head coach: Brian Sutter

roster: C - Andrew Cassels, Michael Nylander, Cory Stillman*, Aaron Gavey. RW - Theoren Fleury, Jarome Iginla, Ron Stern, Ed Ward, Sandy McCarthy. LW - Jonas Hoglund, Marty McInnis*, German Titov, Todd Hlushko, Hnat Domenichelli. D - James Patrick, Tommy Albelin, Joel Bouchard, Todd Simpson*, Cale Hulse, Zarley Zalapski, Chris O'Sullivan, Eric Charron. G - Dwayne Roloson, Rick Tabaracci, Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
*-Unsigned free agent.

injuries: None.

transactions: XX/XX - Released defenseman Glen Featherstone; Signed free agent defenseman Joel Bouchard, centers Adam Gavey and Eric Landry, and goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Signed free agent center Jim Dowd (NY Islanders). 07/03 - Named Brian Sutter head coach. 07/21 - Named Rick Preston assistant coach. 08/05 - Reached an agreement with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks concerning compensation should Anaheim hire Pierre Page as head coach. 08/18 - Named Steve Smith assistant coach. 08/25 - Traded left wing Gary Roberts and goaltender Trevor Kidd to the Carolina Hurricanes for center Andrew Cassels and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere. 09/03 - Acquired defenseman Eric Charron from the Washington Capitals for future considerations.

standings:

1996-97 FINAL RESULTS
RECORD:     
 OVERALL      32-41-9 
 HOME         21-18-2 
 ROAD         11-23-7        
POINTS:             73 (21st)
GOALS SCORED:      214 (25th)        
GOALS AGAINST:     239 (14th)
POWER PLAY:      16.9%  (8th)
PENALTY KILLING: 83.2% (17th) 

game results:

PRE-SEASON RESULTS
9/14 Phoenix            L 7-6 (OT)

team news:

by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

SUTTER WILL STOKE FLAMES

If you listen closely you can probably hear lil Theo Fleury skippin' around singing, "Ding, dong, Page is dead!" Theo had a terrible time trying to coexist with former Flames coach Pierre Page. Now that Page is gone, and Brian Sutter is in his place, Fleury and the Flames could be set for a jump in play. Sutter is known as one of the strictest coaches to ever stand behind an NHL bench. The guy is mean. But he's also a winner. As long as he's in charge, every member of the Flames will know their role and they'll all play harder than any other time during their career. Because if they don't, they'll have to answer to Sutter. And nobody wants that.

OFFENSE: Pressure on Fleury

Aside from the hiring of Sutter, the other big news out of Calgary this off-season was the trading of the legendary Gary Roberts along with goaltender Trevor Kidd to Carolina for center Andrew Cassels and goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere. The Flames knew Roberts, who retired before the 1996-97 season because of a neck injury, was intending to make a comeback, but he had said he didn't want to return to the young Calgary squad and there was some doubt about how successful his comeback would be. So the team did what it had to do and got what it could for the former All-World power forward.

Cassels gives the club a quality front-line pivot that can set up goals and also play reasonably well defensively. He's a tremendous passer with great instincts. He has the potential to be a 20-goal, 80-point man for the Flames.

The guy who will benefit the most from having Cassels around is Fleury. The little fella had only 29 goals last season. Most of his goal-scoring woes could be directly traced back to his relationship with Page. The coach wanted to take pressure off Fleury by telling anyone who would listen that Theo didn't have to carry the team. Well, Fleury thrives on the pressure of being the go-to guy. He should be fired up this season to show that he's still capable of getting the job done. Having Cassels around to feed him sweet lead passes on the wing should only make the task that much easier.

The club also hopes to have another crafty playmaker in the lineup with Michael Nylander expected to return to action after missing all of last season. Nylander's got mad skills. He's always had the talent to be a point-per-game guy, but has never quite reached that level of excellence. He should still be good for at least 60 points. That's 60 points the club didn't have last season.

The other main weapons up front are German Titov, Jarome Iginla, and Jonus Hoglund. Titov is an extremely versatile player that can be used at center or on the wing. He's good with the puck, can cycle down deep, and is solid defensively. Iginla and Hoglund both had exceptional rookie campaigns for the Flames a year ago. Iginla is a power guy that loves working the boards and going to the net. Meanwhile, Hoglund is more of a skilled player that has a rifle shot. Both youngsters should weigh heavily in the attack this season. The offense might also get a boost from Hnat Domenichelli, who was acquired last season from Carolina. Domenichelli is a small but skilled player that skated on a line with Iginla in junior and could be looking to discover that old chemistry.

Marty McInnis came over at the trade deadline last season and had three goals and seven points with the Flames. He's a quick skater and, like Titov, can play a lot of different roles. He should bolster Calgary's special teams, where his speed makes him a great penalty-killer and he's had past experience manning the point on the power play.

The club will be hoping for improved contributions from Cory Stillman and Ed Ward. Stillman, 24, was another guy that had major issues with Page. He's even gone on record as saying that if Page was back this season he wouldn't have reported. So Stillman should feel like he has a new lease on life. Ward, 28, is a moose on the wing. He's got great size (6'3", 205) and a canon slap shot, but hasn't really been able to translate those tools into goals. Last season he spent a lot of time centering a checking unit with tough guys Sandy McCarthy and Ronnie Stern. And when it comes to tough guys, it just doesn't get any better than McCarthy and Stern.

Three forwards that won't be back are Dave Gagner, Mike Sullivan, and Corey Millen. Gagner, who was second on the team in scoring last season with 27 goals and 60 points, was an unrestricted free agent and signed with Florida. He'll be missed, but he really didn't belong on this team. This club is all about youth and doesn't need a 33-year-old hanging around cashing big paychecks. Millen, 33, was a quick little forward that really didn't score enough to warrant keeping him around. He's playing in Europe this season. Sullivan was pretty much the same story. The Flames would rather give his playing time to someone younger, so he was traded to Boston for a seventh-round Draft choice.

Feisty checking winger Todd Hlushko also may not be able to return after missing the final few months of last season with post-concussion syndrome. He's currently trying to get medical clearance to return to action.

DEFENSE:Returning Vets Bolster Blue Line

Zarley Zalapski only played two games last year before getting knocked out with a season-ending knee injury. Likewise, James Patrick was only around for 19 games because of injury. That meant that the Flames were forced to play, at one time or another, five rookies in their regular rotation.

While youngsters Chris O'Sullivan, Jamie Allison, and Cale Hulse all played fairly well when given the opportunity, it seems the club found two defensive fixtures in Todd Simpson and Joel Bouchard. Simpson played all 82 games and led the team with 208 penalty minutes, with 85 of those minutes coming in fights. He played an extremely physical game and soon earned a reputation around the league as somewhat of a cheap player, due in large part to a knee on Peter Forsberg that injured the Colorado superstar. Dirty or not, Simpson gives the Flames a presence that every team would love to have along its blue line. While Simpson provides toughness, Bouchard brings skill. He had only four goals and nine points, but the 23-year-old Quebec native is a tremendous skater that can move the puck. His numbers should increase this season.

The club lost Yves Racine to free agency and waived Glen Featherstone, but neither one will be missed that much. Eric Charron was acquired from Washington for future considerations to help add depth.

While playing so many rookies was hard on the team last season, all the experience they earned should pay major dividends this year. With Zalapski and Patrick returning, and veteran Tommy Albelin also in place, the youngsters can settle into their roles and simply play their game. That should make the defense better from top to bottom.

GOALTENDING: Tabby Back in Town

Rick Tabaracci didn't stay gone long. The club traded the acrobatic fan favorite to Tampa Bay last season only to reacquire him from the Bolts this summer. With Kidd being traded to Carolina, the starting job is all Tabaracci's. Dwayne Roloson will return as the backup. Between the two of 'em, the Flames shouldn't have problems in goal. They'll also give Giguere time to mature in the minors so that he can develop into the goaltender of the future.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Page is solid gone.

* Sutter is a great coach.

* Fleury will be on a mission.

TROUBLE

* Club is still young.

* Fleury is the only reliable goal-scorer up front.

* Defense could probably use one more veteran.

1997-98 OUTLOOK: Talent isn't really as important as it used to be in today's NHL. The overall skill level is so watered down, that even mediocre teams like the Flames can remain competitive as long as they have a strong leader. Sutter definitely gives the Flames leadership. And just having Page leave town should make the club better. Nothing can spark a young team like a change in coaches. That combined with playing in the weak Pacific Division should keep the Flames close to playoff contention all season long.

PREDICTION: Fifth in the Pacific and just shy of the postseason.

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