Calgary Flames 2 days until the season starts: #2 Al MacInnis
By Ramina Shlah
The regular starts this week! With just two days until it starts up again, let’s take a 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.
Yesterday, we talked about a player who’s not quite a fan-favourite here in Calgary anymore. Or really, ever. That was #3 Dion Phaneuf.
Today, with the NHL season starting THIS WEEK, let’s look at a player who’s one of the best in Flames franchise history. With just two days left, let’s look at #2 Al MacInnis.
Next: 3 days until the season starts: #3 Dion Phaneuf
Who is Al MacInnis?
Name: Allan MacInnis
Birthplace: Inverness, NS, Canada
Position: D
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: 1963-07-11
Height: 6’2″ / 188 cm
Weight: 92 kg / 204 lbs
Drafted by: Calgary Flames, 15th overall 1981
Stats with all NHL teams, regular season:
Before being drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1981, Al MacInnis was playing with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL. The season right before the draft, he had 11 goals and 39 points in 47 games. He also had 16 points in 18 playoff games to help the Rangers to a championship. After his season ended, he was ranked as the second-best defenceman at the 1981 NHL draft.
So the Flames somewhat walked away with a steal at that 15th overall pick. He spent the next year down with the Rangers again, but that’s not unlikely. Most defencemen need a few extra years after their draft to develop more as players at the pro level. And boy did he ever improve.
In 1981-82, he improved to 25 goals and 75 points in 59 regular season games. In the playoffs, he had 15 points in 15 playoff games. With the help of MacInnis, the Rangers reached their second OHL championship in a row and won the Memorial Cup. After his season ended with the Rangers, he went on and played two games with the Flames, but didn’t have any points.
He played a third season with the Rangers where he again improved and was voted as the OHL’s best defenceman. At the time, he beat Bobby Orr‘s record for most goals in a season with 38. Yeah. Bobby freaking Orr.
He finally got more of a full-time NHL job in 1983-84 where he played in 51 games with the Flames and had 45 points. He continued to improve season after season. And in 1988-89, he was a runner-up for the Norris Trophy as the top defenceman in the league. That year, his 31 points in 22 playoff games led all the Flames (and all players in the playoffs for points) to help them reach their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He also had four game-winning goals and he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP in the playoffs.
Related Story: Throwback Thursday - Winning the Cup in 1989
The next two years, he was again a runner-up for the Norris, now coming out to three years in a row. In 1990-91, he finished the season off with 103 points. He became the first Calgary Flames defenceman to ever record a 100-point season and only the fourth defenceman in NHL history. He led all defencemen in goals, assists, and points. That season, he also surpassed Kent Nilsson for most points in franchise history when he reached his 563rd career point.
Over the next few years, he never quite had that same kind of 100-point season again and in 1994, he became a restricted free agent. So the St. Louis Blues picked him up but sent some players Calgary’s way.
With the Blues, he never quite had the same point-totals he had in Calgary. But he was getting older and he had some injuries that kept plaguing him, so that was understandable. But in 1999, he finally rightfully won the Norris Trophy.
After problems with his eye in 2004, keeping him out of the lineup, he realized that his successful hockey career may be over. So he decided to hang up his skates in 2005. In 2006, the Blues did him the honour of retiring his iconic #2. The Calgary Flames put his #2 as the first-ever “Forever a Flame”. His number isn’t retired by the organization, but it’s honoured.
In 2007, Al MacInnis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
MacInnis has also played internationally on several occasions. He has played in one World Championship, one Canada Cup, and two Olympics. He has one Canada Cup championship. One of the Olympics he participated in was at the memorable 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. He didn’t have any points, but Team Canada won the Gold medal for the first time in 50 years.
MacInnis is currently still within the Blues organization working as a vice-president of Hockey Operations.
Next: Flames sign 45-year-old Jaromir Jagr
MacInnis had a long and successful career – and was almost a part of the Triple Gold Club. He’s still the Calgary Flames franchise leader in assists with 609 while he was still part of the organization.
Now just two days left until the season starts… not even 48 hours. We can do it.