The Calgary Flames selected Saprykin with their first round selection, 11th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He earned a spot on the Flames to start the 1999–2000 season and made his NHL debut and scored his first point (an assist) on October 2, 1999, against the San Jose Sharks. It was his lone point in four games before the Flames reassigned him back to Seattle. Saprykin appeared in only 48 games with the Thunderbirds but scored 66 points. He was named to the second All-Star Team for the second season in a row.