With offseason acquisition goaltender Roman Turek stopping everything in sight and an accidentally-formed top line of right wing Jarome Iginla, center Craig Conroy and left wing Dean McAmmond carrying the offensive load, the 2001-02 Calgary Flames raced out to a stunning 13-2-4-2 mark through 21 games.

	2001-02 by the numbers
	Record: 32-35-12-3, 79 points (22nd overall, 11th West, 4th Northwest) Goals for: 201/2.45 (22nd overall) Goals against: 220/2.65 (21st overall) Differential: -19 (21st overall) 20-goal scorers: Jarome Iginla (52), Craig Conroy (27), Dean McAmmond (21) 50-point scorers: Iginla (96), Conroy (75), McAmmond (51)

The Flames, under first-year head coach Greg Gilbert, seemed poised for their first playoff appearance since 1996.

Then, suddenly, the Flame went out.

Turek, bothered by nagging injuries and a lack of offensive support, couldn't keep the franchise on his shoulders. Top defender Derek Morris suffered a wrist injury on Nov. 29, which forced him to miss 20 games. Fellow D-man Denis Gauthier also missed significant time due to a broken cheekbone.

The Iginla-Conroy-McAmmond line kept producing, but the club received virtually no offense from its other three lines.

In its final 61 games, Calgary was a dismal 19-33-8-1. After such a promising start, the Flames missed the playoffs by 15 points, finishing 11th overall in the West.

Despite the disappointing finish, the club could celebrate the sensational season of Iginla, who turned 25 on July 1. Iginla led the league in points (96), goals (52) and posted a super impressive plus-27 rating on a team that allowed 19 more goals than it scored. As a result, he took home the Art Ross Trophy, the Maurice Richard Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award (outstanding player as voted by his peers).

Iginla would have won the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP had one clueless member of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association not left him off his or her ballot. Montreal's Jose Theodore, who finished in a dead heat with Iginla, won the Hart as a result of having more first-place votes.

Iginla also distinguished himself as a member of Canada's 2002 Olympic team by scoring a pair of goals in the gold medal game against Team USA.

American-born Craig Conroy, who was overshadowed by Iginla's huge season (and overlooked by the U.S. Olympic team), immerged as one of the best two-way pivots in the league. He finished with career bests in goals (27), assists (48) and points (75). Conroy also registered a plus-24 rating.

Looking at next season
Iginla's amazing season came at a perfect time … for him. It was the final year of his contract. Now, the Flames must re-sign their star player. And, it will cost them. But, if Calgary management wants to stay in this league, they'll have to come up with the dollars -- somewhere around $5-6 million per season. General manager Craig Button and agent Don Meehan have been talking throughout the summer, and Calgary's hockey fans have been watching and waiting and hoping.

Although it could take a while -- maybe into training camp -- Iginla, a restricted free agent, likely will be staying in southern Alberta. A prolonged contract impasse just doesn't make sense for either party.

Otherwise, with a good goaltender, a promising group of defensemen and arguably the best line in the league, the Flames must improve their offense. Last season, Iginla accounted for more than 25 percent of the team's goals -- a higher percentage than anyone else in the league. Also, Iginla's line contributed almost half (100 of 201 goals) of the club's offense.

To that end, Button signed speedy free agent left wing Martin Gelinas, who helped the Hurricanes to their surprising trip to the Stanley Cup finals last spring. Gelinas, who's penciled in on the second line, fits in the lineup and on the balance sheet for the cost-conscious Flames.

Joining Gelinas on the second line should be the Flames' 2001 top draft pick, Chuck Kobasew, who signed a three-year deal on June 28. The right wing almost earned a spot with the club during last season's training camp. But, after a failed contract negotiation, he was returned to his junior club (Kelowna of the WHL).

As of now, either Marc Savard or Rob Niedermayer will skate between Gelinas and Kobasew. Both centers are coming off disappointing injury-plagued seasons. Offensively, the play-making Savard is more suited for the spot, but he's not a great skater or two-way player. With Button looking to build a speed team, Savard -- who wasn't happy with his role last season -- might be better off in another city. And, he might soon be just that -- in another city.

Swedish-born Mathias Johansson will come to Calgary 10 years after the club selected him in the 1992 entry draft. Johansson, 28, was among the three non-NHL players to earn a spot on Sweden's Olympic team. A strong skater with good two-way skills, Johansson received a good recommendation by ex-Flame Hakan Loob, who is the GM of Farjestad of the Swedish League. Johansson played for Farjestad last season.

The Flames do have a host of serviceable third and fourth line players including, steadily improving Chris Clark, Jamie Wright, Scott Nichol, Jeff Shantz, Ronald Petrovicky, Blake Sloan and Steve Begin. Also, 1999 top draft pick Oleg Saprykin and Blair Betts will be looking to crack the lineup in camp.

Button would consider moving one of his defensemen for some scoring help, but again, the deal has to make sense on the ice and on the balance sheet. And, those kinds of deals aren't quite so easy to pull off.

The Flames have a potentially monster group of defenders led by Morris, who has been the topic of more than one trade rumor since the regular season ended. Morris, who turns 24 on Aug. 24, stands among the game's top young defensemen. Button could get something substantial if he decides to move him.

The Flames will be hoping for a better year from 22-year-old Robyn Regehr, who enters his fourth NHL season. Regehr struggled through the 2001-02 campaign, finishing with a team worst minus-24 rating. He's better than that.

Veteran Bob Boughner and Gauthier will provide toughness, while Toni Lydman and ex-Thrasher Petr Buzek bring some versatility to the backline.

Button expects University of Minnesota defenseman Jordan Leopold, 21, to earn a spot on the roster. Leopold inked a two-year deal with the club after winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top U.S. college player last season. Leopold, who scored 48 points in 44 games with the Golden Gophers in 2001-02, should add some much-needed offense from the blue line.

In goal, Turek will be back for his second season in Calgary. The oversized netminder finished with 30 of the club's 32 wins, a solid 2.53 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage and five shutouts.

This season, he'll be backed up by veteran (and former St. Louis teammate) Jamie McLennan, who replaces 39-year-old Mike Vernon.

If Button, who has done an excellent job of acquiring key players through trades and adding inexpensive free agents with his limited budget, can get Iginla signed and find another top-six forward before opening night, the Flames will have a chance to break their six-year playoff drought in the tough Western Conference.

If one or both things don't happen, though, the Flames will need a lot more than a good start to keep fans interested in Calgary.