Calgary Flames former player Joe Nieuwendyk is honored before the game against the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 7, 2014 (Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/eade2944-81b2-408d-92dd-75fcc953ef4f.jpeg] Calgary Flames former player Joe Nieuwendyk is honored before the game against the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 7, 2014 (Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images) As heard from earlier [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/latest-news/calgary-flames-goaltender-dustin-wolf-amongst-finalists-for-calder-memorial-award], the NHL has announced young California kid Dustin Wolf as one of the nominees for the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the 2024-25 season. In honor of the announcement, we’ll be looking at all five previous Atlanta/Calgary Flames players who have won the newcomer of the year award: 1974-75, ERIC VAIL, WINGER Just a bit over seven months after playing their first ever game in the National Hockey League, the Atlanta Flames drafted Eric Vail in the second round, 21st overall in the 1973 NHL Draft. He made his full-season debut in 1974-75 and led all NHL newbies in goals with 39. He also scored 13 power play points, which was fifth amongst rookies. In all that season, he scored 0.83 points per game, the second-most for freshmen that had played at least 70 games, culminating in a Calder Award for the former Sudbury Wolf. Vail would only hit his peak again in 1976-77 and 1978-79 respectfully with 71 and 83 points respectfully, the latter with a rating of +25. During the Flames’ time in Atlanta, Vail scored the most goals for the franchise with 174. His 383 points trail only Tom Lysiak’s 431. 1976-77, WILLI PLETT, WINGER The most well-known Paraguayan-born hockey player, Plett was drafted in the fifth round, 80th overall in the 1975 NHL Draft. After being sent down to the Flames’ affiliate, the Tulsa Oilers in 1975-76, he scored 30 goals and 50 points in 73 games, enroute to helping the Oilers win the Adams Cup as Central Hockey League (CHL) champions. He played his rookie season the following year, where he scored 33 goals and 56 points in 64 games. His goal total was the highest amongst rookies, as well as on the team. His 0.88 points per game was highest for newcomers that had played at least 60 games. That was good enough to get him declared Rookie of the Year. His best season would be one right after the Flames relocated to Calgary: 38 goals and 68 points in 1980-81. 1985-86, GARY SUTER, DEFENCEMAN The Madison, Wisconsin-native was the first draftee of the Flames to win the Calder Trophy after the franchise moved to Calgary. After impressing the Flames with 73 points in 74 games in two seasons in college as a Badger, Calgary drafted him in round nine, 180th overall in 1984. He started the season off with a bang, scoring 11 points in 10 games and leading the league at the time with eight power play points. When the season was all said and done, he scored 18 goals and 50 assists for 68 points in 80 games enroute to winning the Calder Trophy, and receiving an invite to the All-Star Game. He would have his best performance in a Flames jersey in the 1987-88 season when he put up 70 assists and 91 points, which were all league-highs. Those numbers earned him the Norris Trophy for best defenceman. He would finally get his crowning achievement the following year, when Calgary would raise the Stanley Cup. 1987-88, JOE NIEUWENDYK, CENTRE After blazing through the NCAA with an incredible 151 points in just 72 games during his three seasons at Cornell, Calgary picked the Oshawa, Ontario-native 27th overall in the 1985 Draft. In his first full season in 1987-88, he led rookies in goals (51), assists (41) and points (92) points, being a very easy choice for the Calder Trophy. The following year, he picked up where he left off, and this time brought the Stanley Cup to Southern Alberta. With the exception of two of his eight years in Calgary, he never scored below 75 points. He was also part of the Canada squad that won the nation’s first Olympic gold medal since 1952 at the 2002 Winter edition in Salt Lake City. Nieuwendyk would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011. 1989-90, SERGEI MAKAROV, WINGER If Dustin Wolf wants any inspiration that a final round pick can be a Calder Award winner, he can have some inspiration from Makarov…almost. You see, Makarov had a decorated resume before coming over to North America that included five senior World Championships and an Olympic silver medal while representing the Soviet Union. So, when he laced his skates for the first time for the Flames in 1989, he was 31, but still a rookie by that time’s definition. As expected, Makarov dominated the competition, scoring the most assists (62) and points (86), easily winning the Calder Award. Since then, the league changed the rules that players only under the age of 26 are eligible to be called rookies and can qualify for the Calder Trophy nomination- the Makarov Rule. Makarov was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2001 and into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.
