# 1982–83 Calgary Flames season

The 1982–83 Calgary Flames season was the third season in Calgary and 11th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League. Despite finishing the season below .500, the Flames had their best ever finish in the division standings, placing second in the Smythe Division. In the playoffs, Calgary was able to avenge the previous season's defeat at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks by knocking off Vancouver in four games. In the second round, the Flames met up with their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, for the first time. The series would not be close, as Edmonton powered past Calgary in five games, including humiliating 10–2 and 9–1 victories over the Flames.
"Badger" Bob Johnson replaced Al MacNeil as the team's head coach prior to the season. Johnson would go on to coach 400 games with the Flames, and win 193 games in five seasons, both of which remain Flames records. Johnson would later gain election into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
Lanny McDonald, in his first full season in Calgary, had a career year, battling Wayne Gretzky for the scoring lead all season long. McDonald finished the season five goals behind Gretzky, but his mark of 66 remains a Flames record. McDonald was the Flames representative at the 1983 All-Star Game, and was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game.

## Regular season
### Season standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 47 | 21 | 12 | 424 | 315 | 106 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 32 | 34 | 14 | 321 | 316 | 78 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 30 | 35 | 15 | 303 | 309 | 75 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 33 | 39 | 8 | 311 | 333 | 74 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 308 | 365 | 66 |
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
1982–83 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Calgary
—2−4−23−3−25−2−15−2−115−11−6
Edmonton
4−2−2—5−1−25−2−16−220−7−5
Los Angeles
3−3−21−5−2—3−3−22−69−17−6
Vancouver
2−5−12−5−13−3−2—4−3−111−16−5
Winnipeg
2−5−12−66−23−4−1—13−17−2
Vs. Norris Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Calgary
2−12−11−1−12−11−1−18−5−2
Edmonton
1−1−12−12−12−0−12−0−19−3−3
Los Angeles
0−2−11−0−21−21−22−15−7−3
Vancouver
1−0−21−1−10−2−13−01−26−5−4
Winnipeg
1−23−00−32−13−09−6−0
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
0−2−11−21−0−21−20−2−13−8−4
Edmonton
0−2−12−12−0−12−11−1−17−5−3
Los Angeles
2−11−22−11−21−1−17−7−1
Vancouver
1−21−1−12−10−33−07−7−1
Winnipeg
2−0−11−21−1−10−31−25−8−2
Vs. Patrick Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
2−10−2−10−2−10−33−01−26−10−2
Edmonton
3−00−33−01−22−12−0−111−6−1
Los Angeles
2−10−31−1−11−21−21−1−16−10−2
Vancouver
0−1−21−21−1–11−1−12−11−1−16−7−5
Winnipeg
2−11−1−11−1−10−32−10−1−26−8−4 :

## Schedule and results

1982–83 Game Log :

## Playoffs

1983 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 |
| Kent Nilsson | 14 | 80 | 46 | 58 | 104 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 2 |
| Lanny McDonald | 9 | 80 | 66 | 32 | 98 | 90 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 19 |
| Paul Reinhart | 23 | 78 | 17 | 58 | 75 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| Guy Chouinard | 7 | 80 | 13 | 59 | 72 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Doug Risebrough | 8 | 71 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 138 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 18 |
| Mel Bridgman | 26 | 79 | 19 | 31 | 50 | 103 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 33 |
| Kari Eloranta | 20 | 80 | 4 | 40 | 44 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 |
| Jim Peplinski | 24 | 80 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 134 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 45 |
| Kevin LaVallee | 15 | 60 | 19 | 16 | 35 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Jamie Hislop | 17 | 79 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Phil Russell | 5 | 78 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 112 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 24 |
| Eddy Beers | 27 | 41 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 27 |
| Dave Hindmarch | 18 | 60 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jim Jackson | 16 | 48 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Steve Christoff | 11 | 45 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richie Dunn | 6 | 80 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 47 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Carl Mokosak | 10 | 41 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 87 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Kari Jalonen | 21 | 25 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Greg Meredith | 25 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Charlie Bourgeois | 2 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 21 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Jamie Macoun | 34 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Rejean Lemelin | 31 | 39 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al MacInnis | 22 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Pierre Rioux | 32 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Denis Cyr$^‡$ | 12 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Tim Hunter | 19 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 70 |
| Pat Ribble | 28 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Don Edwards | 1 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Vernon | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Howard Walker | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Tim Harrer | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Gord Hampson | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Tim Bernhardt | 29 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. $^‡$Traded mid-season. Bold denotes franchise record.

### 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 |
| Rejean Lemelin | 31 | 39 | 2211 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 133 | 0 | 3.61 | 7 | 327 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 4.95 |
| Don Edwards | 1 | 39 | 1109 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 148 | 1 | 4.02 | 5 | 226 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 5.84 |
| Tim Bernhardt | 29 | 6 | 280 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 4.50 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |
| Mike Vernon | 30 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 6.60 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |

## Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1982–83 season.

### Trades

| May 29, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Richie Dunn Don Edwards 2nd round pick in 1982 entry draft (Richard Kromm) 1st round pick in 1983 entry draft (Dan Quinn) | To Buffalo Sabres1st round pick in 1982 entry draft (Paul Cyr) 2nd round pick in 1982 entry draft (Jens Johansson) 1st round pick in 1983 entry draft (Normand Lacombe) 2nd round pick in 1983 entry draft (John Tucker) |
| June 2, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Kari Eloranta | To St. Louis BluesFuture Considerations |
| June 7, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Steve Christoff Bill Nyrop 2nd round pick in 1982 entry draft (Dave Reierson) | To Minnesota North StarsWilli Plett 4th round pick in 1983 entry draft (Dusan Pasek) |
| June 7, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Howard Walker George White 6th round pick in 1982 entry draft (Mats Kihlström) 3rd round pick in 1983 entry draft (Perry Berezan) 4th round pick in 1984 entry draft (Paul Ranheim) | To Washington CapitalsKen Houston Pat Riggin |
| September 11, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Doug Risebrough 2nd round pick in 1983 entry draft (traded to Minnesota North Stars; North Stars selected Frank Musil) | To Montreal CanadiensWashington Capitals' 2nd round pick in 1983 entry draft (Todd Francis) 3rd round pick in 1984 entry draft (Graeme Bonar) |
| November 8, 1982 | To Calgary Flames rights to Carey Wilson | To Chicago Black HawksDenis Cyr |
| December 2, 1982 | To Calgary Flames Yves Courteau | To Detroit Red WingsBob Francis |

### Free agents

| Player | Former team |
| G Marc D'Amour | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| RW Pierre Rioux | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| LW Dan Bolduc | Montreal Canadiens |
| D Tony Stiles | Michigan Tech (NCAA) |
| LW Jim Jackson | Muskegon Mohawks (IHL) |
| D Jamie Macoun | Ohio State University (NCAA) |
| W Colin Patterson | Clarkson College (NCAA) |
| Player | New team |
| LW Dan Labraaten | Leksands IF (Elitserien) |
| D Pekka Rautakallio | HIFK (SM-liiga) |
| LW Gary McAdam | Buffalo Sabres |

## Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1982 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 |
| 2 | 29 | Dave Reierson | Canada | D | Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 37 | Richard Kromm | Canada | LW | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) | 372 | 70 | 103 | 173 | 138 |
| 3 | 51 | Jim Laing | United States | D | Clarkson University (ECAC) | | | | | |
| 4 | 65 | Dave Meszaros | Canada | G | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) | | | | | |
| 4 | 72 | Mark Lamb | Canada | C | Billings Bighorns (WHL) | 403 | 46 | 100 | 146 | 291 |
| 5 | 93 | Lou Kiriakou | Canada | D | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) | | | | | |
| 6 | 114 | Jeff Vaive | Canada | C | Ottawa 67's (OHL) | | | | | |
| 6 | 118 | Mats Kihlstrom | Sweden | D | N/A | | | | | |
| 7 | 135 | Brad Ramsden | Canada | C | Peterborough Petes (OHL) | | | | | |
| 8 | 156 | Roy Myllari | Canada | D | Cornwall Royals (OHL) | | | | | |
| 9 | 177 | Ted Pearson | Canada | F | University of Wisconsin–Madison (WCHA) | | | | | |
| 10 | 198 | Jim Uens | Canada | C | Oshawa Generals (OHL) | | | | | |
| 11 | 219 | Rick Erdall | United States | C | University of Minnesota (WCHA) | | | | | |
| 12 | 240 | Dale Thompson | Canada | RW | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) | | | | | |