Vancouver, British Columbia (My Sportsbook) - Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames kick off their 2002-03 season tonight at the Saddledome against the Vancouver Canucks.

Iginla's league-leading 52 goals and 96 points, plus a 13-2-4-2 start were not enough to lead Calgary to the postseason, as the Flames finished 32-35-12-3 and 11th place in the Western Conference.

Iginla, who was rewarded with a brand new two-year, $13 million contract, won the Lester Pearson Award -- player of the year from the NHLPA -- and was runner-up to Montreal's Jose Theodore for the Hart Trophy -- losing by a mere three first-place votes.

Craig Conroy also had a career year with 75 points and assumed a leadership role on the ice and in the locker room. He also emerged as one of the NHL's top two- way forwards and finished second in the Selke Award voting behind the Islanders' Michael Peca.

Just before the start of the season the Flames got some help for their top two offensive threats and acquired centers Chris Drury and Stephane Yelle from the Colorado Avalanche for stud blueliner Derek Morris and Dean McAmmond.

Defensively, Morris' exit leaves a void atop the depth chart, as he was the clear anchor of the group. He leaves behind a trio -- Robyn Regehr, Denis Gauthier and Toni Lydman -- that provides a fine mix of skills and is only going to get better.

Goaltender Roman Turek, who built the reputation as an enigma in St. Louis, was simply brilliant during the Flames' early-season surge, but he dropped off dramatically from December onward. The Czech native received a four-year $19 million extension last year. Jamie McClennan will serve as his backup.

Vancouver, the NHL's best team in the second half last year, rode a 28-9-3-3 mark after Christmas to a 42-30-7-3 overall mark and eighth place in the West.

The Canucks continued their hot-run into the postseason and captured the first two games of the opening series against the Detroit Red Wings, but the eventual Stanley Cup champions captured the next four games and knocked Vancouver out in six games.

Not much has changed since last season and the Canucks return basically the same team that finished atop the league with 254 goals scored, which averaged out to 3.10 per-contest.

The high-powered line of captain Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison, which combined for 34 goals in the final 17 games, remained intact and is possibly the best line in all of hockey.

Naslund, one of only two players (Bill Guerin) to reach the 40-goal plateau in each of the last two seasons, has become a true superstar in the league and will continue to determine Vancouver's success.

Between the pipes, Dan Cloutier finally broke through with a respectable effort last season -- 2.43 GAA and .901 SP -- but his collapse in the playoffs causes for some concern. Ahead 2-0 in the series, and Game 3 tied 1-1 late in the second period, Cloutier surrendered a long goal to Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom that proved to be the game-winner and changed the tide of the series.

Vancouver, which took four of five from the Flames a year ago, has taken eight of the last 11 from Calgary, including four straight in the Flames' home rink.

The Canucks are 16-13-3 all-time in season-openers, while the Flames have a 11-9-10 mark on opening night, dating back to their days in Atlanta.