Only two weeks until the regular season starts! With 14 days left, let’s look at a former Calgary Flames player with that number.
Since the start of August, we’re counting down the number of days left until the regular season starts up again! Every day until the start of the season, we’ll be talking about a Calgary Flames player whose number correlates with how many days there are left.
We missed a couple of days, but last time, we talked about a guy who didn’t play a whole lot in the NHL. But he still had quite the successful career. That was #17 Jiri Hrdina.
Today, with just two weeks (TWO WEEKS) until the regular season starts, let’s look at #14 Theoren Fleury.
Related Story: 17 days until the season starts: #17 Jiri Hrdina
Who is Theoren Fleury?
Name: Theoren Fleury
Birthplace: Oxbow, SK, Canada
Position: RW
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: 1968-06-29
Height: 5’6” / 168 cm
Weight: 82 kg / 180 lbs
Drafted by: Calgary Flames, 166th overall 1987
Stats with all teams, regular season:
I’m going to preface this by saying that Theoren Fleury is probably one of the best late-round steals in history.
Not being drafted until the eighth round in 1987 by the Calgary Flames, Fleury was definitely overlooked. And while he had successful junior-level days with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, it still blows my mind that no team saw his potential. In 1985-86, he finished the year off with 43 goals and 108 points in 72 regular season games. He had 20 points in 13 playoff games.
The next year, right before being drafted, he had 61 goals and 129 points in 66 regular season games. He also had the opportunity to play for Team Canada at the IIHF World Juniors where he had five points in six games at the tournament. But unfortunately, they didn’t medal.
He was mainly overlooked due to his small stature, at just 5’6″. But wow did all these teams sure mess up. After being drafted, he spent that season again in the WHL with the Warriors where he sported the “C” on his jersey. This time, he had 68 goals and 160 points in 65 regular season games. That’s averaging almost 2.5 points per night. That’s insane.
Related Story: Flames alum Theoren Fleury left off HHOF again
That year, he also won the Bobby Clarke Trophy for having the most points in the WHL. He again made it to the World Juniors for Team Canada and he was even captain. This year, Team Canada won the Gold Medal.
During the 1988 training camp with the Calgary Flames, Fleury showed up slightly overweight and was sent back down the IHL. But after 37 goals and 72 points in 40 games, the Flames couldn’t let him get away again and they recalled him in January of 1989. In just his second NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings, he recorded three assists – his first three assists in his NHL career.
The following game, he had a pair of goals in a 7-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers. Safe to say that he was somewhat helping the Flames offensive slump come to an end. He finished the regular season with 14 goals and 34 points in 36 games. I’d say that’s pretty decent.
But that was only the end of the regular season.
If you recall, the Calgary Flames won the cup in 1989. So in Fleury’s first NHL season, he averages almost a point per game. Then he goes on to the playoffs where he scored five goals (three game-winners) and six assists in 22 playoff games to help his new team win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
I’d say he’s a star in the making.
In the 1990-91 season, Fleury got a 100-point season, finishing the year off with 104 points. He had one more 100-point season two seasons later. In 1993, he was awarded an “A” on his jersey before getting the “C” in 1995.
Oh and let’s just take a minute to appreciate this iconic celly of his in 1991 in Game 7 in overtime against the Edmonton Oilers:
Fleury managed to break a few franchise records – beating Joe Nieuwendyk‘s goal record and surpassing Al MacInnis‘ points record (both have been beaten by Jarome Iginla, by the way).
In 1999, with the Flames not being able to afford Fleury anymore, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Fleury went on to also play for the New York Rangers and the Chicago Blackhawks. But that wasn’t an easy journey.
Calgary Flames
After signing with the New York Rangers, he had trouble adapting to New York life. He turned to substance abuse to help him cope. He later in 2000 after the 1999-00 season ended, entered a league-operated program that treats substance abuse and emotional problems.
Late in the 2000-01 season, he again entered the program and his season was cut short to 62 games. In the 2001-02 season, his off-ice problems were now reflective on the ice. He was lashing out a lot and it was evident that he still had some emotional problems that he needed help with.
The Rangers decided to trade his rights to the San Jose Sharks in 2002, but he never played with them as he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. Fleury was suspended multiple times with the Blackhawks for violations of the NHL’s substance abuse program. This resulted in the Blackhawks putting him on waivers, where nobody picked him up. He finished the season with a suspension.
In 2009, Fleury released an autobiography, where he revealed that he was sexually abused by a junior hockey coach in his junior days. He had hopes that his story would help other people and other children come forward who are/were dealing with the same situation.
I’ll put a suicide trigger warning here with asterisks (***) and it’ll end with asterisks again, in case this isn’t something you like to hear about.
***
In his autobiography, Fleury also claimed that he was very close to committing suicide in 2004. He said he had a loaded gun in his mouth and he was ready to take his life. But he couldn’t quite pull the trigger (and thank goodness he didn’t).
***
Fleury may have had a successful NHL career, but he also played well internationally. Let’s take a look at his accomplishments on an international stage:
- Two World Juniors (one gold medal)
- Two World Championships (one silver medal)
- One Canada Cup (gold medal)
- One World Cup of Hockey (finished second)
- Two Olympics (one Gold – in 2002 at Salt Lake City where Canada won for the first time in 50 years)
Fleury now works as a motivational speaker.
Next: Fleury Effect: Calgary a destination for good people
Big kudos to Fleury for being able to come forward and help others going through the same things he went through. He may have had a successful hockey career, but that could mean nothing if he let the alcohol and drugs get the best of him.
Instead, he came out stronger on the other side.