Who’s In? Here are the Former Flames in the Playoffs

Welp, the Calgary Flames missed the playoffs this year which was not particularly surprising to anyone who actually watched much of the Flames. So with the playoffs already underway despite the fact that Calgary is finishing out their season series with Vancouver, here is a list of the former Flames players you can watch in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs!

I’ll sort this in the 1-16 order based on regular season standings:

#3 - Carolina Hurricanes

• Dougie Hamilton

The only piece left in Carolina from the big summer trade in 2018 will take another run at the Cup with the dangerous looking Hurricanes before he potentially leaves as a free agent this summer.

#4 - Florida Panthers

• Anton Stralman (technically)
• Sam Bennett
• Ryan Lomberg

A couple of former Flames tough guys in Bennett and Lomberg although Bennett has been on fire since being dealt to Florida a few months ago. He continued that hot pace with two assists in Game 1 and was a menace as usual for playoff Sam Bennett. Stralaman was technically a Flame for part of the summer in 2009 after he was acquired from Toronto bu then dealt in training camp.

#5 - Pittsburgh Penguins

• Mark Jankowski

Janko has been a scratch more often lately for the Pens but it is possible he finds his way into the lineup if Pittsburgh makes a deep run and guys get banged up.

#6 - Toronto Maple Leafs

• David Rittich
• T.J. Brodie

While Rittich sits as the Leafs third string goalie right now, Brodie has had a tremendous season. I wouldn’t be a fan of the Leafs winning the Cup because of their fan base, but wouldn’t hate to see these guys have some playoff success.

#7 - Washington Capitals

• Garnet Hathaway

Go get ‘em Hath! He had a solid season with 18 points in 56 games as a grinder for the Caps.

#8 - Tampa Bay Lightning

• Curtis McElhinney

Every time I see his name I still find it hard to believe he’s still in the NHL and now has a Stanley Cup ring to his name. He last played with the Flames in 2010.

#9 - Minnesota Wild

• Cam Talbot

The Wild are already the team I’m getting behind for the playoffs and it makes me really happy to see the level of success that Talbot had this year, which he continued with a 1-0 overtime shutout win in Vegas in Game 1.

#10 - Boston Bruins

• Curtis Lazar

After a decent couple of seasons with Buffalo, Lazar was dealt to Boston at the deadline along with some other guy named Taylor Hall. Lazar picked up an assist in Game 1.

#11 - Edmonton Oilers

• Kris Russell
• James Neal
• Alex Chiasson
• Mike Smith

Bleh, traitors, the whole lot of you.

#14 - Winnipeg Jets

• Derek Forbort

A former Flame for all of 17 games, he has provided a steadying presence on the Jets blue line throughout the course of the season, playing all 56 games.

#16 - Montreal Canadiens

• Paul Byron
• Michael Frolik
• Brett Kulak

Not much to say about these guys but we’ll see how they do against a skilled Toronto team.

That’s it, 19 former Flames will be suiting up in the Stanley Cup playoffs, with the potential for more depending on if guys on taxi squads or further down the depth chart get cracks if injuries occur. Who will you be cheering for?