2004–05 Calgary Flames season

NHL lockout

Flames owner, and NHL Chairman of the Board, Harley Hotchkiss was a key figure in the resolution of the labour dispute. Initially taking a low key role, Hotchkiss was thrust into the spotlight when he was invited by NHLPA president Trevor Linden to last-ditch meeting in January 2005 to save the season. While that meeting was unsuccessful in resolving the dispute, the two would continue to meet until an agreement was finally hammered out on July 13, 2005. Hotchkiss' role in the negotiations was prominently mentioned when he was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.

Defenceman Mike Commodore created a stir early on in the lockout when he stated during a radio interview for The Fan 960 in Calgary that he would accept a salary cap if it meant resolving the lockout.

Commodore was also critical of the leadership of the NHLPA:

Unlike other players who made similar statements, Commodore never retracted his comments.

During the lockout, the Flames heavily promoted their Western Hockey League team, the Calgary Hitmen. The result was that the Hitmen obliterated the WHL record for attendance by over 40,000 with a season mark of 362,227. The mark would also set a CHL record. The Hitmen's average of 10,062 was the highest average of any junior or professional hockey team in North America.

Schedule

|- | 1 || September 24 || @ Chicago Blackhawks |- | 2 || September 25 || Vancouver Canucks |- | 3 || September 28 || Edmonton Oilers |- | 4 || September 30 || Chicago Blackhawks |- | 5 || October 1 || @ Edmonton Oilers |- | 6 || October 3 || @ Edmonton Oilers |- | 7 || October 7 || Edmonton Oilers |- | 8 || October 8 || @ Vancouver Canucks

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions from June 8, 2004, the day after the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, through February 16, 2005, the day the season was officially cancelled.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 2004 NHL entry draft held at Raleigh, North Carolina. The Flames had the 24th overall pick in the draft, the first time they picked outside of the top 20 since 1995.

Farm teams

[[Lowell Lockmonsters]]

The Flames American Hockey League affiliate for the second year was the Lowell Lockmonsters, whom they shared with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Lockmonsters finished with a franchise best record of 47–27–5–1, good for third in the Atlantic Division. The Lockmonsters would be bounced from the playoffs in the second round, however.

Chuck Kobasew led Lowell with a franchise record 38 goals, while Brent Krahn recorded six shutouts in only 35 games as he played backup to Carolina's top goaltending prospect, Cam Ward.

[[Las Vegas Wranglers]]

The Las Vegas Wranglers were the Flames ECHL affiliate for the second year in 2004–05. The second year club finished with a 31–33–8 record, missing the playoffs after finishing 7th in the West Division.

Notes

References

References

1. [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl-nhlpa-meeting-in-chicago-1.551460 NHL, NHLPA meeting in Chicago], cbc.ca, Accessed November 27, 2006
2. (April 2019)
3. [https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=102954&hubname= Flames' Commodore would accept cap], tsn.ca, October 28, 2004
4. link. (2007-08-13 , whl.ca, accessed November 27, 2006)
5. "Flames to play Vancouver, Edmonton and Chicago in pre-season action".
6. "Calgary Flames 2004-05 National Hockey League Schedule". Calgary Flames.
7. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions.
8. (June 28, 2004). "Flames get their type of players at NHL draft". Calgary Flames.
9. (August 26, 2004). "FLAMES ACQUIRE DAYMNOD LANGKOW FROM COYOTES". Calgary Flames.
10. (July 2, 2004). "Flames sign centre Byron Ritchie". Calgary Flames.
11. "Calgary Flames contract status for 2004-05 NHL season". Calgary Flames.
12. (July 6, 2004). "CALGARY FLAMES SIGN FREE AGENTS". Calgary Flames.
13. (August 5, 2004). "FLAMES SIGN FORWARD JASON WIEMER". Calgary Flames.
14. "Calgary Flames contract status for 2004-05 NHL season". Calgary Flames.
15. (September 7, 2004). "FLAMES SIGN GOALTENDER SEBASTIEN CENTOMO". Calgary Flames.
16. (September 15, 2004). "FLAMES SIGN DEFENCEMAN ANDERS ERIKSSON". Calgary Flames.
17. {{eliteprospects. 32207. Dave Lowry, retrieved April 13, 2022
18. (August 10, 2005). "Lowry retires, joins Hitmen as assistant coach".
19. (July 1, 2004). "2004 free agents". [[ESPN.com]].
20. {{eliteprospects. 29021. Jesse Wallin, retrieved April 13, 2022
21. {{eliteprospects. 68669. Brad Werenka, retrieved April 13, 2022
22. (July 6, 2004). "Kings sign C Conroy away from Flames". ESPN.com.
23. (July 15, 2004). "Oliwa a Devil again". CBC.
24. (September 2, 2004). "Obránce Petr Buzek se vrací domů". HC Dukla Jihlava.
25. (September 2, 2004). "Coyotes Sign Six Players to AHL Contracts". OurSports Central.
26. (September 25, 2004). "More Inkings: AHL Pens Sign Ten". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
27. (October 5, 2004). "NHL veteran opts for stint in minors". ESPN.com.
28. (July 2, 2004). "Flames re-sign big winger Chris Simon". Calgary Flames.
29. (July 20, 2004). "FLAMES SIGN FORWARD MARCUS NILSON". Calgary Flames.
30. (July 26, 2004). "Flames sign defenceman Mike Commodore". Calgary Flames.
31. (August 3, 2004). "Arbitration avoided: Gauthier and the Flames reach agreement". Calgary Flames.
32. (August 18, 2004). "FLAMES SIGN DEFENCEMAN JORDAN LEOPOLD". Calgary Flames.
33. (August 23, 2004). "Kipper is back with one-year contract". Calgary Flames.
34. (September 15, 2004). "Forward Lynn Loyns signs with Calgary". Calgary Flames.
35. (September 15, 2004). "FLAMES SIGN DEFENCEMAN DION PHANEUF". Calgary Flames.
36. [http://www.nhl.com/draft/2004/round1.html 2004 NHL Entry Draft results] {{webarchive. link. (April 15, 2006 , nhl.com, accessed November 27, 2006)