We continue our offseason series taking a look back at past Calgary Flames rosters with the lockout shortened 2012–13 squad. The 2012–13 season would end up being the end of an era in Calgary, with multiple major players being shipped out as the team finally committed to a full tear down and rebuild. It closed out a disappointing era in Flames history and kicked off a new, hopeful one.
After three straight seasons outside the playoffs, the Flames fired Brent Sutter and hired veteran coach Bob Hartley for the 2012–13 season. In his first season in charge, the Flames would tumble to the bottom of the standings, finishing 25th in the NHL. At the time it was the lowest finish in franchise history.
From that team, Jarome Iginla is still with the Flames as 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
The 2012–13 season was the last for Jarome Iginla in a Flames jersey. He’d register 22 points in 31 games, still finishing as one of the team’s top scorers. His 0.7 points per game that season was second on the Flames among lineup regulars.
At 35 years old and on an expiring deal, the Flames finally decided to move their franchise legend and traded Iginla to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline that season. A few years later in 2017, he retired from hockey at the age of 39. 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
The 2012–13 season would also be Alex Tanguay’s final as a Flame. He’d register 27 points in 42 games to finish third on the Flames in scoring. That should give you a good idea of how this season went for Calgary.
During the following offseason the Flames would trade Tanguay for Shane O’Brien and David Jones. He’d retire a couple years later 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.
Lee Stempniak
In his second season as a Flame in 2012–13, a 29-year-old Lee Stempniak posted a career best point pace with 32 points in 47 games. The total ranked second on the Flames in scoring that season, while his 23 assists topped the team.
Unfortunately he’d never reach those heights again and would be traded to the Penguins at the 2014 trade deadline during a disappointing season. He’d play for five more teams across the next five seasons before retiring in 2019. After retiring he worked as a data analyst with the Coyotes and is now their director of player development.
Jiri Hudler
Signed as a free agent by the Flames in the offseason to add some offensive punch to the lineup, Jiri Hudler suited up for 42 games in 2012–13 and added on 27 points. The total was good for fourth on the Flames.
Hudler would spend another three seasons in Calgary, highlighted by his career best 76-point season and shoeless Lady Byng win in 2014–15. On an expiring deal, he’d be dealt during the 2016 trade deadline. After one more season in the league he retired in 2017.
Curtis Glencross
After a career year in 2011–12, Curtis Glencross had another strong season in 2012–13 this time with 15 goals and 26 points in 40 games. His 15 goals led the Flames and his 30-goal, 53-point pace was a career high. Glencross would fail to reach those same heights again and was eventually dealt a couple years later at the 2015 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.
Mike Cammalleri
After being re-acquired during the previous season, Mike Cammalleri would lead the Flames in scoring in 2012–13 with 32 points in 44 games. His 59-point pace was actually his highest since the 2008–09 season, also with the Flames.
Cammalleri would spend just one more year as a Flame before walking for nothing in free agency for the second time in 2014. He’d play four more years in the NHL and retired in 2018. He’s currently the co-CEO of sports nutrition company BioSteel, a company he founded during his playing days in 2009.
Mikael Backlund
Now in his third full season as a regular in the Flames lineup, Mikael Backlund would post career-high goal and point paces with eight goals and 16 points in 32 games in 2012–13. As usual he also posted strong underlying numbers at just 23 years old.
Backlund of course has since 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.
Matt Stajan
Now in his fourth year as a Flame, Matt Stajan would post the best point pace of his Flames career with 23 points in 43 games. Unfortunately his production would only drop over the next few years. That said across the next five seasons as a Flame Stajan would become a fan favourite in Calgary even if his production never lived up to the hype.
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.
Roman Cervenka
In a move that never would’ve happened under Darryl Sutter, the Flames signed KHL standout Roman Cervenka prior to the 2012–13 season. Cervenka would suit up for 39 games during his debut year in North America, posting nine goals and 17 points.
Cervenka’s NHL tenure would be incredibly short lived as he would return to the KHL the following season in 2013–14. Most recently he has spent the last seven years playing in the Swiss-A league.
Sven Baertschi
The Flames 13th overall pick in 2011, Sven Baertschi made his full season debut with Calgary in 2012–13, suiting up for 20 games as a rookie. In those games he’d register three goals and 10 points to lead all Flames rookies in scoring.
Baertschi would unfortunately never live up to his draft position. He would eventually be dealt just four years after being drafted during the 2014–15 season for the pick that became Rasmus Andersson. He spent six more years in the NHL and one in Switzerland before eventually retiring at the age of 30 this past summer.
Steve Begin
A homegrown player during the early 2000s after being picked by the Flames during the 1996 draft, Steve Begin would come back to Calgary as a free agent prior to the 2012–13 season at the age of 34. He’d post eight points across 36 games that year, and retired following the season.
Since retiring Begin has worked as an assistant coach in the QMJHL on two occasions and has also worked as an analyst for RDS.
Blake Comeau
Now in his second season as a Flame, Blake Comeau would post just seven points in 33 games. Unsurprisingly he’d be dealt at the trade deadline that season for a draft pick as an upcoming free agent.
Despite his lack of success as a Flame he’d go on to have a successful career in the NHL and played 10 more years in the big league before retiring just last year in 2022.
Tim Jackman
Tim Jackman would continue to regress following his outlier 2010–11 season, posting just five points and one single goal across 42 games as a Flame in 2012–13. It’d end up being his last full season in Calgary.
Jackman would play just 10 games for the Flames in 2013–14 before being dealt during the season. He 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.
Defencemen
Mark Giordano
Now in his seventh season as a Flame, Mark Giordano had fully established himself as an integral part of the team. Wearing an A for the Flames, he posted 15 points in 47 games while also averaging a then career-high 23:10 minutes a game.
Giordano would be named the Flames captain the following season and served in the role until being claimed in the 2021 expansion draft, leaving as the second longest tenured player and captain in Flame history. 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 in the future.
Jay Bouwmeester
Like many core players during this era, the 2012–13 season would be Jay Bouwmeester’s last as a Flame. He’d post 15 points in 33 games as the team’s number one defencemen before being dealt at the 2013 trade deadline due to his expiring contract.
Bouwmeester would find a second wind in St. Louis and went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Blues 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.
T.J. Brodie
Now in his second full NHL season, T.J. Brodie made a huge jump in 2012–13 and was a key part of the Flames blueline. He’d play in 47 games, posting 14 points while also averaging over 20 minutes a night at just 22 years old. The 2012–13 season was certainly an early sign on how crucial Brodie would become to the Flames.
As we know now Brodie would develop into a bonafide top-four defenceman for the Flames and a staple on their blueline during the 2010s. He’d eventually leave as a free agent in 2020 after logging the fourth most games by a defenceman in franchise history. He currently plays with Giordano in Toronto.
Dennis Wideman
Another offseason addition by Jay Feaster and the Flames, Dennis Wideman would make his Calgary debut in 2012–13. Coming off a 45-point season in Washington, Wideman posted 22 points in 46 games which led the Flames blueline in scoring. He’d also average the second most minutes on the team at 25 minutes a night.
Wideman would end up finishing his career in Calgary over the next four seasons, highlighted by his career best 56-point season in 2014–15. He would eventually retire as a free agent in 2017. Since retiring he’s served as an assistant coach for his hometown Kitchener Rangers for the past six years.
Chris Butler
Now in his second season as a Flame, Chris Butler played in 44 games, posting just one goal and eight points. Operating on the team’s third pairing, Butler posted some less than ideal underlying numbers and largely struggled to make an impact in his second year as a Flame.
Butler would play out the rest of his contract in Calgary before leaving as a free agent the following year in 2014. He would bounce around the AHL and NHL for the next five years and retired in 2019. Butler was hired as an amateur scout with the Coyotes in 2021 and currently works as a development coach with the Penguins.
Goaltenders
Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Kiprusoff final season was far from pleasant. In 24 games, he’d post a 3.44 GAA and a save percentage of just 0.882—his lowest ever as a Flame and his second worst overall. In his first eight seasons with the Flames, he always posted a save percentage of 0.900 or higher, so this drop off to end his career was a far cry from a last hoorah.
Kiprusoff would hop on board the mass exodus of Flames veterans and leave Calgary and retire. He’s since returned to Finland and has lived a notoriously quiet life away from the spotlight, until of course this past month when it was announced his number would be retired in March.
