Flames All-Time Countdown Chapter C: 81-79

81. Roman Hamrlik

Hamrlik, born on April 12, 1974 in Zlin, Czech Republic, was a 6’1″, 207 lb. defenceman. He was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. While occasionally playing in the Czech league, Hamrlik spent six seasons with the Lightning, amassing 185 points and a minus-124 rating over 377 games. On December 30, 1997, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He spent three seasons in Edmonton before his rights were then traded to the New York Islanders, and he signed with them just before the 2000-01 season began. Over those seven seasons he scored 256 points in 496 games, improving to a plus-23.

On August 8, 2005, Hamrlik signed a two-year, $7 million contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Flames. The 2005-06 season seven goals on 89 shots. Nineteen assists brought him up to 26 points on the season, a plus-8 rating, and 56 penalty minutes. The Flames won the Northwest Division that season with a 46-25-11 record, but fell in the first round of the playoffs, 4-3, to the Ducks. Hamrlik played in all seven playoff games, scoring two assists and taking two penalty minutes.

Hamrlik amassed 125 shots in the 2006-07 season, but still only scored seven goals. He had a bigger role, however, putting up 31 assists for 38 total points on the year. He also had 88 penalty minutes and finished as a plus-22. The Flames made the playoffs that season with a 43-29-10 record, but once again lost in the first round, this time in six games to the Detroit Red Wings. He played in all six games, scoring one assist and putting up eight penalty minutes.

Hamrlik left the Flames in free agency and signed with the Montreal Canadiens. He spent the final six seasons of his career playing for the Canadiens, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, scoring 133 points over 396 games and being a plus-22 over that time. He played just 16 games in the 2012-13 season before retiring.

All-Time Statline: 126 games, 14 goals, 50 assists, plus-30 rating, 144 penalty minutes, 12.97 point shares.

80. Trent Yawney

Yawney, born on September 29th, 1965 in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan. He was a 6’3″, 195 lb. defenceman. From 1981-84 he played for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades before getting drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round, 45th overall, in the 1984 draft. He scored 46 points over 72 games in his draft year, and returned to the Blades for the 1984-85 season, scoring 51 points in 72 games, before joining the Canadian National Team for three seasons. He put up 58 points in 192 games before joining the Blackhawks. Yawney spent four seasons with the Blackhawks, putting up 15 goals, 70 points, 290 penalty minutes, and a minus-4.

In 1991-92, Yawney played nine games for the IHL's Indianapolis Ice. On December 16, 1991, the Flames traded Stephane Matteau for Yawney. He played 47 games for the Flames in the 1991-92 season, scoring four goals on 33 shots, 13 points, 45 penalty minutes, and finishing a minus-5. The Flames finished that season with a 31-37-12 record, failing to make the playoffs.

Yawney played 63 games for the Flames in 1992-93. He scored one goal on 61 shots, 17 points, 67 penalty minutes, and finished a plus-9. The Flames finished the season with a 43-30-11 record, good for second in the Smythe Division. They fell in six games to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs. Yawney played all six games, scoring three goals, two assists, and six penalty minutes.

The 1993-94 season saw Yawney play 58 games for the Flames. His goal scoring improved, as he scored six goals on 62 shots. Fifteen assists gave him 21 points on the season. He also amassed 60 penalty minutes, and finished a plus-21. The Flames had a 42-29-13 record that season, good for first in the Pacific Division, before falling in seven games in the first round of the playoffs to the Vancouver Canucks. Yawney played all seven games, scoring no points, but putting up 16 penalty minutes.

In 1994-95, Yawney just two assists over 27 games. He also had 108 penalty minutes, and finished a minus-4. That year the Flames had a 24-17-7 record and were once again Pacific Division champions, but fell to the San Jose Sharks in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Yawney played in just two of those games, amassing two penalty minutes.

The 1995-96 season was Yawney's last with the Flames. He scored three assists, put up 88 penalty minutes, and finished a minus-1 over 69 games. The Flames finished just 34-37-11 that season, and were swept out of the playoffs by the Chicago Blackhawks. Yawney played all four games, but once again only put up two penalty minutes.

Yawney signed with the St. Louis Blues as a free agent. He played another three seasons in the NHL for the Blues and Blackhawks, scoring just one more goal and two assists over that time period. In 1998-99 he played 20 games for the Blackhawks before retiring.

All-Time Statline: 274 games, 11 goals, 45 assists, plus-20 rating, 368 penalty minutes, 13.00 point shares.

79. Zarley Zalapski

Zalapski, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, was born on April 22, 1968. A 6’1″, 201 lb. defenceman, he started playing hockey for the AJHL’s Fort Saskatchewan Traders. He played two seasons in the AJHL, scoring 117 points over 90 games and joining the Canadian National Team before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, fourth overall. From 1985-88 Zalapski played on the Canadian National Team, scoring 66 points over 161 games before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins. He spent four years in Pittsburgh, scoring 135 points, putting up 160 penalty minutes, and registering a plus-20 over 190 games, before being traded to the Hartford Whalers. Zalapski spent another four seasons with Hartford, there scoring 165 points, putting up 276 penalty minutes, and registering a minus-54 over 229 games.

On March 10, 1994, Zalapski, along with Michael Nylander and James Patrick, was traded to the Flames for Gary Suter, Paul Ranheim, and Ted Drury. Zalapski played 13 games for the Flames in 1994, scoring three goals, 10 points, 18 penalty minutes, and registering an even rating. A teammate of Yawney’s in the playoffs, Zalapski also played all seven games in the eventual loss to the Vancouver Canucks, scoring three assists and recording two penalty minutes in the series defeat.

The 1994-95 season was Zalapski's first full season in Calgary. He scored four goals on 76 shots, had a total of 28 points, amassed 46 penalty minutes, and finished a plus-9. He played all seven games in the playoff defeat to the San Jose Sharks as well, recording four assists and four penalty minutes.

In 1995-96, Zalapski played 80 games for the Flames. He scored 12 goals on 145 shots, and 17 assists brought his point total up to 29. He also recorded 115 penalty minutes, and finished a plus-11. Zalapski played all four games in the sweep by the Blackhawks, recording just one assist and 10 penalty minutes.

Zalapski played just two games for the Flames in the 1996-97 season. He came back in for 1997-98, scoring two goals, nine points, 41 penalty minutes, and registering a minus-12 rating over 35 games before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens alongside Jonas Hoglund for Valeri Bure and a fourth round pick.

Zalapski spent the 1998-99 season playing for Zurich in the Swiss league before he returned to the NHL in 1999-2000 as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. It was the final season Zalapski played in the NHL. He spent another 10 years playing for various teams in various leagues, including the IHL, UHL, German, Italian, Austrian, and Swiss leagues. Zalapski retired after the 2009-10 season, in which he played one game for Lausanne of the Swiss-B league.

All-Time Statline: 178 games, 21 goals, 55 assists, plus-7 rating, 220 penalty minutes, 13.11 point shares.

by Kevin Kraczkowski