The Calgary Flames Hockey Awards

The Calgary Flames have had a less than stellar year, but that’s to be expected during a rebuild. With a 35-40-7, it wasn’t exactly the season Flames fans had hoped for after making playoffs the year before, but they have a lot of room for improvement during the off-season.

In spite of the losses and not making playoffs this year, there were many players who went above and beyond the call of hockey duty this season. If the NHL awards were handed out to only the Flames team, this is how I think they would be divided up.

T.J. BRODIE

I don't know anyone who can say anything bad about Brodie. His skating ability is some of the best on the team, his offensive play makes him a great two-way player, and he shows subtle and under-stated signs of leadership qualities.

MIKAEL BACKLUND

With 21 goals, 25 assists, and 46 points in 2015-2016, it has been a career-high season for Backlund. He started out slowly, but he came into his own in the last half of the season.

JONI ORTIO

With all the goalie woes that the Flames endured all season long, Ortio has the best potential of all goalies this season due to his age and overall progress in such a short period of time. In 22 games, Ortio earned 7 wins and 9 losses with a save percentage of .902 and GAA of 2.76. Not exactly the best in the league, but he showed the most potential throughout the season. I really hope that Hartley gives him a chance to show what he's made of next season.

GARNET HATHAWAY

Because the Flames didn't have any first year rookies playing this past season, I have picked one of the AHL players that had been called up to the play with the Flames instead. Because of his aggressive play, his potential to create plays, and his ability to generate chances for his teammates, I picked Hathaway. In spite of his scoreless few games with the NHL team, I believe he has the most potential of all the younger players who have been called up to play for the Flames this season.

MICHAEL FROLIK

With the departure of Jiri Hudler, Frolik has stepped into Hudler’s skates nicely as an all-around outstanding player, he earned 15 goals and 17 assists this season and has taken on an under-stated leadership role on the lower lines.

LANCE BOUMA

Lance is the shot-blocking king who missed a lot of games due to shot-blocking injuries. He's the first line of defense in the Flames zone in front of guys like Brodie and Giordano and he's proven his worth as a defensive-offense player.

JOHNNY GAUDREAU

With 78 points (30 goals) in 78 games, he's almost a point-per-game offensive juggernaut who is only in his second full season of professional hockey at the NHL level. He's a joy to watch and it would be an absolute shame if the Flames don't resign him because he will be a hockey superstar sooner than we think.

JOE COLBORNE

He won the Pete Maher Award for the 3rd consecutive year, he's been making quite a good impact with his Colborne's Forces program, and he's making big strides in his career with 44 points in 72 games this season with the Flames. Joe has been progressing on and off the ice throughout the season.

JORDAN SIGALET

Let's face it, it hasn't been a great year for goaltending in the Flames organization, but, considering the obstacles in his way, Sigalet has earned this award for his consistent compete level and never giving up on his goalies. When things started looking bad for the Flames, Sigalet's efforts would shine through in the play of his goalies who would suddenly jump out of their slump to make amazing saves at important moments and show unprecedented athleticism in net.

by Traci Kay