Flames Best #4 Of All Time: Brad McCrimmon

Brad McCrimmon was already an established NHL player when he arrived in Calgary prior to the 1987-88 season, as he had already played eight seasons in the NHL between Boston and Philadelphia. His three years in Calgary weren’t the best of his career, but they did give him something no other season did: a Stanley Cup Championship.

Oddly enough, McCrimmon’s second worst year with the Flames came in the year they won the Cup, after an outstanding first season in Calgary. During that 1987-88 season the Saskatchewan native would play in a career high 80 games and also record a career high +/- of +48. He would tie his career high in assists that season with 35 and also record the third best point total of his 18 year NHL journey with 42 points. It would also lead him to his only All Star Game appearance of his long career.

Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images

As the Flames made their journey towards immortality in 1988-89, McCrimmon would see his numbers drop in the regular season. His point totals would drop by 20 and he played in eight less games. What he did do during that season was suit up in 22 playoff games as Calgary battled their way to their first and only Stanley Cup Championship.

McCrimmon would leave Calgary after the 1989-90 season, playing seven more seasons between the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers and Phoenix Coyotes. In his time in Calgary, Brad McCrimmon would play in 231 games and tally up 83 points. His time in Calgary would produce the second best overall numbers of his career.

McCrimmon would hang up his skates after one season with the Coyotes at the end of 1996-97 season at the age of 38. Retirement showed some promise for the former NHL’er as he was an assistant coach for the Flames, Atlanta Thrashers and Detroit Red Wings. McCrimmon finally got a chance to be the head coach of a team as he was signed on to be the coach of the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for the 2011 season. Tragically the team plane crashed en route to their first regular season game and Brad died on September 7, 2011 at the age of 56.

Other Players Having Worn #4 In Flames History

Noel Price (1973-76), Richard Mulhern (1976-79), Pekka Rautakallio (1980-82), Paul Baxter (1984-1987), Jim Kyte (1991-92), Kevin Dahl (1993-98), Glen Featherstone (1997), Sami Helenius (1999), Bobby Dollas (2000), Darrel Scoville (2000), Dallas Eakins (2001-02), Wade Belak (2001), Jordan Leopold (2003-04), Roman Hamrlik (2006-07), Jim Vandermeer (2008-09), Jay Bouwmeester (2010-13), Kris Russell (2014-16), Rasmus Andersson (2019-current)

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