We continue our offseason series taking a look back at past Calgary Flames rosters with the rebuilding 2013–14 squad. The 2013–14 season would be the first year of a multi-year rebuild for the Flames with a plethora of youth joining the lineup.
The Flames would finish the year 27th out of 30 teams in the NHL, which was then and still is their lowest finish in franchise history. It would also earn them their highest draft pick in franchise history at fourth overall at the 2014 draft. The poor season would cost general manager Jay Feaster his job, as he was fired midseason in December of 2013 just three years after being hired.
From that team Mikael Backlund is the only member who still has any ties to the organization as he still plays for the Flames. No other member of the team plays or works for the Flames, although Brian McGrattan did work as a development coach for the Flames until 2022.
Forwards
Jiri Hudler
Now arguably the Flames’ top forward, Jiri Hudler would post 17 goals and 54 points during the 2013–14 season to lead the Flames in scoring. In fact to this day, his 54 points is the lowest total in franchise history to lead the Flames in scoring during a full season.
Hudler would spend another two 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.
Mike Cammalleri
A 31-year-old Mike Cammalleri would lead the Flames in goals in 2013–14, totaling 26 goals and 45 points in 63 games. Despite being in the middle of a rebuild and Cammalleri set to hit free agency, the Flames decided to hang on to the veteran past the deadline and lost him for nothing following the season.
He’d play four more years in the NHL and retired in 2018. Cammalleri is currently the co-CEO of sports nutrition company BioSteel, a company he founded during his playing days in 2009.
Mikael Backlund
With the roster falling apart around him, Mikael Backlund was a lone bright spot and sign of hope during the 2013–14 season. In his fifth NHL season, he’d post careers-highs in goals with 18 and points with 39 while also operating as the team’s number one centre.
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.
Sean Monahan
The Flames sixth overall pick at the 2013 NHL draft just a few months before the season, Sean Monahan would crack the Flames roster and debut during the 2013–14 season at just 19 years old. He’d find immediate success, finishing second on the Flames in goals with 22 and fifth in points at 34.
Monahan would become an integral part of the Flames roster over the next eight seasons, operating as the team’s number one centre for multiple years. Unfortunately a slew of serious injuries would catch up to him and he’d be traded during the 2022 offseason. He’s since played with the Montreal Canadiens, which is where he’ll play in 2023–24 after re-signing this past offseason.
Matt Stajan
Now a veteran piece down the middle for the Flames, Matt Stajan put up 33 points in 63 games while playing in the team’s top-six for most of the 2013–14 season. That said across the next four 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.
Curtis Glencross
Limited by injuries Curtis Glencross played just 38 games in 2013–14, adding on 24 points. The season would end up being Glencross’ last full season as a Flame, as he’d be dealt as an upcoming free agent at the trade deadline the next season in 2015. 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.
Joe Colborne
Acquired by the Flames during the 2013 offseason as a reclamation projects of sorts, Joe Colborne was still trying to find his footing in the NHL after being picked 16th overall five years prior in 2008. He’d find some success in his first season as a Flame in 2013–14, posting career-highs in goals, assists and points with 28 points.
Colborne would spend another two years in Calgary, highlighted by a career-high 44 points in 2015–16. He’d leave as a free agent in 2016 and spent just one more season in the NHL before retiring in 2018 at the age of 28 due to injuries.
Lance Bouma
A third-round pick by the Flames in 2008, Lance Bouma made his full season debut in 2013–14, posting 15 points in 78 games as a 23-year-old. Bouma would pop-off with a career best 34 points the following season, but would never reach anywhere close to those heights again. After a couple disappointing seasons, the Flames would eventually buy him out in 2017.
Bouma played one more season in the NHL in 2017–18 before going over to Europe. He’s spent the last three seasons playing in the SHL.
Brian McGrattan
Longtime enforcer and former Flame Brian McGrattan was brought back to Calgary via trade in 2013 and became a regular in the Flames lineup in 2013–14. He’d play in 76 games, posting four goals and eight points along with 100 penalty minutes.
McGrattan would play just eight more games in the NHL. He’d then spend one year in the AHL and one year in the EIHL in England before retiring in 2017. McGrattan served as a development coach with the Flames from 2017 until 2022 but doesn’t currently work with the team.
T.J. Galiardi
An offseason addition by the Flames, 25-year-old T.J. Galiardi made his Flames debut in 2013–14. Galiardi was brought in to add some depth to the Flames young forward group, and contributed 17 points in 62 games.
Following the season he’d leave as a free agent to sign in Winnipeg. He’d play just 38 games for the Jets before heading to Europe in 2015. After three years split between the SHL and KHL, Galiardi retired in 2018. Galiardi is currently the Chief Development Officer for Steel River Group, a business consulting company located in Calgary.
Paul Byron
Acquired in the trade that sent Robyn Regehr to Buffalo, Paul Byron would make his full-time debut in 2013–14. He’d play in 47 games, posting a career-high 21 points. Despite some success as an effective, speedy fourth liner in Calgary, Byron would be placed on waivers just a year later prior to the 2015-16 season.
He’d of course be claimed by the Montreal Canadiens in what was one of the worst waiver moves in franchise history. Byron would become a regular in the Canadiens lineup, highlighted by a career-high 43 points season in 2016–17. He was forced to step away from playing due a nagging hip injury in 2022 and hasn’t played since.
Lee Stempniak
Now in his third year as a Flame, Lee Stempniak put up 23 points in 52 games to start the season, a steep drop off from his career best season the year prior. On an expiring deal and with the team in a rebuild, Stempniak would be dealt at the 2014 trade deadline for a draft pick.
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.
Sven Baertschi
Now in his second NHL season, big things were expected of 2013 first rounder Sven Baertschi in 2013–14. Unfortunately he’d just never earn the trust of veteran head coach Bob Hartley or the Flames management team. This led to Baertschi playing just 26 games all season, posting 11 points.
Baertschi would never live up to his draft position in Calgary. He would eventually be dealt the following season, just four years after being drafted 13th overall 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.
Defencemen
Mark Giordano
Mark Giordano’s debut season as Flames captain in 2013–14 was also a career breakout for the then 29-year-old. Giordano racked up 47 points in 64 games, by far the best total of his career. The total ranked second on the Flames despite missing 18 games.
Giordano of course served as the Flames captain 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.
T.J. Brodie
The 2013–14 was a coming out party for T.J. Brodie as the 23-year-old fully established himself as a key piece on the Flames blueline. He’d play a then career-high 81 games while posting a then career best 31 points, all while averaging the second most minutes on the Flames.
Brodie would become an integral part of the Flames during the 2010s and a staple on their blueline. 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
Now in his second season as a Flame, Dennis Wideman would deal with injuries in 2013–14 and played just 47 games, posting 21 points. When he was healthy, he would regularly play over 20 minutes a night on the Flames’ second pairing.
Wideman would end up finishing his career in Calgary over the next three 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.
Kris Russell
Acquired via trade during the offseason, a 26-year-old Kris Russell would quickly become a top-four defenceman for the rebuilding Flames in 2013–14. On top of averaging 23 minutes a night, he also added a then career best 29 points in 68 games.
Russell would remain a mainstay on the Flames blueline over the next two seasons before being dealt at the 2016 trade deadline for the pick that became Dillon Dube. Russell would end his career with six straight seasons in Edmonton and hasn’t played since the 2021–22 season.
Ladislav Smid
Acquired during the season in November from Edmonton, Ladislav Smid logged 56 games for the Flames in 2013–14, adding six points. Smid would end his NHL career as a Flame over the next two seasons before leaving for Europe in 2017.
He’d play five seasons with Liberec Bili Tygri HC in the Czech League before retiring from hockey in 2022. Starting in 2022–23 he’s worked as a development coach with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.
Chris Butler
Chris Butler would be the only Flame to play in all 82 games in 2013–14, adding on 16 points in a bottom-pairing role on the team’s blueline. It’d end up being his last season as a Flame as he’d leave as a free agent following the season.
He would bounce around the AHL and NHL over 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
Kari Ramo
Acquired in the 2012 Mike Cammalleri trade from Montreal, Kari Ramo first made his Flames debut during the 2013–14 season as the team’s primary starter, taking over from the retired Miikki Kiprusoff. He’d play in 40 games, posting a .911 save percentage and 16–15–4 record.
Ramo spent two more seasons with the Flames in a 1A/1B role before leaving as a free agent in 2016. He’d eventually go over to Europe that same year where he played for six seasons before retiring in 2022. He’s currently the assistant coach for the U16 Finnish team Pelicans.
Reto Berra
Like Ramo, the 2013–14 season was also Reto Berra’s first as a Flame. Berra was acquired as a main piece in the Jay Bouwmeester trade a year prior. Heralded as the best goalie outside of the NHL by Jay Feaster, Berra played just 29 games and posted a .897 save percentage for the Flames.
He wouldn’t last long as a Flame as he was shipped out for a draft pick at the 2014 deadline after just half a season in Calgary. Berra would bounce around the AHL and NHL over the next three years before going to Switzerland in 2018. He’s spent the last five seasons playing for Fribourg-Gotteron in the Swiss-A league.
