2013–14 Calgary Flames season
It was the first season of a rebuilding phase, and the first full year following the departure of long-time captain Jarome Iginla and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff.
Change continued into the playing season as new team president Brian Burke fired general manager Jay Feaster on December 12, 2013, and assumed the role himself on an interim basis.
The facility was repaired in time for the playing season, a year in which the Flames were widely predicted to finish in last place in the Pacific Division.
The flooding of the Elbow and Bow Rivers swamped many areas of the city, including Stampede Park where the Saddledome is located.
[1] At a press conference held on June 22, 2013, team president Ken King stated that the arena had flooded up to the eighth row and that the event level of the facility was a "total loss."
He added that the team's equipment and some memorabilia had also been destroyed, but expressed confidence that the facility would be repaired and ready in time for the October start to the season.
[5] On the ice, Mark Giordano was named the 19th captain in Flames' franchise history, succeeding Jarome Iginla, who was traded during the previous season.
Calgary, along with former Northwest rivals the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, joined the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks in the expanded Pacific.
[9] The campaign began in Washington on October 3, a 5–4 shootout loss in which the team's top selection at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Sean Monahan, made his debut and scored his first point.
[10] Monahan scored his first career goal the following night against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Flames' first win of the season, a 4–3 triumph.
[12] A five-game western road trip in mid October brought the Flames back to .500 as they won only a single game against four losses, evening their record at 4–4–2.
[20] Jarome Iginla made his first return to Calgary on December 10, 2013, where the fans greeted him with a long standing ovation prior to the game as the Flames played a video tribute.
Following the contest, a 2–1 Boston Bruins victory, Iginla was named the game's third star and took two laps around the rink to more cheers from the crowd.
[25] The team ended 2013 with three consecutive losses on home ice as Calgary was shut out 2–0 by both Edmonton and Vancouver before dropping a 4–1 decision on New Year's Eve to the Philadelphia Flyers.
[27] Calgary ended up on the right side of a shutout two nights later as Karri Ramo recorded the first of his NHL career in a 2–0 road victory over Carolina.
[28] The team set a franchise record for futility on home ice with their seventh consecutive loss, 5–2 to Winnipeg, at the Saddledome on January 16.
[29] Facing another struggling team in the Vancouver Canucks two nights later, the Flames became embroiled in a large melee off the opening faceoff.
[30] Hartley was assessed a $25,000 fine by the League as the NHL held him responsible for the initial fights while Tortorella was given a 15-day suspension for his actions.
[33] Calgary won a second consecutive home game two nights later as the team overcame a four-goal effort by former Flame Eric Nystrom to defeat the Nashville Predators 5–4 in a shootout.
[35] The final game of the homestand was costly however, as Karri Ramo suffered an MCL injury that kept him out of the lineup until after the NHL's break for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Calgary made two deals, sending Reto Berra to the Colorado Avalanche and Lee Stempniak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for draft picks.
[40] Michael Cammalleri, a pending unrestricted free agent was expected to be traded, but remained with the Flames as the 1 pm MST deadline passed.
[49] Bryce Van Brabant, a late-season free agent signing out of the NCAA, played his first game with the club on April 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
[50] The Flames rebounded to win the final three games of the road trip, culminating with Ramo's second shutout of the season in a 1–0 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
[51] The Flames returned to Calgary for their final two home games of the season, a victory against the Los Angeles Kings, and then a defeat to the Winnipeg Jets.
"[54] With a final record of 35–40–7, the Flames finished sixth in the Pacific Division with 77 points and failed to qualify for the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Heat ranked fifth in the Western Conference and qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs where they lost their first round match-up to the Grand Rapids Griffins three games to one.
