Flames All-Time Countdown Chapter XCVII: 90-88

90. Noel Price

Price was born in Brockville, Ontario on December 9th, 1935. The 6’, 190 lb. defenseman enjoyed success at the junior level in the OHA with Toronto St. Michael’s, playing four seasons with the club. He joined the WHL’s Winnipeg Warriors in 1956-57 after that, tallying up five goals and 22 assists in 70 games.

Price followed his time in juniors with stops for the Rochester Americans (AHL, 70 games, five goals, 21 assists, 153 PiM), the Toronto Maple Leafs (29 games, zero points), the New York Rangers (seven games, zero points), the Springfield Indians (AHL, 149 games, 10 goals, 46 assists, 224 PiM), the Detroit Red Wings (20 games, zero goals, one assist), the Baltimore Clippers (AHL, 212 games, 17 goals, 99 assists, 290 PiM), the Montreal Canadiens (39 games, zero goals, nine assists), the Quebec Aces (AHL, 102 games, 11 goals, 43 assists, 108 PiM), the Pittsburgh Penguins (143 games, eight goals, 45 assists, 109 PiM), the Springfield Kings (AHL, 81 games, 11 goals, 47 assists), the Los Angeles Kings (62 games, one goal, 19 assists), and the Nova Scotia Voyageurs (64 games, three goals, 26 assists, 81 PiM). The Kings sent him to the brand new Atlanta Flames on August 14th, 1972 for cash and future considerations.

Already 37 years old when he arrived, Price was born earlier than anyone else who ever played for the Flames. He played in 54 of Atlanta’s games in 1972-73, scoring a single goal on 70 shots with 13 assists, a minus-7 rating, and a team-seventh 43 penalty minutes. The Flames posted a 25-38-15 record under first year coach Bernie Geoffrion, and did not get a sniff of the postseason.

In 1973-74, Price took 93 shots on goal, but did not earn a single marker to show for it. He earned 13 assists, a minus-11 rating, and a team-ninth 38 penalty minutes in 62 games. The Flames actually earned a postseason berth with a 30-34-14 record and a fourth place finish in the NHL West Division, but were swept in four straight by the Philadelphia Flyers.

1974-75 would see three Flames, including Price, lead the team with 80 appearances. Price scored four goals on 101 shots (for a career high 4% shooting success rate) with 14 assists, an even-rating, and a team-second 82 penalty minutes. For the first time, the Flames were strong enough to finish the season with a winning record, at 34-31-15, but did not finish in the money.

1975-76 would represent Price’s last appearance at the NHL level, appearing in three games with Atlanta and taking one shot on goal while earning two penalty minutes. In 2008, he earned an induction into the AHL’s Hall of Fame.

All-Time Statline: 199 games, five goals, 40 assists, minus-18 rating, 160 penalty minutes, 11.51 point shares.

89. Rhett Warrener

Warrener was born on January 27th, 1976. A 6’1", 203 lb. defenseman, he was a native of Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. After three seasons in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades (131 games, nine goals, 36 assists, 231 PiM), the Florida Panthers chose him in the second round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, with the 27th overall selection. He rejoined the Blades for one more season before turning pro (66 games, 13 goals, 26 assists, 137 PiM).

Warrener made only nine appearances at the AHL level before joining the Panthers, with the Carolina Monarchs (zero points, minus-6 rating, four PiM). He ended up playing parts of four seasons in Florida (217 games, four goals, 23 assists, 297 PiM), followed by parts of five seasons with the Buffalo Sabres (266 games, nine goals, 33 assists, 363 PiM). Buffalo traded him to Calgary during the 2003 offseason with Steve Reinprecht for Chris Drury and Steve Begin.

2003-04 would see Warrener play in a team eighth 77 games, averaging 19:52 per game on Calgary’s first or second pairing. He had three markers on 82 shots with 14 assists, a team-seventh plus-8 rating, and a team-fourth 97 minutes in the penalty box. On December 23rd, he netted the game winner in a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. On March 7th, he tallied a season high three assists in a 7-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche. The Flames went 42-30-7-3 and defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games and the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks in six games apiece before losing in seven to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Warrener appeared in 24 games, earning one assist while playing 24:06 per game.

In 2005-06, Warrener appeared in 61 games for the Flames, playing 19:12 per game. He scored three times on 40 shots with three assists, a team seventh plus-7 rating and 54 penalty minutes. On October 15th, he scored a shorthanded goal in a 3-0 Calgary win over Edmonton. The Flames were 46-25-11, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games. Warrener didn’t score, but led the team with a plus-4 rating.

Warrener scored four goals on 31 shots in 2006-07, playing 17:08 per contest over 62 appearances. He had six assists, a plus-6 rating, and a team-fifth 67 penalty minutes. On November 11th, he had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Canucks. He tallied the overtime game winner on March 22nd, as the Flames set down the Nashville Predators, 3-2. The team finished at 43-29-10, earning third place in the Northwest Division. The Red Wings eliminated Calgary in six games to open the playoffs. Warrener earned a minus-3 rating and 10 penalty minutes.

2007-08 would mark Warrener’s last season in Calgary, and the NHL. He played 13:26 per game over 31 contests, with a goal on 15 shots, three assists, a minus-2 rating and 21 penalty minutes. He had two assists in a 7-4 win over Nashville on October 13th. He scouted for the Flames after retirement, and currently co-hosts the morning radio show on Sportsnet 960, in Calgary.

All-Time Statline: 231 games, 11 goals, 26 assists, plus-19 rating, 239 penalty minutes, 11.56 point shares.

88. TJ Brodie

Brodie is a 6'1", 182 lb. defenseman from Chatham, Ontario. Born on June 7th, 1990, he was selected by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, 114th overall.

Brodie got his start with the Saginaw Spirit, in the OHL. Starting in 2006-07, he played most of four seasons with the outfit (170 games, 20 goals, 87 assists, 183 PiM) before finishing up his junior career with the Barrie Colts (46 games, three goals, 30 assists, 38 PiM). He started the 2010-11 season with Calgary, playing three games and earning a minus-3 rating, zero points, one shot on goal, and two penalty minutes. Most of the year would see him in Abbotsford, with the Heat (68 games, five goals, 29 assists, 32 PiM).

2011-12 would see Brodie spend only 12 games with the Heat (one goal, two assists, 10 PiM), and play 47 games in Calgary. He averaged 16:29 per game, scoring twice on 44 shots with 12 assists, a plus-3 rating, and 14 penalty minutes. Each of his markers were game winners, on November 27th in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, and on January 10th, in a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Calgary finished at 37-29-16, missing the playoffs.

In 2012-13, Brodie led the Flames with 47 appearances, playing for 20:13 per game. He tallied a pair of goals on 44 shots with a team-eighth 12 assists, a minus-9 rating and eight penalty minutes. He had a season high two assists three times, on February 7th in  a 4-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, on April 13th in a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, and again on April 21st, in a 4-1 triumph against the Wild. Calgary’s 19-25-4 record wasn’t enough to return them to the postseason.

Brodie really blossomed in 2013-14, ranking second amongst the team skaters with 24:04 average time on ice per game. He also ranked second with 81 appearances, scored four goals on 104 shots, dished out a team-third 27 assists, earned an even rating, and finished with only 20 penalty minutes. His penalty total was impressive, as the only Flame who spent more time on the ice was goaltender Karri Ramo. On October 21st, he scored the game winner with 30 seconds remaining in regulation of a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. He also earned multiple points six times (all Flames wins), including on December 4th, when he had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 affair against the Phoenix Coyotes. On January 28th, he scored an overtime game winner to set down the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4. The Flames finished with a 35-40–7 record. He’s entering the second year of a two-year, $4,250,000 contract.

All-Time Statline: 185 games, eight goals, 51 assists, minus-9 rating, 44 penalty minutes, 11.74 point shares.