago during the following 2011–12 season. He’d eventually retire following the season. He currently lives in Calgary and founded a matting rental company called Breakaway Matting Inc. He also hosts his own fishing show titled Reel West Coast.
Matt Stajan
After being acquired midseason the year prior, the 2010–11 season would be Matt Stajan’s first full season as a Flame. Unfortunately it wouldn’t go as planned as Stajan posted just six goals and 31 points in 76 games, his lowest total since 2005–06. Across the next eight seasons, Stajan would fail to live up to his potential, but would become a fan favourite in Calgary and a regular in their lineup.
He’d head over to Germany for one season in 2018–19 and retire following the season. Since retiring, Stajan has called Calgary home and has had an active role with the NHLPA as a representative for both Toronto and Calgary. He’s also served as an assistant coach for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen the last two seasons.
Niklas Hagman
The 2010–11 season would end up being Niklas Hagman’s last as a Flame despite it being his first full season in Calgary. He’d register 27 points in 71 games, his lowest total since the 2005–06 season. The following season he’d be placed on waivers and claimed by Anaheim.
Hagman played one more year in the NHL before leaving for Europe in 2012 where he played until retiring from hockey in 2017.
David Moss
David Moss would come out of nowhere in 2010–11 to post 17 goals and 30 points in just 58 games. His pace of 28 goals and 51 points would’ve smashed his previous career-highs. Unfortunately it’d be a flash in the pan as he’d see massive regression the following year and left 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.
Tim Jackman
Tim Jackman was signed as a free agent prior to the 2010–11 season to add some grit to the Flames lineup. The 27-year-old was known for his enforcer qualities, but actually posted the best season of his career that year with 10 goals and 23 points. The 2010–11 season was the start and end of his offensive impact though.
Case in point, Jackman would play three more seasons with the Flames and posted a combined 13 points across 127 games. He’d be dealt during the 2013–14 season and played two more years in the NHL before retiring in 2016. After retiring, Jackman served as an assistant coach for Minnesota State University and is currently the head coach of the AAA Northstar Christian Academy.
Tom Kostopoulos
I’d pay good money to go inside the head of Darryl Sutter. Desperate for offence, Sutter went out and acquired 31-year-old Tom Kostopoulos in November of the 2010–11 season. Kostopoulos was coming off a 21-point season the year prior and would register 14 points with the Flames across 59 games to close out the season.
He’d play one more season in Calgary before leaving as a free agent in 2012. He’d then play one more season in the NHL and retired in 2018 after a few productive years in the AHL. Soon after retiring he served as a development coach with the Penguins and is currently their director of player development.
Defencemen
Mark Giordano
The 2010–11 season was the season Mark Giordano really started to take over the Flames blueline. He posted a career-high 35 assists and 43 points to lead all Flames defenders by 16 points. He’d also average over 23 minutes a game second behind only Jay Bouwmeester.
Giordano would play the second most games of any Flame ever and served as the second longest running team captain in history before being claimed in the 2021 expansion draft. He’s spent the last two seasons playing for his hometown Maple Leafs. Here’s hoping he signs a one day contract to retire as a Flame one day.
Jay Bouwmeester
Despite regularly posting over 40 points a season with Florida to start his career, Jay Bouwmeester’s offence would disappear in Calgary and the 2010–11 season was no different. Bouwmeester would post just four goals and 24 points, his lowest pace since his rookie year in 2002–03. He did however average 26 minutes a night as the team’s number one defenceman.
Bouwmeester would spend just two more seasons as a Flame before being dealt at the 2013 trade deadline for an underwhelming return. He’d then go on to win a Stanley Cup with St. Louis a few years later in 2019. In 2020, Bouwmeester suffered a serious cardiac arrest incident during a game with St. Louis. Luckily he made a full recovery but was forced to retire soon after.
Robyn Regehr
Now in his 30s, Robyn Regehr began to take on a smaller role with the Flames. He’d post 17 points in 79 games, while averaging around 21 minutes on the Flames second pairing in what would be his final season as a Flame. Following the season he was dealt to Buffalo for Chris Butler and Paul Byron after 11 seasons in Calgary. 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.
Cory Sarich
Cory Sarich would continue to play shutdown minutes for the Flames in 2010–11, playing in 76 games and adding on 17 points. Sarich would spend another three seasons in Calgary and one more in Colorado after being traded by the Flames in 2013. He’d retire in 2014. Sarich suffered a scary biking accident soon after retiring in 2014 but made a full recovery and currently works with FlamesTV during the season.
Anton Babchuk
A midseason addition by the Flames in November, Anton Babchuk would finish the season with 27 points in 65 games for the Flames. His 27 points were actually the second most on the team among defenders.
Babchuk would last two more years in Calgary before heading over to the KHL following the 2012–13 season. He’d play two years in Russia and retired from hockey in 2015.
Adam Pardy
In his third NHL season, Adam Pardy would see his role be diminished in 2010–11, playing just 30 games and averaging under 15 minutes a game. The 2010–11 season would be his last as a Flame as he’d leave as a free agent following the season.
Pardy would play six more seasons in the NHL, one in the SHL and one in the ECHL before retiring in 2019 after winning the Kelly Cup. Pardy now serves as an assistant coach for the AAA East Coast Blizzards and also works as a Sales Manager at KaiCo Energy Inc, providing businesses the tools to become energy efficient.
Goaltenders
Miikka Kiprusoff
After a bounce-back 2009–10 season, Miikka Kiprusoff’s numbers took a dip in 2010–11. The veteran goaltender still played 71 games for the Flames, posting a .906 save percentage and 2.63 GAA. He also added on 37 wins.
Kiprusoff would of course 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, until of course this past week when it was announced his number would be retired in March.
Henrik Karlsson
For the first time since the 2003–04 season, a goalie not named Miikka Kiprusoff played over 10 games in net for the Flames. Like Kiprusoff, Henrik Karlsson came over to the Flames in a trade from the San Jose Sharks. He’d start 17 games for Calgary in 2010–11, posting a .908 save percentage and 2.58 GAA.
Karlsson would only play nine more games for the Flames after the 2010–11 season and eventually went over to Europe in 2013 where he played until the 2020–21 season. Last season he played in the Swedish third division.
