Flame for Thought
Fansided

Top Five U.S. Born Players in Calgary Flames History

By Ramina Shlah

COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 08: Johnny Gaudreau of USA celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship game between USA and Sweden at Lanxess Arena on May 8, 2017 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - MAY 08: Johnny Gaudreau of USA celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship game between USA and Sweden at Lanxess Arena on May 8, 2017 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
CALGARY, AB – FEBRUARY 19: Joel Otto
CALGARY, AB – FEBRUARY 19: Joel Otto /

5. Joel Otto

Joel Otto, unlike the two honorable mentions, was never drafted by any team. Instead, he signed with the Calgary Flames in 1984 when he was 22 years old. Otto was known well as one of the best two-way centermen in his days which led to him being a Selke trophy nominee twice. He was also one of the best guys in the face-off circles.

Otto spent 11 year with the Flames where he played 730 games with the club and racked up 167 goals and 428 points.

In total, Otto played 943 NHL games split between Calgary and Philadelphia and had 195 goals and 508 points. Otto was part of the Stanley Cup winning Calgary team in 1989 where he had 19 points in 22 playoff games, one being an overtime game-winning goal in game seven against the Vancouver Canucks. I actually met Otto! In October of 2015. He thought I was weird, but what else is new.

Joel Otto played for Team USA at the Olympics once, World Championship twice, and for the Canada Cup twice, once as the captain in 1991.

And this guy is still in Calgary! Looks like someone else who just can’t get away from this lovely city either. He’s currently an assistant coach for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.

Fun fact: There was a song written about him called “Two minutes for looking so good”. Here it is:

Home/Editorials