2010 – 11 Calgary Flames season The 2010 – 11 Calgary Flames season will be the 31st season for the Calgary Flames , and the 38th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . The Flames will attempt to rebound following a 2009 – 10 season where they failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs . The year will open with the 2010 NHL Entry Draft on June 25 – 26 though Calgary does not have a pick until the third round . The Flames will host the 2011 Heritage Classic , an outdoor game against the Montreal Canadiens , in February 2011 which will be the second such game of the season , following the NHL Winter Classic on New Years Day . Pre - season . Failure to qualify for the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs resulted in some changes to the team ' s management and evaluation structure . Former Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Jay Feaster was hired to serve as an assistant to Darryl Sutter , while three scouts were released by the organization as it planned to take a new direction in its amateur scouting . The Flames will play seven games as part of their exhibition schedule , including a pair of split - squad games on September 21 versus the Vancouver Canucks , with each city hosting one of the match - ups . Calgary will also face the New York Islanders in Saskatoon for the second consecutive season . The organization is also participating in a five - team prospects tournament to be held in Pentiction , British Columbia that will also include the Canucks , Edmonton Oilers , Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks . Regular season . The Flames will host the Montreal Canadiens at McMahon Stadium in February for the 2011 Heritage Classic . It will be the second such game held in Canada , following the first Heritage Classic , held in Edmonton in 2003 . The Flames had lobbied the NHL for some time , but were unsuccessful in their attempts to host a second outdoor game as part of a doubleheader with the 2010 NHL Winter Classic in Boston . Playoffs . The Flames will attempt to return to the playoffs after failing to qualify in 2009 – 10 . Awards and honours . The NHL announced on June 22 , 2010 , that late Flames owner Doc Seaman had been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder ' s category . Seaman was one of the Flames ' original owners and played a key role in the construction of the Pengrowth Saddledome and in bringing the 1988 Winter Olympics to Calgary . Transactions . Two former Flames were brought back into the fold on the first day of the free agent signing period . They first signed Alex Tanguay to a one - year , $ 1 . 7 million contract and then generated considerable controversy by signing Olli Jokinen to a two - year , $ 6 million deal . The re - acquisition of Jokinen was especially surprising to fans and media like as the centre was shipped to the New York Rangers in a controversial trade only four months previous after a disappointing season in Calgary . The signing was sharply criticized by local and national media , though reaction amongst fans was mixed with only a minority opposing the moves . Draft picks . The Flames enter the 2010 NHL Entry Draft without a selection in the first two rounds . They would have picked 13th overall , however that pick was surrendered to the Phoenix Coyotes as part of a 2009 trade for Olli Jokinen . Their second round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a 2008 deal in which Calgary acquired Rene Bourque . The Flames first selection was early in the third round , a selection acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Anton Stralman . They selected Maxwell Reinhart with that pick . His father Paul was also a former Flames draft pick . Calgary made one trade at the draft , sending their sixth round pick ( 163rd overall ) to the Sharks in exchange for goaltender Henrik Karlsson . Farm teams . The Abbotsford Heat will remain the Flames ' American Hockey League affiliate for the 2010 – 11 AHL season . It will be the team ' s second year in Abbotsford .