We continue our offseason series taking a look back at past Calgary Flames rosters with the 2015–16 squad. The 2015–16 season was one to forget in Calgary. With expectations sky high after a surprise run to the second round the year prior, the Flames fell well short of expectations and experienced one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Despite the hope of being a playoff team coming into the year, the Flames finished 26th out 30 teams in 2015–16 which equaled their second worst finish in team history. The disaster of a season saw reigning Jack Adams winner Bob Hartley lose his job soon after the season ended.
From that team Mikael Backlund and Oliver Kylington are the only members who still have any ties to the organization, although Kylington played just one game that season. No other member of the team still plays or works for the Flames.
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau
In his sophmore 2015–16 season, Johnny Gaudreau would experience a major breakout as the team’s best forward. He’d lead the Flames in goals with 30, assists with 48, and points by a wide margin with 78 in 79 games. At just 22 years old, he had fully established himself as the team’s most important offensive weapon.
As we all know, Gaudreau would develop into a true superstar in Calgary over the next eight years before making the decision to leave in free agency for Columbus in 2022. This past season Gaudreau and the Blue Jackets finished 31st in the NHL with Gaudreau posting his lowest full season point total in six years.
Sean Monahan
The 2015–16 season would see Sean Monahan maintain his status as the team’s best centre with 27 goals and 63 points in 81 games. Only Gaudreau scored more goals and had more assists and points. He also began wearing an “A” for the Flames at just 20 years old this season, serving as one of the team’s alternate captains.
Unfortunately a slew of serious injuries would catch up to him over the years and he’d be traded during the 2022 offseason after multiple successful seasons as a Flame. He’s since played with the Montreal Canadiens, which is where he’ll play in 2023–24 after re-signing this past offseason.
Mikael Backlund
The 2015–16 season would at the time be the best season of Mikael Backlund’s career. He’d post then career-high totals in goals, assists and points with 47 and would finish fourth on the Flames in scoring. As usual, he’d also continue to dominate possession at both ends as well.
Backlund 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.
Sam Bennett
The highest draft pick in Calgary Flames history, Sam Bennett would make his much anticipate rookie season debut in 2015–16. Overall he’d have a solid season as a 19-year-old, registering 18 goals and 36 points across 77 games.
As we all know, it was all downhill from Bennett’s rookie season. Over another six seasons as a Flame he’d fail to match his rookie point total before eventually being traded at the 2021 trade deadline to Florida for a prospect and draft pick, seven years after being picked fourth overall. Bennett’s career has since found a second wind as he’s become a solid second line player for the Florida Panthers.
Michael Frolik
Signed as a free agent to a long term-deal prior to the 2015–16 season, Michael Frolik would make an immediate impact in his first year in Calgary. He’d post 32 points in 64 games, his highest point pace since 2008–09 while posting sparkling underlying numbers.
Over the next four years in Calgary, Frolik would become a key part of the Flames roster and part of the famous 3M line. Eventually he’d be dealt during the 2019–20 season. After two more years in the NHL, he’d head over to Europe in 2021 which is where he’s played the last two seasons.
Joe Colborne
The 2015–16 season would end up being the best of Joe Colborne’s career as well as his last in Calgary. He’d shatter his previous career-highs with 19 goals and 44 points in 73 games playing on a line with Backlund for large parts of the year.
Following the season, Colborne would leave as a free agent and spent just one more season in the NHL before retiring in 2018 at the age of 28 due to injuries.
Michael Ferland
A fifth-round pick of the Flames in 2010, Michael Ferland would make his full-time NHL debut in 2015–16 after playing just 26 games the year prior. He’d register 18 points in 71 games while operating as a physical presence in the team’s bottom-six.
Ferland would become a big part of the Flames over the next two seasons but would be dealt to Carolina in the blockbuster Dougie Hamilton trade in 2018. After two more years in the NHL, Ferland was forced to retire in 2020 at the age of 28 due to a series of concussions.
Jiri Hudler
The 2015–16 season was Jiri Hudler’s last as a Flame as he’d be dealt at the trade deadline as an upcoming UFA. In his 53 games, he’d see a steep drop off in points with just 35 and only 10 goals after his career year in 2014–15. After just one more season in the league, he retired in 2017.
Lance Bouma
After a career year in 2014–15, Lance Bouma would experience a massive drop off in 2015–16. He’d play in just 44 games due to injury, posting just two goals and seven points. Reminder that this was just a year removed from a 16-goal, 34-point season.
He’d never find the same magic from 2014–15 and after one more disastrous year in Calgary he was bought out in 2017. He played one more season in the NHL in 2017–18 before going over to Europe and has spent the last three seasons playing in the SHL.
Matt Stajan
Now at 31 years old, Matt Stajan was playing more of a mentorship role on a young Flames team than anything else. In 80 games, he posted 17 points while skating in the team’s bottom-six.
He’d play two more years in Calgary before going over to Europe for one season in 2018–19. He retired soon after in 2019. 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.
David Jones
The 2015–16 season would be David Jones’ last in Calgary and the NHL. After posting 15 points in 59 games to start the year, Jones was dealt to Minnesota near the trade deadline. He’d close out the year with the Wild and retire following the season at the age of 32.
Josh Jooris
As a solid rookie season in 2014–15, Josh Jooris would take quite a step back in 2015–16. He’d play in just 59 games, posting four goals and 13 points. It’d end up being his final season as a Flame.
He would leave as a free agent following the season. He then played two more seasons split between the NHL and AHL before eventually going over to Europe in 2019. He’s spent the last four seasons playing in the Swiss-A league.
Defencemen
Mark Giordano
Following up on his career year in 2014–15, Mark Giordano would top that and put up another tremendous season in 2015–16 as a 31-year-old. He’d rack up a career best 21 goals and a then career best 56 points in 82 games.
Giordano served as the Flames captain and number one defenceman for five more years 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.
Dougie Hamilton
Acquired in a major trade at the 2015 draft to bolster the Flames blueline, a 22-year-old Dougie Hamilton would jump right into the top-four for the Flames in 2015–16. He’d register 43 points in 82 games, a career best at the time.
Hamilton would form one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL with Giordano over the next two seasons before eventually being dealt in a blockbuster deal to Carolina in 2018. He’s continued his elite play as one of the league’s best defenders over the last five seasons split between Carolina and now New Jersey where he signed as a free agent in 2021.
T.J. Brodie
T.J. Brodie would continue to play big minutes for the Flames on their top pairing in 2015–16. He’d add on a career best 45 points in 70 games while also averaging the most minutes a night of any Flame.
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
After a career best season in 2014–15, Dennis Wideman would take a big step back in 2015–16 with only 19 points across 57 injury-riddled games. He’d also get handed a long-term suspension for a bizarre play in which he pushed a referee.
Wideman would spend one more year as a Flame before retiring 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
The 2015–16 season would be Kris Russell’s last in Calgary. He’d post 15 points in 51 games along with some dreadful underlying numbers before being dealt as an upcoming free agent 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.
Derek Engelland
Derek Engelland would play 69 games in 2015–16, adding on 12 points as a primarily shutdown defender for the Flames.
Engelland would spend one more seasons as a regular on the Flames blueline before being claimed in the 2017 Vegas expansion draft. After three years in Vegas, Engelland retired in 2020. Soon after retiring he transitioned to a role as Vegas’ Special Assistant to the Owner.
Goaltenders
Kari Ramo
During the infamous three-goalie season in 2015–16, Karri Ramo would play a team-high 37 games for the Flames. In those games, he’d post a .909 save percentage, his worst as a Flame, and a 17–18–1 record.
Ramo would leave as a free agent following the season and 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.
Jonas Hiller
The 1B in the Flames crease in 2015–16, Jonas Hiller played 26 games for the Flames. He’d finish the year with a career worst .879 save percentage and 3.51 GAA along with a 9–11–1 record.
Like Ramo, he’d head over to Europe in 2016 and played for Biel HC for four years before retiring in 2020.
Joni Ortio
The third wheel in the Flames goaltending trio, rookie Joni Ortio played in 22 games in 2015–16, posting a 7–9–5 record. He’d add on a .902 save percentage in what would be his last year in the NHL.
Ortio would leave the NHL the following season and head over to Europe in 2016 which is where he has played since. He last suited up for HV71 in the SHL in 2022–23.
