The 1987–88 Calgary Flames season was the

eighth Eighth is ordinal form of the number eight. Eighth may refer to: * One eighth, , a fraction, one of eight equal parts of a whole * Eighth note (quaver), a musical note played for half the value of a quarter note (crotchet) * Octave, an interval b ...

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

and the 16th season in the NHL for the Flames franchise. The Flames finished atop the

Smythe Division The National Hockey League's Smythe Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honour of Conn Smythe, who was a longtime owner, general manager, and he ...

standings for the first time in team history, en route to winning their first ever

Presidents' Trophy The Presidents' Trophy () is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL) to the team that finishes with the most points (i.e., best overall record) during the regular season. If two teams are tied for the most points, then the Trophy ...

as the top club in the NHL. The Flames spent almost the entire month of February playing away games as the

1988 Winter Olympics The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games () and commonly known as Calgary 1988 were a multi-sport event held from February 13 to 28, 1988, with Calgary, Calgary, Alberta as the main host city. This marks the m ...

were being held in Calgary at that time. In the playoffs, the Flames easily defeated the

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

four games to one, setting a franchise record that still stands by scoring 30 goals in a five-game series. The Flames season was ended by their provincial archrivals, again as the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

swept Calgary out of the Smythe Division Finals en route to their fourth

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

in five years. The Flames set numerous franchise records this season, including most wins (48), most home wins (26), most road wins (22), and most points (105), all of which that were tied or broken in 1988–89. The Flames 397 goals remains a franchise record, and one of the highest totals in league history. The Flames also finished first in scoring during the regular season. Furthermore, the Flames led the league in short-handed goals scored (23) and power-play percentage (28.46%). Freshman sniper

Joe Nieuwendyk Joseph Nieuwendyk ( ; born September 10, 1966) is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) player. He was a second round selection of the Calgary Flames, 27th overall, at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played 20 seasons for the Flames, Dall ...

became the second rookie in NHL history to score 50 goals, as his 51 fell just two shy of

Mike Bossy Michael Dean Bossy (January 22, 1957April 15, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He spent his entire NHL career, which lasted from 1977 to 1987, with the Islanders, and ...

's record of 53 set in 1977–78. Nieuwendyk captured the

Calder Memorial Trophy The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...

as the NHL's Rookie-of-the-Year for his effort.

Lanny McDonald Lanny King McDonald (born February 16, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year ...

became the first player to win the

King Clancy Memorial Trophy The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is a sports award given annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. The ...

, awarded to players who best exemplify leadership qualities and make notable humanitarian contributions to their community. In addition,

Brad McCrimmon Byron Brad McCrimmon (March 29, 1959 – September 7, 2011) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played over 1,200 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, ...

won the Emery Edge Award for leading the league in Plus/Minus at +48. The Flames sent five players to the 1988 All-Star Game:

Al MacInnis Allan MacInnis (born July 11, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames (1981–1994) and St. Louis Blues (1994–2004). A first round selection ...

Gary Suter Gary Lee Suter (born June 24, 1964) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1985 and 2002. He was a ninth round selection of the Calgary Flames, 180th ove ...

, Brad McCrimmon, Joe Nieuwendyk and Mike Vernon. Nieuwendyk was also named to the NHL All-Rookie team.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , October 8 , ,

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, , 1 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 1–0–0 , , 2 , - , 2 , , October 10 , ,

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, , 5 – 1 , , Calgary , , , , 1–1–0 , , 2 , - , 3 , , October 12 , , Calgary , , 2 – 3 , , Winnipeg , , , , 1–2–0 , , 2 , - , 4 , , October 14 , , Calgary , , 5 – 4 , ,

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, , , , 2–2–0 , , 4 , - , 5 , , October 16 , , Edmonton , , 5 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 2–3–0 , , 4 , - , 6 , , October 18 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, , 6 – 5 , , Calgary , , OT , , 2–4–0 , , 4 , - , 7 , , October 20 , , Calgary , , 4 – 5 , , NY Islanders , , , , 2–5–0 , , 4 , - , 8 , , October 21 , , Calgary , , 5 – 4 , , NY Rangers , , , , 3–5–0 , , 6 , - , 9 , , October 24 , , Calgary , , 7 – 5 , ,

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, , , , 4–5–0 , , 8 , - , 10 , , October 26 , , Calgary , , 5 – 3 , ,

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, , , , 5–5–0 , , 10 , - , 11 , , October 30 , , Calgary , , 3 – 3 , ,

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, , OT , , 5–5–1 , , 11 , - , 12 , , November 3 , , NY Rangers , , 3 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 6–5–1 , , 13 , - , 13 , , November 5 , , Edmonton , , 4 – 4 , , Calgary , , OT , , 6–5–2 , , 14 , - , 14 , , November 8 , ,

Buffalo Buffalo most commonly refers to: * True buffalo or Bubalina, a subtribe of wild cattle, including most "Old World" buffalo, such as water buffalo * Bison, a genus of wild cattle, including the American buffalo * Buffalo, New York, a city in the n ...

, , 6 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 6–6–2 , , 14 , - , 15 , , November 10 , , Calgary , , 3 – 4 , , Winnipeg , , , , 6–7–2 , , 14 , - , 16 , , November 11 , , Calgary , , 4 – 3 , ,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, , , , 7–7–2 , , 16 , - , 17 , , November 13 , ,

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, , 7 – 10 , , Calgary , , , , 8–7–2 , , 18 , - , 18 , , November 15 , , Vancouver , , 4 – 8 , , Calgary , , , , 9–7–2 , , 20 , - , 19 , , November 17 , , Boston , , 6 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 9–8–2 , , 20 , - , 20 , , November 19 , , Quebec , , 1 – 9 , , Calgary , , , , 10–8–2 , , 22 , - , 21 , , November 21 , ,

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, , 4 – 4 , , Calgary , , OT , , 10–8–3 , , 23 , - , 22 , , November 23 , ,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, , 2 – 9 , , Calgary , , , , 11–8–3 , , 25 , - , 23 , , November 25 , , Calgary , , 4 – 2 , , Vancouver , , , , 12–8–3 , , 27 , - , 24 , , November 28 , , Calgary , , 8 – 4 , , Los Angeles , , , , 13–8–3 , , 29 , - , 25 , , November 30 , ,

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, , 0 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 14–8–3 , , 31 , - , 26 , , December 3 , ,

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, , 3 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 15–8–3 , , 33 , - , 27 , , December 5 , , Minnesota , , 4 – 4 , , Calgary , , OT , , 15–8–4 , , 34 , - , 28 , , December 8 , , Calgary , , 5 – 4 , ,

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

, , , , 16–8–4 , , 36 , - , 29 , , December 9 , , Calgary , , 2 – 5 , , Pittsburgh , , , , 16–9–4 , , 36 , - , 30 , , December 11 , , Calgary , , 5 – 1 , , New Jersey , , , , 17–9–4 , , 38 , - , 31 , , December 13 , , Calgary , , 7 – 1 , , Buffalo , , , , 18–9–4 , , 40 , - , 32 , , December 16 , , Winnipeg , , 4 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 19–9–4 , , 42 , - , 33 , , December 19 , , Calgary , , 4 – 1 , , Los Angeles , , , , 20–9–4 , , 44 , - , 34 , , December 20 , , Los Angeles , , 6 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 20–10–4 , , 44 , - , 35 , , December 22 , ,

Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

, , 5 – 6 , , Calgary , , OT , , 21–10–4 , , 46 , - , 36 , , December 26 , , Edmonton , , 5 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 21–11–4 , , 46 , - , 37 , , December 28 , , Montreal , , 3 – 9 , , Calgary , , , , 22–11–4 , , 48 , - , 38 , , December 31 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, , 4 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 23–11–4 , , 50 , - , 39 , , January 2 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , ,

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

, , , , 23–12–4 , , 50 , - , 40 , , January 3 , , Calgary , , 5 – 3 , , Chicago , , , , 24–12–4 , , 52 , - , 41 , , January 6 , , Winnipeg , , 1 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 25–12–4 , , 54 , - , 42 , , January 8 , , NY Islanders , , 4 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 26–12–4 , , 56 , - , 43 , , January 10 , , Washington , , 2 – 8 , , Calgary , , , , 27–12–4 , , 58 , - , 44 , , January 13 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , , Edmonton , , , , 27–13–4 , , 58 , - , 45 , , January 15 , , Calgary , , 4 – 4 , , Vancouver , , OT , , 27–13–5 , , 59 , - , 46 , , January 19 , , Vancouver , , 5 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 28–13–5 , , 61 , - , 47 , , January 21 , , Los Angeles , , 5 – 4 , , Calgary , , OT , , 28–14–5 , , 61 , - , 48 , , January 23 , , Calgary , , 4 – 4 , , Detroit , , OT , , 28–14–6 , , 62 , - , 49 , , January 25 , , Calgary , , 11 – 3 , , Toronto , , , , 29–14–6 , , 64 , - , 50 , , January 27 , , Hartford , , 1 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 30–14–6 , , 66 , - , 51 , , January 29 , , Calgary , , 5 – 4 , , Edmonton , , , , 31–14–6 , , 68 , - , 52 , , January 30 , , Vancouver , , 3 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 32–14–6 , , 70 , - , 53 , , February 1 , , New Jersey , , 5 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 32–15–6 , , 70 , - , 54 , , February 3 , , Calgary , , 0 – 9 , , Winnipeg , , , , 32–16–6 , , 70 , - , 55 , , February 5 , , Calgary , , 1 – 5 , , Detroit , , , , 32–17–6 , , 70 , - , 56 , , February 7 , , Calgary , , 5 – 2 , , Los Angeles , , , , 33–17–6 , , 72 , - , 57 , , February 12 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , , Philadelphia , , , , 34–17–6 , , 74 , - , 58 , , February 14 , , Calgary , , 4 – 5 , , Washington , , OT , , 34–18–6 , , 74 , - , 59 , , February 16 , , Calgary , , 3 – 9 , , NY Islanders , , , , 34–19–6 , , 74 , - , 60 , , February 17 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , , NY Rangers , , , , 34–20–6 , , 74 , - , 61 , , February 20 , , Calgary , , 6 – 3 , , St. Louis , , , , 35–20–6 , , 76 , - , 62 , , February 21 , , Calgary , , 3 – 3 , , Chicago , , OT , , 35–20–7 , , 77 , - , 63 , , February 26 , , Calgary , , 5 – 3 , , Vancouver , , , , 36–20–7 , , 79 , - , 64 , , February 28 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , , Edmonton , , , , 37–20–7 , , 81 , - , 65 , , March 3 , , Philadelphia , , 3 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 38–20–7 , , 83 , - , 66 , , March 5 , , Edmonton , , 4 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 39–20–7 , , 85 , - , 67 , , March 7 , , Pittsburgh , , 5 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 39–21–7 , , 85 , - , 68 , , March 9 , , Calgary , , 6 – 6 , , Winnipeg , , OT , , 39–21–8 , , 86 , - , 69 , , March 10 , , Winnipeg , , 3 – 5 , , Calgary , , , , 40–21–8 , , 88 , - , 70 , , March 12 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 10 , , Calgary , , , , 41–21–8 , , 90 , - , 71 , , March 15 , , Calgary , , 8 – 6 , , Hartford , , , , 42–21–8 , , 92 , - , 72 , , March 17 , , Calgary , , 7 – 5 , , Boston , , , , 43–21–8 , , 94 , - , 73 , , March 19 , , Calgary , , 5 – 4 , , Quebec , , OT , , 44–21–8 , , 96 , - , 74 , , March 21 , , Calgary , , 3 – 3 , , Montreal , , OT , , 44–21–9 , , 97 , - , 75 , , March 24 , , Toronto , , 1 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 45–21–9 , , 99 , - , 76 , , March 26 , , Vancouver , , 1 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 46–21–9 , , 101 , - , 77 , , March 28 , , St. Louis , , 2 – 7 , , Calgary , , , , 47–21–9 , , 103 , - , 78 , , March 30 , , Calgary , , 7 – 9 , , Los Angeles , , , , 47–22–9 , , 103 , - , 79 , , April 1 , , Los Angeles , , 6 – 3 , , Calgary , , , , 47–23–9 , , 103 , - , 80 , , April 3 , , Minnesota , , 1 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 48–23–9 , , 105 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 6 , , Los Angeles , , 2 – 9 , , Calgary , , , , Calgary leads 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 7 , , Los Angeles , , 4 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , Calgary leads 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 9 , , Calgary , , 2 – 5 , , Los Angeles , , , , Calgary leads 2–1 , - , 4 , , April 10 , , Calgary , , 7 – 3 , , Los Angeles , , , , Calgary leads 3–1 , - , 5 , , April 12 , , Los Angeles , , 4 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , Calgary wins 4–1 , - , 1 , , April 19 , , Edmonton , , 3 – 1 , , Calgary , , , , Edmonton leads 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 21 , , Edmonton , , 5 – 4 , , Calgary , , OT , , Edmonton leads 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 23 , , Calgary , , 2 – 4 , , Edmonton , , , , Edmonton leads 3–0 , - , 4 , , April 25 , , Calgary , , 4 – 6 , , Edmonton , , , , Edmonton wins 4–0 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Skaters

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes'' ^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
^‡Traded mid-season.

Goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average'' ^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.

Trades

Free agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft, held in

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

.Calgary Flames draft history
hockeydb.com, accessed August 19, 2007.

References

*Player stats: ''2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide'', p. 124. *Game log: ''2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide'', p. 139. *Team standings:
1987–88 NHL standings
@hockeydb.com *Trades: Individual player pages a
hockeydb.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1987-88 Calgary Flames season Calgary Flames seasons Presidents' Trophy seasons Calgary Flames season, 1987-88 Calg Smythe Division champion seasons

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

1980s in Calgary