 Each team started with three balls, and lost one for each time they made the post-season in the previous three years, with a minimum of one ball per team.The Flames had two balls in the lottery, however were very unlucky, ending up with the 26th overall pick.The Flames returned to having their own American Hockey League affiliate in 2005–06 with the debut of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in Omaha, Nebraska.