The Calgary Flames finalized and announced their 2014-15 opening roster this afternoon. But with 23 bodies on the team, it can be a bit hard to keep them all straight. In an effort to provide clarity on who’s who on the 2014-15 Flames, here’s a handy primer put together by FlamesNation’s crack team of researchers, reporters and hired goons.

#1 JONAS HILLER (GOALTENDER)

32 years old; from Felben Wellhausen, Switzerland (population 2,600)

$4.5 million cap hit through 2015-16

Acquired as a free agent signing this past off-season.

326 NHL games played (all with Anaheim)

Might be the only active NHLer wearing Koho goalie equipment.

Has represented Switzerland in two Olympic games.

#4 KRIS RUSSELL (DEFENSE)

27 years old; from Caroline, Alberta

Alternate captain

$2.6 million cap hit through 2015-16

Acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the St. Louis Blues last off-season.

432 NHL games played (Calgary, St. Louis and Columbus)

Good offensive player, but under-sized. Third-best defender on the team behind Mark Giordano and T.J. Brodie.

#5 MARK GIORDANO (DEFENSE)

31 years old; from Toronto, Ontario

Team captain

$4.02 million cap hit through 2015-16

Acquired as a free agent to help Calgary fill out their shared AHL team prior to the 2004-05 season

449 NHL games played (all Calgary)

Unsigned, undrafted player has somehow worked his way into an NHL captaincy and Norris contention

#6 DENNIS WIDEMAN (DEFENSE)

31 years old; from Kitchener, Ontario

$5.25 million cap hit through 2016-17

Acquired via trade with Washington (Feaster sent a pick and a player for his rights)

627 NHL games played (Calgary, Washington, Florida, Boston and St. Louis)

Power-play specialist, primarily.

#7 T.J. BRODIE (DEFENSE)

24 years old; from Chatham, Ontario

24 years old; from Chatham, Ontario $2.125 million cap hit through 2014-15 (pending RFA)

Calgary’s fourth round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

185 NHL games played (all Calgary)

Has progressed from a green tentative player a few seasons ago to being Calgary’s best non-Giordano defender. He’s still only 24, so there’s no telling how good he’ll get with a bit more experience.

#8 JOE COLBORNE (CENTER/RIGHT WING)

24 years old; from Calgary, Alberta

$1.275 million cap hit through 2015-16

Acquired from Toronto last season on the day before rosters needed to be finalized with the league

96 NHL games (Calgary and Toronto)

Has filled out and added some weight in the off-season so he can be better in the corners. Now he’s thick in addition to being crazy-tall.

#11 MIKAEL BACKLUND (CENTER)

25 years old; from Vasteras, Sweden

$1.5 million cap hit through 2014-15 (pending RFA)

Calgary’s first round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft

246 NHL games (all Calgary)

Calgary’s best center, or would be considered it if he could stay healthy. Good at everything, strong two-way player, and offensive game chugs along really well when he’s feeling confident.

#13 JOHNNY GAUDREAU (LEFT WING)

21 years old; from Carney’s Point, New Jersey

Bonus-aided $1.85 million cap hit through 2015-16

Calgary’s fourth round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

1 NHL game (Calgary)

A scary-good NCAA player (175 points in 119 games) despite being smaller and younger than his opposition.

#15 LADISLAV SMID (DEFENSE)

28 years old; from Frydlant, Czech Republic (population 7,600)

$3.5 million cap hit through 2016-17

Acquired from Edmonton in the second trade ever between the two bitter Alberta rivals

530 NHL games (Calgary and Edmonton)

Perfectly acceptable stay-at-home defender. Doesn’t have a lot to offer beyond that, but he’s good in his own zone when on his game.

#16 BRIAN McGRATTAN (RIGHT WING)

33 years old; from Hamilton, Ontario

$750,000 cap hit through 2014-15 (pending UFA)

Acquired from Nashville a few seasons back for minor-league defender Joe Piskula (Brodie’s AHL partner)

309 NHL games (Calgary, Nashville, Phoenix and Ottawa)

Resident plugger is renowned for being good in the room but doesn’t offer a heck of a lot on the offensively or defensively.

#17 LANCE BOUMA (CENTER/LEFT WING)

24 years old; from Provost, Alberta

$775,000 cap hit through 2014-15

Calgary’s third round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

121 NHL games (all Calgary)

All heart and hustle, Bouma’s developed a niche as a shot-blocker and penalty-killer. Hopefully he can develop his (to this point) non-existent offensive side.

#18 MATT STAJAN (CENTER)

30 years old; from Mississauga, Ontario

$3.125 million cap hit through 2017-18

Acquired from Toronto in the infamous Dion Phaneuf trade

715 NHL games (Calgary and Toronto)

Arguably the team’s best all-around center, but Backlund likely supplants him if he stays healthy.



#19 DAVID JONES (RIGHT WING)

30 years old; from Guelph, Ontario

$4 million cap hit through 2015-16

Acquired form Colorado in an off-season trade last year

320 NHL games (Calgary and Colorado)

Completely fine third line guy who got a big contract from Colorado because he scored 20 goals. Hard to tell what he is right now because he was hurt most of last season.

#20 CURTIS GLENCROSS (LEFT WING)

31 years old; from Kindersley, Saskatchewan

Alternate captain

$2.55 million cap hit through 2014-15

Signed as a free agent years ago when the Edmonton Oilers decided they didn’t want him

436 NHL games (Calgary, Edmonton and Columbus)

Rugged winger with good hands around the net. He had awful injury luck last season and desperately wants/needs a full season without any missed time.

#21 MASON RAYMOND (LEFT/RIGHT WING)

29 years old; from Cochrane, Alberta

$3.17 million cap hit through 2016-17

Signed a free agent this off-season

456 NHL games (Toronto and Vancouver)

Speedy winger with good scoring touch. Injuries may be a minor concern, but if he’s healthy he’s a huge boost for the Flames and can be used anywhere on the top three lines.

#22 DEVIN SETOGUCHI (RIGHT WING)

27 years old; from Taber, Alberta

$750,000 cap hit through 2014-15 (pending UFA)

Signed a free agent this off-season

459 NHL games (Winnipeg, Minnesota and San Jose)

Two-way player with an offensive touch. He’s scored 20+ goals in the past, but in recent years has been used as a complementary asset.

#23 SEAN MONAHAN (CENTER)

20 years old; from Brampton, Ontario

Bonus-aided $1.775 million cap hit through 2015-16

Calgary’s first round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft

75 NHL games (all Calgary)

Big, strong 19-year old, 20+ goal-scoring rookie added muscle over the off-season, presumably so he can be bigger, stronger and score more goals. It’s not an awful plan.

#24 JIRI HUDLER (LEFT/RIGHT WING)

30 years old; from Olomouc, Czech Republic

$4 million cap hit through 2015-16

Signed as a free agent a few summers ago

526 NHL games (Calgary and Detroit)

Not overly physical, but this skilled Czech just figures out ways to get to the net. Led the Flames in points last season.

#25 BRANDON BOLLIG (LEFT WING)

27 years old; from St. Charles, Missouri

$1.25 million cap hit through 2015-16

Acquired in a draft-day trade with the Chicago Blackhawks

125 NHL games (all Chicago)

Physical bottom-six fixture for Blackhawks. Has a beard and a Stanley Cup ring. A key component in Calgary’s “tougher to play against” stance, but he’s also a situationally useful player (PK, defensive zone starts).

#29 DERYK ENGELLAND (DEFENSE/RIGHT WING)

32 years old; from Edmonton, Alberta

$2.917 million cap hit through 2016-17

Signed as a free agent this off-season

243 NHL games (all Pittsburgh)

Big, physical, right-shooting defenseman. Basically similar to Ladislav Smid, except he plays physical all the time.

#31 KARRI RAMO (GOALIE)

28 years old; from Asikkala, Finland (population 8,400)

$2.75 million cap hit through 2014-15 (pending UFA)

Acquired by trade with Montreal (in the six-asset Rene Bourque/Mike Cammalleri deal).

88 NHL games (Calgary and Tampa Bay)

Positionally-sound, calm goaltender. Doesn’t rattle, doesn’t get caught out of position much. He had some injury issues last year, and recurring hip issue this off-season may lead to some injury concerns in the future.

#32 PAUL BYRON (LEFT/RIGHT WING)

25 years old; from Ottawa, Ontario

$600,000 cap hit through 2014-15 (pending RFA)

Acquired from Buffalo Sabres in Robyn Regehr trade.

81 NHL games (Calgary and Buffalo)

Small and agile, Byron’s a good forechecker and a strong penalty-killer. Might not be able to progress above third line status due to his size, though.

#33 RAPHAEL (RAFFA) DIAZ (DEFENSE)

28 years old; from Baar, Switzerland

$700,000 cap hit through 2014-15 (pending UFA)

Signed as a free agent after attending camp as a try-out player

145 NHL games (NY Rangers, Montreal and Vancouver)

Power-play specialist.





