The Top Three Must See Calgary Flames Games Of 2022-23

2 – Columbus Blue Jackets (December 19th)

The way Johnny Gaudreau exited Calgary left a lot of fans feeling very hurt and betrayed. The first time he makes his way back to the Saddledome to play on the opposing side might be quite an emotional one. For the fans and for Gaudreau.

The Flames’ public announcers will likely do what they’ve done in the past with departing Flames like Mark Giordano most recently and offer a small montage video with an opportunity for fans to applaud and cheer for their former player. However, Giordano’s departure was much more out of control of the team and the decision of the player due to him being selected in an expansion draft.

Johnny Gaudreau had an option to stay and had many fans thinking right at the 11th hour that he would be resigning long-term in Calgary. They were mostly blindsided by Gaudreau’s decision to test free agency and even more shocked when he left for Columbus the next day.

The extent of the public outrage that occurred after the Flames fandom lost their long-time star player was so brutal that it’s hard to believe they will have a short memory about how that all played out. Gaudreau has publicly addressed the Flames fans multiple times since leaving but even with that, his first game back could be the first time you hear a crowd full of boos directed at Johnny Gaudreau in the C of Red.