2022 marked the closing of a chapter in Calgary Flames history. Few teams have ever endured as much change within one year, and while change itself cannot be measured, the mark left on this franchise by an illustrious era can – with a visit back in time to all the victories, defeats, and special moments that made this team what it was, and what it is, because although this chapter may be closed, such moments are what continue to make the Calgary Flames what they are in their search for a Stanley Cup, which is perhaps the one aspect that has remained constant throughout the transformation that was sparked on July 13th, 2022.
The year began with hope. After an impressive start to the 2021-22 season, it seemed as though the perfect ending might finally be in store. And in terms of the regular season, a perfect ending is what the C of Red got. With Johnny Gaudreau finishing 2nd in the league with 115 points, the Flames were heading into the playoffs as Pacific Division Champions. However, that would be the only time the Flames were referred to as champions for the rest of the year, as the playoffs failed to result in anything close to the perfect ending. While the first round was a continuation of the bliss that would eventually prove to be temporary, the second round’s outcome was likely the worst case scenario in the minds of all those whose hearts reside in the southern part of Alberta. Following Gaudreau’s overtime heroics in Game 7 of the first round, the stage was set for the first playoff Battle of Alberta since 1991. Diving into the details of the series that saw the Flames’ Stanley Cup dreams extinguished is not something that I see as an ideal use of words, so I’ll leave this part of the story with the following sentiment: Game 5 of Round 2 against the Oilers was not only the last time the Flames would skate during their once euphoric 2021-22 season – it was the last time that the Calgary Flames era of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Matthew Tkachuk would ever exist. This final breath meant more than a second round exit, for it was a sign that hope, like a flame, was put out.
No longer would the numbers 13, 23, and 19 light up the Saddledome ice, nor would they continue to be found on the backs of thousands that found joy within that very building.
No longer would the C of Red experience the pulse that had kept them going for the past decade.
For those that may think that this portrayal is overdramatic, it is only because it comes with the knowledge of what came after the collapse in Round 2. While this loss was utterly devastating, it does not come close in that category when compared to the events that followed. The collapse continued, or rather amplified, as the misfortune of the Calgary Flames bled into the 2022 offseason:
July 13th, 2022 – Johnny Gaudreau, the initial departure (Signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets)
July 22nd, 2022 – Matthew Tkachuk, the second domino (Traded to the Florida Panthers)
August 18th, 2022 – Sean Monahan, the first to arrive, and last to leave (Traded to the Montreal Canadiens)
The era began with Sean Monahan, and it ended the same way.
After years of trying to make the team work, after years of pursuing the dream that was taken away in 2004, and after years of falling short, the Flames finally clicked in 2022. And just as they were finally at their best as a team, the team fell apart. Reaching Round 2 was the furthest they ever made it in the last seven years, and while it didn’t end the way they hoped, it was a sign of better times to come. Early 2022 was the best the Calgary Flames had ever been during this era. But midway through 2022, the chapter was closed. Without ever getting to see how far they could go.
And so the next chapter begins. Saying goodbye hurts, but we must be willing to let go of the team we hoped to cherish for years to come, in order to succeed with the team that is now waiting for us. The offseason departures in 2022 made way for the arrivals of Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri. And the next dream, the next era of Calgary Flames hockey, begins now.
For those who most treasure the Calgary Flames, the era of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Matthew Tkachuk is one that will never be forgotten. And we may still find ourselves with the numbers 13, 23, and 19 on our backs for years to come, because even when they are replaced with the numbers 10, 52, and 91, they still represent the same dream which we move forward with today. The team may not be perfect, and it may not happen the way which we always planned, but the year ends the same way it began – for the C of Red, 2023 begins with hope.