2002 – 03 Calgary Flames season The 2002 – 03 Calgary Flames season was the 23rd National Hockey League season in Calgary . A relatively successful start to the season quickly gave way to disaster as the Flames lost 11 of 12 games in a November stretch dropping the Flames out of contention , ultimately failing to qualify for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season . The season began as the last had ended : with forward Marc Savard and head coach Greg Gilbert in bitter , public feud . After arguing in the media for nearly a year , the Flames finally granted the disgruntled players request , trading Savard to the Atlanta Thrashers . Gilbert himself would not last much longer with the Flames , as he would be fired by the club barely two weeks after Savard was dealt . The Flames would quickly find a replacement for Gilbert , announcing they had hired Darryl Sutter shortly before the new year . Sutter immediately began shaping the Flames to his own style , and the Flames finished 19 – 16 – 8 – 1 under their new bench boss . Following the season , the Flames announced that they would not renew General Manager Craig Button ' s contract . Sutter took over as GM , carrying the dual roles until the end of the 2005 – 06 season . Flames mascot , Harvey the Hound , gained widespread publicity in January 2003 following an incident with Edmonton Oilers head coach , Craig MacTavish . With the Flames leading 4 – 0 , Harvey was taunting the Oilers behind their bench . The frustrated coach reached up and ripped Harvey ' s signature red tongue out of his mouth , tossing it into the crowd . The incident would seem to spark the Oilers , who scored three goals shortly after . The Flames would hold on to win 4 – 3 , however . The incident made headlines throughout North America , and led to many jokes , including having many other NHL team mascots arrive at the 2003 All - Star Game with their tongues hanging out . Playoffs . Calgary finished 12th in the Western Conference , 17 points behind the 8th place Edmonton Oilers . The Flames missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season . Player stats . 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 . Goaltenders . " Note : GP = Games played ; TOI = Time on ice ( minutes ) ; W = Wins ; L = Losses ; OT = Overtime / shootout losses ; GA = Goals against ; SO = Shutouts ; SV % = Save percentage ; GAA = Goals against average " Transactions . The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 2002 – 03 season : Draft picks . Calgary ' s picks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft in Toronto , Ontario . The Flames had the 9th overall pick , however opted to drop down one spot to 10th via a trade with the Florida Panthers . Farm teams . Saint John Flames . The 2002 – 03 season would be the tenth , and last , season in New Brunswick , as the Flames bought out the local ownershi ' s share of the team following the season and suspended operations . The " Baby Flames " finished 32 – 41 – 6 – 1 , last in the Canadian Division , and out of the playoffs . Robert Dome led the team with 27 goals and 56 points . Dany Sabourin and Levente Szuper split goaltending duties for the Flames . Johnstown Chiefs . The Chiefs finished the 2002 – 03 season with a record of 28 – 33 – 11 , finishing fifth in the Northwest Division , failing to qualify for the playoffs . Following the season , the Flames announced they were switching affiliations to a new expansion team , the Las Vegas Wranglers .