The 1997–98 Calgary Flames season was the 18th National Hockey League season in Calgary. After a disappointing 1996–97 season, the Flames looked to newly hired coach Brian Sutter to return the Flames to the playoffs.

The off-season featured the trade of highly popular forward Gary Roberts shortly before the season began. Roberts missed the entire 1996–97 NHL season due to injury after playing only 35 games in 1995–96. Feeling that playing in the Eastern Conference with its lower travel would help aid him in his comeback, the Flames agreed to trade Roberts. He was dealt, along with starting goaltender Trevor Kidd to the Carolina Hurricanes for Andrew Cassels and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

The season would serve as a bitter disappointment for the Flames from start to end, as the Flames would struggle to score goals all season long, ultimately finishing with the worst record in Calgary history at 26–41–15, while 67 points was the lowest in franchise history since the expansion Atlanta Flames managed just 65 in 1972–73. The Flames finished eleven points behind the 8th place San Jose Sharks, missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

Theoren Fleury was named to the North American team at the 1998 NHL All Star Game, where he recorded two assists playing on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Recchi. Defenceman Derek Morris was named a Rookie All Star.

Fleury also represented Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Prior to the start of the season, the Flames purchased the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen for approximately $1.5 million. The struggling franchise was nearly destroyed by the fallout of the Graham James scandal.

Regular season
On Friday, October 17, 1997, the Flames scored three short-handed goals in a 6-5 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 1 || October 1 || Detroit || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 17,893 || 0–1–0 || 0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 2 || October 3 || Colorado || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,327 || 0–2–0 || 0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 3 || October 7 || Toronto || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,831 || 0–3–0 || 0 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 4 || October 9 || NY Rangers || 1 – 1 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 16,756 || 0–3–1 || 1 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 5 || October 12 || Calgary || 4 – 4 || Detroit || OT || Tabaracci || 19,983 || 0–3–2 || 2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 6 || October 14 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Dallas || OT || Roloson || 14,892 || 0–4–2 || 2 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 7 || October 17 || Colorado || 5 – 6 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 16,432 || 1–4–2 || 4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 8 || October 18 || Boston || 3 – 0 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,673 || 1–5–2 || 4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 9 || October 22 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Buffalo || || Tabaracci || 11,222 || 1–6–2 || 4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 10 || October 23 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Roloson || 19,319 || 1–7–2 || 4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 11 || October 25 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Toronto || || Tabaracci || 15,726 || 1–8–2 || 4 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 12 || October 28 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,645 || 2–8–2 || 6 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 13 || October 30 || Phoenix || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Moss || 15,761 || 3–8–2 || 8 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 14 || November 1 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Colorado || OT || Moss || 16,061 || 3–8–3 || 9 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 15 || November 2 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Phoenix || || Tabaracci || 14,928 || 3–9–3 || 9 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 16 || November 5 || Toronto || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Moss || 16,322 || 3–10–3 || 9 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 17 || November 7 || Anaheim || 4 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Moss || 16,487 || 3–11–3 || 9 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 18 || November 9 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Detroit || || Tabaracci || 19,983 || 3–12–3 || 9 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 19 || November 10 || Calgary || 1 – 1 || Chicago || OT || Roloson || 15,753 || 3–12–4 || 10 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 20 || November 13 || Carolina || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,113 || 3–13–4 || 10 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 21 || November 15 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Edmonton || OT || Tabaracci || 17,099 || 3–13–5 || 11 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 22 || November 18 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || New Jersey || || Tabaracci || 15,092 || 3–14–5 || 11 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 23 || November 20 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Florida || || Tabaracci || 14,703 || 4–14–5 || 13 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 24 || November 22 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Tabaracci || 15,176 || 4–15–5 || 13 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 25 || November 23 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Carolina || OT || Tabracci || 5,516 || 4–15–6 || 14 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 26 || November 27 || Chicago || 2 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 16,641 || 4–15–7 || 15 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 27 || November 29 || Anaheim || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 18,334 || 5–15–7 || 17 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 28 || December 1 || San Jose || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 15,268 || 6–15–7 || 19 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 29 || December 3 || Detroit || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,310 || 6–16–7 || 19 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 30 || December 5 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Dallas || || Roloson || 16,688 || 6–17–7 || 19 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 31 || December 6 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || St. Louis || OT || Tabaracci || N/A || 6–18–7 || 19 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 32 || December 9 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Tabaracci || 9,251 || 7–18–7 || 21 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 33 || December 10 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || NY Rangers || || Tabaracci || 18,200 || 8–18–7 || 23 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 34 || December 12 || Colorado || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 17,450 || 9–18–7 || 25 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 35 || December 16 || Chicago || 3 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 15,462 || 10–18–7 || 27 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 36 || December 18 || Dallas || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,667 || 10–19–7 || 27 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 37 || December 20 || Los Angeles || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,873 || 10–20–7 || 27 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 38 || December 22 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Anaheim || || Tabaracci || 16,975 || 10–21–7 || 27 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 39 || December 23 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Phoenix || OT || Roloson || 15,424 || 10–21–8 || 28 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 40 || December 27 || Philadelphia || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,742 || 11–21–8 || 30 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 41 || December 29 || Phoenix || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,742 || 11–22–8 || 30 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 42 || December 31 || Montreal || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 18,742 || 11–23–8 || 30 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 43 || January 3 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || St. Louis || || Tabaracci || N/A || 11–24–8 || 30 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 44 || January 5 || Calgary || 1 – 1 || Chicago || OT || Tabaracci || 15,941 || 11–24–9 || 31 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 45 || January 6 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Colorado || || Roloson || 16,061 || 12–24–9 || 33 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 46 || January 9 || Florida || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Tabaracci || 17,010 || 12–24–10 || 34 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 47 || January 10 || St. Louis || 5 – 1 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,562 || 12–25–10 || 34 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 48 || January 14 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Edmonton || || Roloson || 17,099 || 12–26–10 || 34 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 49 || January 20 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Los Angeles || || Moss || 10,367 || 12–27–10 || 34 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 50 || January 21 || Calgary || 1 – 7 || San Jose || || Roloson || 16,553 || 12–28–10 || 34 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 51 || January 24 || Vancouver || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,627 || 13–28–10 || 36 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 52 || January 28 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Anaheim || || Tabaracci || 16,758 || 14–28–10 || 38 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 53 || January 29 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Los Angeles || || Tabaracci || 9,586 || 14–29–10 || 38 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 54 || January 31 || New Jersey || 2 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,719 || 14–29–11 || 39 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 55 || February 3 || Los Angeles || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,815 || 14–30–11 || 39 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 56 || February 5 || San Jose || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,391 || 15–30–11 || 41 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 57 || February 7 || Edmonton || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,719 || 16–30–11 || 43 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 58 || February 27 || Vancouver || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 15,586 || 16–30–12 || 44 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 59 || March 1 || Ottawa || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,463 || 17–30–12 || 46 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 60 || March 3 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Roloson || 15,831 || 18–30–12 || 48 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 61 || March 5 || Calgary || 6 – 2 || Vancouver || || Roloson || 15,613 || 19–30–12 || 50 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 62 || March 7 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Ottawa || || Roloson || 18,036 || 19–31–12 || 50 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 63 || March 9 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Washington || || Tabaracci || 12,011 || 19–32–12 || 50 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 64 || March 11 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || Roloson || 14,655 || 19–33–12 || 50 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 65 || March 12 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Boston || || Roloson || 14,677 || 20–33–12 || 52 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 66 || March 14 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Toronto || || Roloson || 15,726 || 20–34–12 || 52 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 67 || March 16 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Montreal || OT || Roloson || 20,504 || 20–34–13 || 53 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 68 || March 20 || NY Islanders || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 18,189 || 21–34–13 || 55 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 69 || March 22 || St. Louis || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,675 || 22–34–13 || 57 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 70 || March 24 || Buffalo || 2 – 0 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,296 || 22–35–13 || 57 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 71 || March 26 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 15,782 || 23–35–13 || 59 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 72 || March 28 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Tabaracci || 16,998 || 24–35–13 || 61 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 73 || March 30 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Edmonton || || Tabaracci || 17,099 || 24–36–13 || 61 || 
|-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 74 || April 1 || Dallas || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 17,012 || 25–36–13 || 63 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 75 || April 5 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Anaheim || OT || Roloson || 17,174 || 25–36–14 || 64 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 76 || April 7 || Calgary || 0 – 6 || San Jose || || Tabaracci || 17,483 || 25–37–14 || 64 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 77 || April 9 || Vancouver || 6 – 3 || Calgary || || Roloson || 16,313 || 25–38–14 || 64 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 78 || April 11 || Edmonton || 5 – 4 || Calgary || || Roloson || 18,719 || 25–39–14 || 64 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 79 || April 13 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Los Angeles || || Roloson || 12,049 || 25–40–14 || 64 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffbb"
| 80 || April 15 || San Jose || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Roloson || 16,567 || 25–40–15 || 65 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"
| 81 || April 17 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Vancouver || || Roloson || 16,602 || 26–40–15 || 67 || 
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"
| 82 || April 18 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || San Jose || || Roloson || 17,483 || 26–41–15 || 67 || 
|-

|-
| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring
 Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
  = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Transactions
The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1997–98 season.

Trades

Free agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Farm teams

Saint John Flames
The Baby Flames finished the 1997–98 American Hockey League season with a franchise record 43 wins, as their 43–24–13 record led the Flames to the Atlantic Division title, the first division championship in team history. The Flames marched to the Calder Cup finals, defeating the St. John's Maple Leafs 3–1, the Portland Pirates 4–2, and Hartford Wolf Pack 4–1. The Flames fell to the Philadelphia Phantoms 4–2 in the finals, however.  Hnat Domenichelli led the Flames with 33 goals, while Ladislav Kohn led the team with 56 points. Tyler Moss played the majority of the games in goal, leading the team with 19 wins in 39 games, while his 2.49 GAA was just behind the 2.46 posted by Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 31 games.

See also
 1997–98 NHL season

References

Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 114.

Calgary Flames seasons
Calgary Flames season, 1997-98
Calg