Flames All-Time Countdown Chapter LXX: 188-185

188. Henrik Karlsson

Karlsson is a 6’6", 216 lb. goaltender from Stockholm, Sweden. Born on November 27th, 1983, he played seven seasons between Sweden and France before signing a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks during the 2009 offseason.
2009-10 would see Karlsson remain in Sweden with Farjestads BK Karlstad. The Sharks traded his rights to the Flames for a draft pick (Konrad Abeltshauser) prior to the 2010-11 season.

Karlsson spent the whole season with the Flames, backing up regular goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. On January 14th, he stopped 33 shots in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. In 17 contests, he went 4-5-6, stopping 90.8% of shots faced and allowing 2.58 goals per 60 minutes played.

In 2011-12, Karlsson went 2-2-0 with the Abbotsford Heat. He also played a lot of the season in Calgary, splitting backup duties with Leland Irving. He posted a 1-4-2 record and stopped 90% of shots faced with a 3.17 goals against average. He went winless until his last start of the season, when he stopped 23 shots in a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on April 7th.

After the work stoppage, the Flames traded Karlsson to the Chicago Blackhawks for a draft pick (John Gilmour). After going 11-5-0 with the Rockford IceHogs to close out the 2012-13 season. He split last season between the Omsk Avangard (KHL, 2-4-0, .917, 2.18) and the Skelleftea AIK (Sweden, 11-5-0, .917, 2.13).

All-Time Statline: 26 games, 5-9-8, 630 shots faced, 570 saves, .905 save percentage, 2.79 goals against average, 3.33 point shares.

187. Jean-Sebastien Giguere

Giguere is a 6’1", 202 lb. goaltender from Montreal, Quebec. Born on May 16th, 1977, he was drafted in the first round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers 13th overall.

Giguere got his start in the QMJHL between Verdun College-Francais (13-5-2) and the Halifax Mooseheads (68-69-10). He played eight games with the Whalers near the end of the 1996-97 season, going 1-4-0, .881, 3.65. After the Whalers moved to Carolina and rechristened themselves the Hurricanes, he was traded with Andrew Cassels for Gary Roberts and Trevor Kidd.

1997-98 would see Giguere going 16-10-3 with a 2.46 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in Saint John with the AHL level Flames. He spent most of the following season down in Saint John, going 18-16-3, .905, 3.44. He also played 15 games with Calgary in November and December, 1998. He earned a win in his first start, stopping 39-of-40 shots in a 3-1 Calgary triumph over the Colorado Avalanche. He went on to post a 6-7-1 record with the Flames, with an .897 save percentage and a 3.21 goals against average.

In 1999-00, Giguere went 1-3-1, .914, 2.73 with Calgary. He earned his only win of the season in his first start, making 32 saves in a 3-1 decision over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He went 17-17-3, .897, 3.05 for Saint John. During the 2000 offseason, Giguere was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a draft pick (Matt Pettinger).

Giguere went 206-163-59 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.47 goals against average for the Ducks. He also later appeared with the Toronto Maple Leafs (17-18-6, .906, 2.73), and the Colorado Avalanche (31-21-8, .914, 2.51). He is an unrestricted free agent.

All-Time Statline: 22 games, 7-10-2, 622 shots faced, 561 saves, .902 save percentage, 3.08 goals against average, 3.42 point shares.

186. Todd Bertuzzi

Bertuzzi was born on February 2nd, 1975 in Sudbury, Ontario. A 6’3", 229 lb. right winger, he was a first round selection in the NHL Entry Draft of 1993, 23rd overall by the New York Islanders. Before turning pro, he played four seasons in the OHL with the Guelph Storm, scoring 116 goals and 164 assists with 536 penalty minutes in 230 games.

Bertuzzi played three seasons with the Islanders (192 games, 25 goals, 45 assists, 209 PiM). He followed that with eight seasons for the Vancouver Canucks (518 games, 188 goals, 261 assists, 822 PiM), seven games with the Florida Panthers (one goal, six assists, 13 PiM), eight games with the Detroit Red Wings (two goals, two assists, six PiM), and a season with the Anaheim Ducks (68 games, 14 goals, 26 assists, 97 PiM). On July 7th, 2008, he signed a free agent contract with the Flames.

Bertuzzi had eight multi-point efforts in his only season with Calgary. He scored two goals on October 14th as the Flames defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 5-4. On November 6th, he dished out three helpers in a 7-6 win over the Nashville Predators. He went one better on Valentine’s Day, assisting on four goals in a 7-5 win against the Phoenix Coyotes. Bertuzzi totaled 15 goals (team sixth) on 127 shots with 29 assists (team fifth) in 66 games. He posted a minus-13 rating and spent 74 minutes in the penalty box. He averaged 18:36 per contest.

Bertuzzi rejoined the Wings for the five seasons starting in 2009-10, scoring 59 goals and 87 assists with 257 penalty minutes in 300 games. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.

All-Time Statline: 66 games, 15 goals, 29 assists, minus-13 rating, 74 penalty minutes, 3.50 point shares.

185. Yves Racine

Racine was a 6’, 205 lb. defenseman from Matane, Quebec. Born on the 7th of February, 1969, he got his start with the Longueuil Chevaliers in 1986-87, scoring seven goals and 43 assists in 70 games. He followed it with the Victoriaville Tigers for two seasons (132 games, 33 goals, 169 assists, 202 PiM).

Racine joined the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings after getting picked in the first round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft with the 11th overall pick. After his time with Detroit (231 games, 22 goals, 102 assists, 230 PiM), he played for the Philadelphia Flyers (67 games, nine goals, 43 assists, 48 PiM), the Montreal Canadiens (72 games, four goals, 10 assists, 68 PiM), and the San Jose Sharks (32 games, one goal, 16 assists, 28 PiM).

On December 17th, 1996, the Sharks traded Racine to the Flames for cash. On February 1st, he dished out two assists in a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. He totaled one goal on 82 shots in 46 contests, assisting on 15 goals and posting a plus-4 rating and 24 penalty minutes. He signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 1997-98 season.

After one season with the Bolts (60 games, zero goals, eight assists, 41 PiM), Racine played with Jokerit Helsinki (52 games, eight goals, 18 assists, 108 PiM), the Mannheim Eagles (216 games, 16 goals, 102 assists, 446 PiM), Ingolstadt ERC (33 games, two goals, 10 assists), and Thetford Mines Prolab (87 games, three goals, 72 assists).

All-Time Statline: 46 games, one goal, 15 assists, plus-4 rating, 24 penalty minutes, 3.51 point shares.