We’ve just put out a short video at our YouTube Channel, looking at the top 10 scorers (total points) over the eight year history of the Atlanta Flames. We’re going to go into a little deeper detail about the franchise and the ten players here.
Atlanta Flames All-Time Scoring Leaders Video
First off, the video. It would be great if you’d give it a ‘Like’ and, we are always appreciative when readers subscribe to the YouTube Channel!
The Numbers
| Player | Gms | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
| 1 | Tom Lysiak | 445 | 155 | 276 | 431 | 329 |
| 2 | Eric Vail | 469 | 174 | 209 | 383 | 223 |
| 3 | Guy Chouinard | 318 | 126 | 168 | 294 | 56 |
| 4 | Curt Bennett | 405 | 126 | 140 | 266 | 190 |
| 5 | Bob MacMillan | 208 | 90 | 131 | 221 | 50 |
| 6 | Rey Comeau | 468 | 88 | 126 | 214 | 153 |
| 7 | Ken Houston | 350 | 91 | 108 | 199 | 332 |
| 8 | Bill Clement | 297 | 69 | 107 | 176 | 136 |
| 9 | Willi Plett | 296 | 91 | 83 | 174 | 738 |
| 10 | Randy Manery | 377 | 30 | 142 | 172 | 242 |
The Atlanta Flames
The Atlanta Flames joined the National Hockey League as an expansion franchise for the 1972-73 season, along with the New York Islanders. The Flames competed in the NHL for eight seasons from 1972-73 to 1979-80 before relocating to Calgary, Alberta for the 1980-81 campaign.
The team reached the post season in their final five years in Georgia and in six of eight seasons. However, they did not win any of the six playoff rounds they competed in.
The team’s first goal came in their first game, an October 7, 1972 road game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum against their expansion siblings, the New York Islanders. It was a 3-2 win for the Flames and the first goal was scored by Morris Stefaniw, assisted by Lew Morrison.
Rey Comeau, number six on the all-time list, scored the team’s second goal. Randy Manery, number ten on the list, took Atlanta’s first penalty, a two minute call for hooking.
Their first home goal was scored by Ernie Hicke, assisted by Noel Price and Rey Comeau. That was the only marker in a 1-1 tie with the Buffalo Sabres on October 14, 1972 at Atlanta’s Omni Coliseum.
The Top 10
10. Randy Manery
The only defenseman on the list, Randy Manery played for the Flames from 1972-73 to 1976-77. Manery was the Atlanta’s eighth pick at the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft, taken from the Detroit Red Wings. Randy had previously played just three games in the National Hockey League over two seasons with Detroit. His time with the Flames came to an end on May 23, 1977 when he was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Ab DeMarco Jr.
9. Willi Plett
Willi Plett was a bit of a longshot. He was a fifth round pick by the Flames at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft, 80th overall, coming out of the St. Catharine’s Black Hawks. He played for Atlanta from 1975-76 to 1979-80 and was around for an additional two years with the Calgary Flames.
Plett was the Calder Trophy winner in 1976-77 as rookie of the year. He could score goals but was perhaps better known for his aggressive play. He was fifth in the league in 1978-79 with 213 penalty minutes. The following year, he upped the number to 231 but fell to the seventh position.
8. Bill Clement
Bill Clement played with Atlanta from 1975-76 to 1979-80, along with an additional two seasons in Calgary. Clement was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft from the Ottawa 67’s.
After experiencing two Stanley Cup championships in Philly, Bill spent part of a season with the Washington Capitals before a January 22, 1976 trade sent him to the Flames for Jean Lemieux and Gerry Meehan. Clement was a 20 goal scorer in 1977-78.
7. Ken Houston
Ken Houston was definitely a longshot. A sixth round pick by the Flames at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, he didn’t play his first games with the club until the 1975-76 season. He lasted out the duration of the team’s existence in Georgia and played two more years with Calgary. Houston was a 20 goal scorer in four of five seasons with Atlanta.
6. Rey Comeau
Rey Comeau came to Atlanta during the team’s inaugural 1972-73 season via a trade with the Montreal Canadiens. His previous NHL experience was limited to just four games with the Habs in 1971-72. Comeau played with the Flames from 1972-73 to 1977-78. He signed with the Colorado Rockies for the 1978-79 season.
5. Bob MacMillan
Originally a first round of the New York Rangers in 1972, Bob MacMillan came to the Flames from the St. Louis Blues via a December 12, 1977 trade along with Yves Belanger and Dick Redmond for Curt Bennett, Barry Gibbs and Phil Myre.
MacMillan played with Atlanta from 1977-78 to 1979-80 and continued with Calgary until 1981-82. His big year came in 1978-79. That year, he tied Marcel Dionne for third in the NHL with 71 assists. His 108 points put him fifth in the race for the Art Ross Trophy. Bob was also awarded the Lady Byng Trophy that season.
4. Curt Bennett
Curt Bennett came to the team in their inaugural 1972-73 season via a November 29, 1972 trade with the New York Rangers. Going in the other direction was Ron Harris. Curt played with the Flames from 1972-73 to 1977-78 before being traded to the Blues in the exchange that brought Bob MacMillan in the other direction. Bennett was a two time 30 goal scorer with the Flames.
3. Guy Chouinard
Guy Chouinard was Atlanta’s second round pick at the 1974 NHL Draft, selected from the Quebec Remparts. He played with the team from 1974-75 to 1979-80 and continued with Calgary until the end of 1982-83.
The only 50 goal scorer during the team’s time in Georgia, the magic came in 1978-79. Chouinard scored exactly 50 while assisting on 57 for 107 points in 80 games. He was fourth in the NHL for goal scoring behind Mike Bossy, Marcel Dionne and Guy Lafleur. Guy was sixth in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.
2. Eric Vail
A second round pick by Atlanta at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft from the Sudbury Wolves, Eric Vail played with the Flames from 1973-74 to 1979-80. However, he wasn’t technically a rookie until the 1974-75 season. That year, he was named the Calder Trophy winner. Three times with Atlanta, Vail crossed the 30 goal plateau.
1. Tom Lysiak
Tom Lysiak was taken by the Flames in the second round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft from the Medicine Hat Tigers. He played with the club from 1973-74 to 1978-79, serving as team captain for the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons. He was a 30 goal scorer twice with Atlanta.
A March 13, 1979 trade sent Lysiak to the Chicago Black Hawks with Greg Fox, Harold Phillipoff, Pat Ribble and Miles Zaharko for Ivan Boldirev, Darcy Rota and Phil Russell.