Calgary Flames Players Who Had Career-High Seasons

The Calgary Flames season didn’t exactly end as most fans would have hoped – a first round sweep by the Anaheim Ducks. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give credit where it’s due to some players!

Calgary Flames fans were ecstatic as the regular season came to an end because they managed to make it to the post-season. But then the playoffs came and suddenly Flames fans were all crying together in a group hug. A first round sweep by an arch nemesis – the Anaheim Ducks, is not exactly the way you want to go out.

But that’s in the past! Let’s stop thinking about it (please, I can’t stop crying). Instead, let’s look at something a little better. Like how some Flames players had the best season of their careers up to date!

Dougie Hamilton

Dougie Photo-Bomb, I mean Dougie Hamilton, had his career-best season by a long shot. Last season when Dougie was first brought to Calgary, he already had a career-high in points last year with the Calgary Flames with 43 points. This season, he had a career high in goals (13), assists (37), and points (50). Another feat was his +/- which was 12 to finish the season, a huge improvement from his -14 last season.

Something notable is the amount he jumps up on the play now, which has largely increased how much he shoots pucks on the net which in turn, increases his points. He also averaged 0.62 points per game which again, is a career high. He was fourth on the team in points and +/- and second on the team in assist.

Calgary Flames

He was also ninth in the league among defencemen for points and goals. An incredible feat for the 23 year old who left some Flames fans worried that the team made the wrong choice when they traded for the 2011 9th overall pick. But he’s definitely turned his game around and he’s an important part of this team.

He also gives credit to Flames captain Mark Giordano on his career-high season.

Via Calgary Herald:

"“It was definitely a big change from where I started the season. I think I was playing with a bunch of different partners, third-pairings and that kind of thing,” Hamilton said. “I had a bad stretch of games with a lot of minuses. (Gulutzan) put me with Gio and it kind of turned my season around. I tried to make the most of it and take the opportunity.”“I think he’s just so good at everything, I don’t think he has a weakness,” Hamilton said. “Any aspect of the game, he’s good at it. His shot, he’s physical, his skating and he’s smart. Pretty much everything there. He’s a guy I look up to.”"

If Dougie looking up to Gio doesn’t warm your heart, then you’re a cruel, cruel human being.

Next player.

Mikael Backlund

Mikael Selke, I mean Mikael Backlund, also had a career-high season. Sorry, auto-correct keeps messing with the names! But Backlund, who was definitely cheated out of a Selke nomination also had a career-high season. He already had a career-high last year as a number 2/number 3 centerman with 47 points. This beat his previous high by eight points which was in 2013-2014.

Backlund had 53 points this season and had a career high in goals (22) and assists (31). An impressive feat about Backlund is that he continues to have an impressive +/- even though he’s continuously on the penalty-kill. He had a +/- of 9 this season and has a career +/- of 17. Why he wasn’t even nominated for a Selke is beyond me.

Backlund was third on the team in points and in points per game (0.65) (min. 50 games). I’m glad he’s finally getting the recognition he rightfully deserves and he’s definitely a huge factor into this Calgary Flames rebuild and a big factor in rookie Matthew Tkachuk doing well this season.

Micheal Ferland

Micheal Ferland is definitely one of the most underrated players on the Calgary Flames and all the Flames players know it too. When he’s given the chance, he excels. Just look at the 2014-2015 season during the playoffs – that’s real proof. He was easily one of the best players against the Vancouver Canucks in that first round series in his first ever season in his first ever playoffs.

This season, he wasn’t doing so well. He was shuffling around different lines but couldn’t quite find his game. Until on February 21st when head coach Glen Gulutzan decided to try putting him on that top line alongside Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Not only did he excel, but Monahan and Gaudreau excelled because of him too.

Via Calgaryflames:

"“It was just a gut feeling,” said Gulutzan, when asked what led to him putting Ferland with Monahan and Gaudreau. “Just the way he’d played prior to that coming off the break. He’d had a lot of jump, was playing hard.”"

On February 21st when Ferland was initially put onto that top line, the Flames won 6-5 in overtime against the Nashville Predators. And Ferland? Well, he scored just 46 seconds into the game. He notched another goal later that game too.

That game also marked the beginning of the Flames season tying record of a ten-game win streak. Damn.

Via Calgary Herald:

"“He’s sneakily skilled,” Gaudreau said of Ferland. “Guys look at him just as a fighter and a big tough guy, but he’s smart with the puck. He’s intelligent, he can read the play and he has a great shot, too. He played great (Tuesday) for us and it was good to get a bit of chemistry there.”“All the coaches tell me, ‘When you have a chance to shoot the puck, just shoot the puck,’ ” Ferland said. “I think last year and the year before, too, I would always look to pass first before I would look to shoot. And now, I think, just being kind of selfish and shooting the puck more.”"

Related Story: Five reasons the Flames made it to the playoffs

Since February 21st until the end of the season, Ferland had 10 points in 21 games (7G 3A). Before that? He had 15 points the entire season. He hit a career high this year with 25 points, which I know isn’t super incredible by any means, however seeing how much better he performs when given the chance, the Flames got lucky with Ferly.

Since February 21st, Gaudreau had 26 points in 23 games and Monahan had 23 points in 23 games. Before that, Gaudreau had 35 points in 49 games and Monahan had 25 points in 59 games. Talk about doubling your improvement, hey?

I think the Flames have something special here and this line could definitely be effective next season.

Honorary Mentions

Of course we still got a couple of honorary mentions, how could we not?

Michael Frolik

Michael Frolik didn’t have a career-high season but he came pretty dang close. With 44 points in 82 games, that was his highest points since his first year in the NHL in 2008-09 when he notched 45 points. He plays on the same line as Backs and Tkachuk on that 3M line.

Frolik is also impressive on the PK with Backs and another impressive feat for him is his +/- as well. He has 13 this year, even when he’s killing off penalties. His career +/- is 29. Damn.

He may have not had a career high this season, but he’s getting close. And this is pretty impressive seeing how he hurt his wrist back in December and kept playing through it until the end of the season where the 3M line was still the most consistent line on this Calgary Flames team.

This line was explosive all year and other teams better watch out next season.

Curtis Lazar

Another honorary mention is Curtis Lazar. He only played four games with the Calgary Flames when he was traded on a trade deadline day trade, but he has three points in those four games. Before that with the Ottawa Senators this season? One assist in 33 games. Given the chance, he could definitely excel. He’s still very young and has plenty of potential and maybe with the right training and the right veterans as his linemates, he could do something great with this young Flames team.

Next: What's going on with the Dennis Wideman lawsuit?

There you have it, everyone! Some career-highs this season. Was anybody here surprising? Let’s just hope next season turns out better for the cooler Alberta team (jokes) and some more players can continue to earn career-highs.