1995 – 96 Calgary Flames season The 1995 – 96 Calgary Flames season was the 16th National Hockey League season in Calgary . The Flames entered the season with their fifth coach in five seasons , hiring Pierre Page to replace Dave King . Page , who had previously been an assistant coach with the Flames in the 1980s , left his head coaching position with the Quebec Nordiques to move west . The Flames began the season with a disastrous start , posting a 4 – 15 – 5 record through the end of November . The team ' s poor start was exacerbated by the holdout of Joe Nieuwendyk , who was unable to reach a contract agreement with the Flames . Also , the Flames began the season on a long , seven game road trip while renovations to the Olympic Saddledome were completed . The Flames reached a low point on October 27 , 1995 when they set a franchise record for futility , recording just eight shots in a 3 – 0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on home ice . The Nieuwendyk saga finally came to a close when the Flames dealt him to the Dallas Stars for Corey Millen , and Western Hockey League star Jarome Iginla on December 19 . Nieuwendyk immediately ended his holdout , signing a five - year , $ 11 million contract with Dallas . The Flames began to turn the season around , led by Gary Roberts ' comeback from neck injuries that had kept him out most of the 1994 – 95 season . Roberts ' comeback lasted only 35 games before he was again sidelined with bone spurs and nerve damage in his neck . Roberts would score an incredible 22 goals and 42 points during that time , earning him the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey . The Flames recovered from their woeful start to finish second in the Pacific Division , and as the sixth seed in the Western Conference . The Flames were swept , however , by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs , as the team once again failed to win a playoff series since they won the Stanley Cup in 1989 . One notable player made his debut during the playoffs : Jarome Iginla , who would become a star for the flames for years to come . The Flames would not qualify for the playoffs again until 2004 , missing the post season for the next seven years . Theoren Fleury represented the Flames at the 46th National Hockey League All - Star Game . It was the first since since 1986 that the Flames had only one representative . Playoffs . Despite finishing 2nd in the Pacific Division , the Flames were only the 6th seed in the playoffs . They met the 2nd place finisher in the Central Division , the Chicago Blackhawks . It was the third time Calgary and Chicago had met in the playoffs , as the Flames had previously defeated the Blackhawks in 1989 , 1986 and 1981 . This time around , Chicago had the better of the Flames , sweeping Calgary out in four straight , and continuing the Flames playoff futility . Looking for a spark , the Flames signed junior star Jarome Iginla to a contract before the third game , allowing him to make his NHL debut at home . Iginla scored a goal and an assist in his first two games . This series was the Flames last playoff appearance for eight years , as Calgary did not return to the post season until 2004 . 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 . < br > 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 " Transactions . The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1995 – 96 season . Draft picks . Calgary ' s picks at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft , held in Edmonton , Alberta . Farm teams . Saint John Flames . The Baby Flames finished the 1995 – 96 American Hockey League season in second place in the Canadian Division with a 35 – 30 – 11 – 4 record . The tied the Prince Edward Island Senators in points , but lost out on the division title by virtue of having three fewer wins . The Flames defeated the St . John ' s Maple Leafs three games to one , then knocked off the Fredericton Canadiens four games to one before falling to the Portland Pirates in seven games . Ladislav Kohn led the Flames with 28 goals and 73 points . Dwayne Roloson was the starting goaltender , posting an 33 – 22 – 11 record with a 2 . 83 GAA in 67 games .