We have just two sets of sweaters left in our series evaluating the best Calgary Flames by jersey number. As we’ve climbed higher we’ve noticed that not all jerseys in each set have been worn, and often times in the higher numbers we’ll only see one player has worn the jersey number. In this series, we will notice that no one in franchise history has ever worn the numbers 84, 85, 87, or 90. Despite this, we have some decent hockey players and recognizable names. Let’s get started with number 81.
Best Calgary Flames by Sweater Number Going 81 through 90
#81 – Dominik Simon (Centre)
Simon was a Pittsburgh draft pick who spent six years with the Penguins. He joined the Calgary Flames in 2020 but failed to carve out a role. Moreover, he played just 11 games for the franchise and recorded zero points.
#82 – Jordan Oesterle (Defenceman)
Oesterle was part of the Flames organization for just one season. He played in 22 games last season, recording two points. Oesterle was primarily used as the sixth or seventh defenceman when he was with Calgary. Osterle has had some success over his ten-year career, but his time in Calgary won’t likely be remembered by many.
#83 – Nikita Okhotyuk (Defenceman)
Okhotyuk was brought to Calgary last season in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. He played in nine NHL games for the Flames. Okhotyuk played in a top-pairing role with minimal time on ice. He was unremarkable during this time and has elected to head to Russia. Okhotyuk signed with CSKA in May 2024.
#86 – Josh Jooris (Centre)
Jooris was an undrafted player who signed with Calgary in 20213. He made his NHL debut in the 2014-2015 season, playing in 60 games. Furthermore, he was a decent skater who contributed on the penalty kill. In his first season Jooris, scored 12 goals and 24 points in his 60 regular season games. The following season, he was unable to replicate this success, scoring just 13 points in 59 games. Following this drop in production Jooris was not retained by the Flames and would sign with the Rangers in free agency.
The Best Calgary Flames to Wear #88 – Andrew Mangiapane (Left Wing)
Mangiapane was a sixth-round draft pick of the Flames in 2015 following a successful OHL career. Mangiapane spent his first two seasons almost entirely in the AHL, playing in just ten games for the Flames. The 2018-2019 season would be his breakout with the Flames, playing in 44 games, recording 13 points. Mangiapane would play five more seasons with the Flames as a top-nine forward. He was a productive winger for the Flames, primarily playing alongside Mikael Backlund on a great two-way line. His best season came in 2021-2022 when he scored 35 goals. This past June, Mangiapane was traded to Washington for a second-round draft pick in June. Mangiapane will go down as a success story for the franchise for all he accomplished as a sixth-round draft pick. He finished his time in Calgary with 417 games played, 109 goals, and 215 points.
Honourable Mention – Kevin Bahl (Defenceman)
Kevin Bahl has yet to play a single game for the Calgary Flames. He was part of the return the Flames received for trading Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils. He is expected to play significant minutes for the Flames this season and be a key contributor on the backend.
#89 – Nikita Nesterov (Defenceman)
Nesterov was a member of the Flames for the 2020-2021 season. Nesterov signed with Calgary after a few seasons in Russia. He played in 38 games for the Flames recording 4 points, while averaging 15 minutes of ice time. After the season, Nesterov would return to the KHL, effectively ending his NHL career.
Honourable Mention – Alan Quine (Centre)
Quine was primarily an AHL player while with the franchise. During his two seasons with the Flames, Quine scored four goals and six points in 22 games.
One number set remains
As we prepare for our final set of players and jersey numbers, don’t forget to check out the previous articles in the series. Stay tuned for jersey numbers 91-99.
Main photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
