# 1981–82 Calgary Flames season

The 1981–82 Calgary Flames season was the second season in Calgary and tenth for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League. The follow-up to the Flames' first season in Calgary proved to be disappointing on the ice. Twenty-nine wins represented the Flames lowest total since the franchise's inaugural season in Atlanta. Despite the poor record, Calgary finished in third place in the newly organized Smythe Division, earning a playoff match-up against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames returned to their Atlanta form, being swept out of the post-season in three straight games, as the Canucks began their run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 1981–82 season saw the Flames acquire Lanny McDonald from the Colorado Rockies, bringing the Hanna, Alberta product home. Sporting his trademark moustache, McDonald would spend his final seven seasons with the Flames, and remains an icon in Calgary. McDonald would score 34 of his 40 goals that season in a Flames uniform.
Pekka Rautakallio was the Flames representative at the 1982 All-Star Game.

## Regular season
### Season standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 48 | 17 | 15 | 417 | 295 | 111 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 30 | 33 | 17 | 290 | 286 | 77 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 29 | 34 | 17 | 334 | 345 | 75 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 314 | 369 | 63 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 18 | 49 | 13 | 241 | 362 | 49 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Calgary
—6−22−5−14−3−13−3−215−13−4
Colorado
2−6—2−5−12−4−22−4−28−19−5
Edmonton
5−2−15−2−1—5−1−25−2−120−7−5
Los Angeles
3−4−14−2−21−5−2—3−2−311−13−8
Vancouver
3−3−24−2−22−5−12−3−3—11−13−8
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Calgary
0−2−11−1−10−1−21−21−0−21−24−8−6
Colorado
2−10−30−1−21−20−1−21−24−10−4
Edmonton
1−1−12−0−12−0−13−02−12−112−3−3
Los Angeles
0−32−10−2−12−11−20−35−12−1
Vancouver
2−11−1−11−1−11−22−0−12−19−6−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
1−1−12−0−12−11−23−09−4−2
Colorado
0−30−32−0−10−2−11−23−10−2
Edmonton
0−1−22−12−0−10−1−21−25−5−5
Los Angeles
0−31−20−2−11−21−0−23−9−3
Vancouver
1−21−1−12−0−11−21−1−16−6−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
0−1−20−2−10−31−0−20−31−9−5
Colorado
0−2−10−2−11−20−32−13−10−2
Edmonton
1−1−13−02−13−02−0−111−2−2
Los Angeles
2−11−20−2−11−1−11−1−15−7−3
Vancouver
1−20−32−0–10–2−11−1−14–8–3 :

## Schedule and results

1981–82 Game Log :

## Playoffs

1981 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Guy Chouinard | 16 | 64 | 23 | 57 | 80 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Mel Bridgman$^†$ | 26 | 63 | 26 | 49 | 75 | 94 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Pekka Rautakallio | 4 | 80 | 17 | 51 | 68 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lanny McDonald$^†$ | 9 | 55 | 34 | 33 | 67 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Jim Peplinski | 24 | 74 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 115 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Kevin LaVallee | 15 | 75 | 32 | 29 | 61 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Paul Reinhart | 23 | 62 | 13 | 48 | 61 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Willi Plett | 25 | 78 | 21 | 36 | 57 | 288 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 39 |
| Kent Nilsson | 14 | 41 | 26 | 29 | 55 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Jamie Hislop | 17 | 80 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Russell | 5 | 71 | 4 | 25 | 29 | 110 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Gary McAdam$^†$ | 28 | 46 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denis Cyr | 9/12 | 45 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 13 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Dan Labraaten | 21 | 43 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Murdoch | 20 | 73 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 76 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Lever$^‡$ | 12 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 6 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Steve Konroyd | 3 | 63 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Bill Clement | 10 | 69 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Charlie Bourgeois | 2 | 54 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 112 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Bob MacMillan$^‡$ | 11 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Eric Vail$^‡$ | 27 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Kari Eloranta$^‡$ | 8 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 14 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Pat Riggin | 1 | 52 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Hindmarch | 18 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bobby Gould$^‡$ | 19 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Eddy Beers | 27 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Mike Dwyer | 29 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Gord Wappel | 21 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Carl Mokosak | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Brad Marsh$^‡$ | 22 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Rejean Lemelin | 31 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Randy Turnbull | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bruce Eakin | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bobby Lalonde | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Tim Hunter | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Al MacInnis | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Pat Ribble$^†$ | 22/8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Randy Holt$^‡$ | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | – | – | – | – | - |
$^†$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
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Pat Riggin | 1 | 52 | 2934 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 207 | 2 | 4.23 | 3 | 194 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 3.09 |
| Rejean Lemelin | 31 | 34 | 1866 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 135 | 0 | 4.34 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |

## Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season.

### Trades

| November 10, 1981 | To Calgary Flames Gary McAdam | To Detroit Red WingsEric Vail |
| November 11, 1981 | To Calgary Flames Mel Bridgman | To Philadelphia FlyersBrad Marsh |
| November 25, 1981 | To Calgary Flames Lanny McDonald 4th round pick in 1983 entry draft (traded to New York Islanders; Islanders selected Mikko Makela) | To Colorado RockiesDon Lever Bob MacMillan |
| November 25, 1981 | To Calgary Flames Pat Ribble 2nd round pick in 1983 entry draft (traded to Montreal Canadiens; Todd Francis) | To Washington CapitalsBobby Gould Randy Holt |
| March 8, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Future Considerations | To St. Louis BluesKari Eloranta |

### Free agents

| Player | Former team |
| LW Gord Hampson | University of Michigan (NCAA) |
| LW Carl Mokosak | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| D Kari Eloranta | Leksands IF (Elitserien) |
| C Bobby Lalonde | Boston Bruins |
| C Kari Jalonen | Kärpät (SM-liiga) |
| LW Eddy Beers | University of Denver (NCAA) |
| Player | New team |
| RW Dave Gorman | Buffalo Sabres |

## Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1981 NHL entry draft, held in Montreal.
| Rnd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team (league) | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics | NHL statistics |
| Rnd | Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team (league) | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1 | 15 | Al MacInnis | Canada | D | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) | 1416 | 340 | 934 | 1274 | 1501 |
| 3 | 56 | Mike Vernon | Canada | G | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) | 781 | 385–273–92, 3.00 GAA | 385–273–92, 3.00 GAA | 385–273–92, 3.00 GAA | 385–273–92, 3.00 GAA |
| 4 | 78 | Peter Madach | Sweden | C | N/A | | | | | |
| 5 | 99 | Mario Simioni | Canada | F | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) | | | | | |
| 6 | 120 | Todd Hooey | Canada | F | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | | | | | |
| 7 | 141 | Rick Heppner | United States | D | N/A | | | | | |
| 8 | 162 | Dale DeGray | Canada | D | Oshawa Generals (OHL) | 153 | 18 | 47 | 65 | 195 |
| 9 | 183 | George Boudreau | United States | D | N/A | | | | | |
| 10 | 204 | Bruce Eakin | Canada | F | Saskatoon Blades (OHL) | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |