List of Atlanta Flames seasons

Last updated

The exterior of the Omni Coliseum in 1979 Omni Coliseum 1979.jpg
The exterior of the Omni Coliseum in 1979

The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They were members of the Patrick Division in the Campbell Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). [1] Founded on November 9, 1971, as an expansion franchise, the Flames played their home games at the Omni Coliseum from their inaugural season in 1972 until their relocation to Calgary, Alberta, in 1980. The 1979–80 NHL season marked the eighth and final year of operation for the franchise. At the end of the 1979–80 season, the Flames had won 268 regular season games, appeared in the playoffs six times, had not won any division or conference championships, and never advanced past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. [2]

Contents

The Flames started play in the 1972–73 season along with the New York Islanders; they both missed the playoffs, ranking as the 7th and 8th teams in their respective conferences. [3] In the 1973–74 season, the Flames qualified for the playoffs despite having a losing record, pairing them against the first-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in the quarterfinals. The Flames lost the series in a sweep, being outscored 6–17. [4] The Flames failed to make the playoffs for the next season in the realigned Patrick Division, being the only team that failed to qualify. From the 1975–76 season onward, the Flames made a postseason appearance every year until their relocation in 1980. The Flames qualified last in their division two years in a row and were paired against the Los Angeles Kings twice, losing 0–2 and 1–2, respectively. [5] In the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons, the Flames improved their play but could not advance past the first round of the playoffs, losing to the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively in two games. [6] [7] In their final season, the Flames finished 9th out of 21 teams in the league and were paired against the team that had finished 8th, the New York Rangers. [8] In an expanded best-of-five preliminary round, the Flames only won one game out of four to be eliminated from the playoffs. [9] Following the 1980 playoffs, owner Tom Cousins announced that he would sell the team following financial losses and low attendance. Nelson Skalbania and his ownership group bought the franchise and moved it to Calgary on June 24, 1980, leaving Atlanta without an NHL franchise. [10]

Since the Flames' relocation and rebranding as the Calgary Flames in 1980, ice hockey in Atlanta has been an interest of the NHL. [11] In 1997, the Atlanta Thrashers were founded as an expansion franchise after the Atlanta Knights in the International Hockey League (IHL) relocated to Quebec City; the Thrashers began play in 1999. From 1999 to 2011, the Thrashers had very limited success, only winning their division once in 2007, when they also made their only playoff appearance in franchise history. [12] Due to financial losses and ownership struggles, the franchise was sold and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, as the second iteration of the Winnipeg Jets. [13] Atlanta went without an official professional hockey franchise until 2015, when the Gwinnett Gladiators rebranded into the Atlanta Gladiators. [14] As an affiliate of the Nashville Predators and Milwaukee Admirals, the Gladiators compete in the East Coast Hockey League. In 2024, a sports and entertainment group led by former NHL player Anson Carter requested that the NHL start an expansion process for Atlanta. [15]

Table key

Key of terms and abbreviations
Term or abbreviationDefinition
FinishFinal position in division or league standings
GPNumber of games played
WNumber of wins
LNumber of losses
TNumber of ties
PtsNumber of points
GFGoals for (goals scored by the Flames)
GAGoals against (goals scored by the Flames' opponents)
—Does not apply

Year by year

Full list of Atlanta Flames seasons
NHL season Flames season Conference Division Regular season [1] [16] Postseason
FinishGPWLTPtsGFGAGPWLGFGAPlayoffs result
1972–73 1972–73 — West 7th7825381565191239—————Did not qualify
1973–74 1973–74 —West4th7830341474214238404617Lost quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 0–4 [4]
1974–75 1974–75 Campbell [a] Patrick 4th8034311583243233—————Did not qualify
1975–76 1975–76 CampbellPatrick3rd803533128226223720213Lost preliminary round to Los Angeles Kings, 0–2 [5]
1976–77 1976–77 CampbellPatrick3rd8034341280264265312711Lost preliminary round to Los Angeles Kings, 1–2 [5]
1977–78 1977–78 CampbellPatrick3rd803427198727425220258Lost preliminary round to Detroit Red Wings, 0–2 [6]
1978–79 1978–79 CampbellPatrick4th80413189032728020259Lost preliminary round to Toronto Maple Leafs, 0–2 [7]
1979–80 1979–80 CampbellPatrick4th8035321383282269413814Lost preliminary round to New York Rangers, 1–3 [9]
Relocated to Calgary
Totals6362682601086442,0572,0131721532626 playoff appearances

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The NHL realigned prior to the 1974–75 season. The Flames were placed in the Campbell Conference's Patrick Division. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Thrashers</span> Former National Hockey League team (1999–2011)

The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 season. They were members of the Southeast Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference, and played their home games at what is now known as State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. Despite several high-level draft picks and some high-profile player acquisitions, including two first-overall selections, the Thrashers were futile for the majority of their existence. They qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, after winning the Southeast Division in the 2006–07 season, but were swept in the first round by the New York Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Flames</span> Former National Hockey League team (1972–1980)

The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with the New York Islanders, the Flames were created in 1971 as part of the NHL's conflict with the rival World Hockey Association (WHA). The team enjoyed modest success on the ice, qualifying for the playoffs in six of its eight seasons, but failed to win a playoff series and won only two post-season games total. The franchise struggled to draw fans and, after averaging only 10,000 per game by the 1979–80 season was sold and relocated to Alberta to become the Calgary Flames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)</span> Former team of the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association

The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. They began play in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. The club joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979 after the NHL merged with the WHA. Due to mounting financial troubles, in 1996 the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and became the Phoenix Coyotes. The team played their home games at Winnipeg Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Gladiators</span> Professional ice hockey team

The Atlanta Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at Gas South Arena, approximately 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Atlanta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Bouchard</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Daniel Hector Bouchard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Quebec Nordiques, and original Winnipeg Jets.

The 1979–80 NHL season was the 63rd season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the addition of four teams from the disbanded World Hockey Association as expansion franchises. The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers, and Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL, bringing the total to 21 teams. The other two WHA teams were paid to fold.

Sports in Georgia include professional teams, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports.

The 1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers season was the inaugural campaign for the franchise that would play in Atlanta for 11 seasons.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has undergone several rounds of expansion and other organizational changes during its history to reach its current thirty-two active teams: twenty-five in the United States, and seven in Canada. The newest additions to the league are the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, Seattle Kraken in 2021, and the Utah Hockey Club in 2024. The league has also relocated several franchises, most recently in 2011 when the former Atlanta Thrashers became the second and current incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Flames</span> National Hockey League team in Alberta, Canada

The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. They are the third major professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the Calgary Tigers (1921–1927) and Calgary Cowboys (1975–1977). The Flames are one of two NHL franchises based in Alberta, the other being the Edmonton Oilers. The cities' proximity has led to a rivalry known as the "Battle of Alberta".

The following is a complete history of organizational changes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL was founded in 1917 as a successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA), starting out with four teams from the predecessor league, and eventually grew to thirty-two in its current state. The NHL has expanded and contracted numerous times throughout its history, including in 1979 when four teams were added from the World Hockey Association (WHA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg Jets</span> National Hockey League team in Manitoba, Canada

The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, playing its home games at Canada Life Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Atlanta</span>

Sports in Atlanta has a rich history, including the oldest on-campus NCAA Division I football stadium, Bobby Dodd Stadium, built in 1913 by the students of Georgia Tech. Atlanta also played host to the second intercollegiate football game in the South, played between the A&M College of Alabama and the University of Georgia in Piedmont Park in 1892; this game is now called the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The city hosts college football's annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Peachtree Road Race, the world's largest 10 km race. Atlanta was the host city for the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics, and Downtown Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park was built for and commemorates the games.

The 2015–16 ECHL season was the 28th season of the ECHL. The regular season schedule ran from October 16, 2015 to April 9, 2016 with the Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. Twenty-eight teams in 21 states and one Canadian province each played a 72-game schedule. The league alignment was significantly altered before the season when the American Hockey League announced the formation of a Pacific Division on January 30, 2015 displacing the ECHL teams that had been in California markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice hockey in Georgia</span>

Georgia has a very mixed history with ice hockey. The state has seen many expansion teams at multiple levels but few have been able to establish a foothold in the public consciousness.

References

  1. 1 2 "Calgary Flames History". Hockey Reference . Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Team Index". Hockey Reference . Archived from the original on May 28, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ "1972-73 NHL Standings". Hockey Reference . Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "1974 NHL Quarter-Finals: Philadelphia Flyers defeat Atlanta Flames 4-0". Hockey Reference . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Dorr, Vic (April 11, 1977). "Vachon, Kings end another Flames season". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . p. 1-C. Retrieved January 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Henderson, Tom (April 14, 1978). "Red Wings put out Flames, 3–2". Detroit Free Press . p. 1D. Retrieved January 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Leafs different team during NHL playoffs". North Bay Nugget . The Canadian Press. April 14, 1979. p. 22. Retrieved January 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "1979-80 NHL Standings". Hockey Reference . Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Dave, McCarthy, ed. (2008). National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2009. Chicago: Dan Diamond Associates. ISBN   978-1-894801-14-0.
  10. ↑ "NHL to retain alignment". The Standard-Star . New Rochelle, New York. Associated Press. June 25, 1980. p. 6D. Retrieved January 7, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (September 12, 2023). "NHL open to another expansion franchise in Atlanta". ESPN . Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gentille, Sean; Russo, Michael (June 5, 2023). "The NHL in Atlanta: Why Chapter 3 could be completely different" . The Athletic . Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. ↑ Yerdon, Joe (May 31, 2011). "It's official: Atlanta Thrashers to be sold to True North Sports and Entertainment, moved to Winnipeg". NBC Sports . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ "ECHL's Gwinnett Team Changing Name to Atlanta Gladiators". Fox 5 Atlanta . September 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ Newberry, Paul (March 12, 2024). "Atlanta has lost two NHL teams. Former player Anson Carter leads one of two groups seeking a third". Associated Press . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Atlanta Flames Statistics and History". HockeyDB . Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  17. ↑ McFarlane, Brian (1992). Stanley Cup Fever: 100 Years of Hockey Greatness . Toronto: Stoddart Publishing. p.  174. ISBN   0-7737-5554-3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.