Calgary Flames 2004 cup run: Where are they now?

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CALGARY, CANADA – JUNE 5: Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops a puck shot by Martin Gelinas #23 of the Calgary Flames during the third period in game six of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 5, 2004 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. A television replay showed that the puck might have crossed the goal line. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

It’s just past the 14 year anniversary of game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004 when the Calgary Flames made it all the way to the end. Where are they now?

Oh boy, the beginning of June is always rough for this reason. Every Calgary Flames fan will remember until the day they day about the controversial no-goal call in game 6 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals that cost the Flames the cup. We just passed the 14-year anniversary of the Tampa Bay Lightning defeating them in game seven of those finals.

The Lightning had a two-goal lead heading into the third period when Jordan Leopold cut the lead to one with over ten minutes remaining. Unfortunately, the Flames couldn’t tie it up.

But most people remember game six over game seven. Where Martin Gelinas had scored what could have been the game-winning and series-winning goal with less than seven minutes left in the game. The refs said there was no conclusive evidence that the puck crossed the line (but most people disagree).

This game went to double OT where Martin St. Louis scored just 33 seconds into double OT. Which is a bit of some evil irony considering he was let go by the Flames after a PTO. Anyways, that’s beside the point.

Since it’s been 14 years since the Flames last made it to the Finals, which was 15 years since they last made it when they won in 1989, and in honour of the Washington Capitals just won their first ever Cup, let’s check out where the 2004 roster is now.

*This won’t be every player because that’s just excessive. We’ll focus on a select few.

Goalies

Let’s start off with goaltenders aka Miikka Kiprusoff. Kip played in all 26 games during the playoffs. He went 15-11 and had a 0.928 sv%. He was also a runner-up for the Vezina trophy (he ended up winning it the following season along with the Jennings).

So where is he now? He hung up the skates in 2013 and was Finland’s U20 goaltending coach for the World Juniors in 2014-15. He hasn’t done anything hockey related since, but rumour has it that he’s playing in a beer league in Finland. Can you imagine that? You’re in a beer league and you see the goaltender you have to score on is Miikka freaking Kiprusoff. I’d forfeit the game.

Let’s move on.

CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 12: Defender Robyn Regehr #28 of the Calgary Flames advances the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the game at the United Center on November 12, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. The Flames won 6-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Defencemen

Jordan Leopold

Jordan Leopold along with Robyn Regehr on that first pairing were quite the duo during the playoffs. Leopold had ten points in the playoffs to lead the Calgary Flames defencemen. During his second NHL season, he also led the defencemen on the team with nine goals and 33 points. He finished his final NHL season in 2014-15 where he spent it between three different NHL teams.

Last year, Leopold was inducted into Minnesota’s M Club Hall of Fame.

Nobody quite knows what Leopold’s up to now. Just enjoying retired life with his family in Minnesota most likely.

Robyn Regehr

Speaking of Robyn Regehr being on that top pairing, he deserves a spot in this “where are they now” section. Regehr had two goals and nine points in 26 playoff games. He announced his retirement from the NHL in April 2015. In 2016, he signed a one-day contract with the Flames in order to retire with them.

Regehr is now living in retirement as part owner of Blueline Oilfield Rentals, which provide rental equipment for use in exploration and drilling with a primary focus on Heavy Weight Drill Pipe Rentals. Well.. at least he’s sticking to his Saskatchewan roots.

Forwards

Jarome Iginla

I didn’t want to cry today yet here we are. Jarome Iginla has that effect on me. With Alex Ovechkin finally winning his well-deserved Cup, you can’t help but feel somewhat sad that Iginla hasn’t had his. But again, that’s beside the point.

That Cup-run year, Iginla won the King Clancy and won the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in the regular season. He was also third in playoffs scoring with 22 points and first in goals with 13.

Iginla was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013 with the hopes of winning a Cup. He signed with the Boston Bruins the following year, then signed with the Colorado Avalanche before getting traded to the LA Kings last year. He didn’t play last season, many people expecting retirement from him, but we found out that he required surgery and was nursing some injuries. However, he has stated that he isn’t done in the NHL just yet. He’s also a franchise owner of the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL and has been since 2007.

Iginla may be making a comeback this upcoming season. With who? I honestly can’t even speculate because I truly have no idea. But he’s the only player from that 2004 roster who hasn’t retired yet. Can you guess what team he will go to?

Craig Conroy

The line consisting of Iginla, Craig Conroy, and Martin Gelinas was a force, and a clutch one at that. After 2004, Conroy played a season with the LA Kings before coming back to the Calgary Flames the following season and spending the rest of his career here. He officially retired in February 2011, but right away became a special assistant to the GM of the Flames. He held that position until 2014 where he was promoted to assistant GM.

Conroy still acts as assistant GM of the Flames. Guess he just can’t let go of 04 either and needs to win a Cup with them, hey?

Martin Gelinas

Martin Gelinas, the final of that top-line. After the 2004 season, he signed with the Florida Panthers and finished his NHL career off with the Nashville Predators. He played a season with SC Bern of the NLA before announcing his retirement in 2009. That same day, he was named a director of player development with the Nashville Predators but didn’t actually work in that role until 2011, where he was also an interim assistant coach to their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

The following year, Gelinas was named an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames and has held on to that role until now. He has been on the bench, but for this upcoming season, he’ll be a “bird in the sky”, meaning he’ll be up with Brad Treliving in the Press Box rather than at the bench.

I guess like Conroy, he just can’t let go of 2004.

Can you imagine if Iginla signs with the Calgary Flames? Then Conroy, Gelinas, and Iginla will all be reunited again. Wow, who else is crying? Or, say after Iginla retires and he also takes on some role with the Flames, and I’m not trying to get my hopes up here because I’ll end up crying since this will never happen, but imagine they all end up winning a Cup with Calgary together?

Next: Flames at the 2018 NHL Draft

Just kidding, I’m already crying. One can only hope.

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