He still has value to a team in a playoff run. He still has the shot.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
Great guy. I wish he would have recognized when it was time to hang them up though. I hate seeing great players fade away to nothing rather than going out on top. It would have been nice to see Iginla get his Lanny McDonald or Payton Manning moment, but that window closed with his Pittsburgh decision. He should have retired gracefully after the Boston contract rather than signing one more on a poor Colorado team which would amplify his inability to play in the league. Hopefully he sees where this is headed and asks for the trade to Calgary where he can play his final game and retire where it started for him. That would be much better than the cliche signing a one day contract to retire a Flame. Take that last twirl on Saddledome ice in a #12 Flames jersey to cement his legacy in the hearts of Calgary fans.
Wildly hate this viewpoint.
"Hey Jarome, I know you love playing hockey and there was still teams willing to pay you big bucks to do it, but quit because I don't want to watch the decline phase of your career."
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Did you watch his last two seasons? A shadow of his former self. But hey, he made it to 1,500 games. That's all that matters tonight. Hoist a beer in honor of one the best Flames ever reaching a milestone.
A shadow of an elite player is still a very effective NHLer. Look at Jagr, Hossa, late years Lidstrom and Datsyuk. If they can still play and contribute, let them play. They'll tell you when they've had enough.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ResAlien
If we can't fall in love with replaceable bottom 6 players then the terrorists have won.
"Hey Jarome, I know you love playing hockey and there was still teams willing to pay you big bucks to do it, but quit because I don't want to watch the decline phase of your career."
Yes
Quit either when you don't enjoy playing or nobody wants to hire you to play anymore. There's zero reason for a HHOFer to 'save face' by prematurely retiring
He had been called at 1 a.m. that day, his contract negotiated but not signed, by then Calgary general manager Al Coates. Iginla landed in Calgary from Kamloops, British Columbia, at 10:30 a.m. for the 1 p.m. playoff game and was brought down to the dressing room to be introduced around.
As Coates recalled three years ago, "He's going around and shaking everybody's hands, introducing himself to the team and Fleury said to him, 'Sit down, put your stuff on, we don't have time for this. You can meet everybody after the game.'
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What the hell were the Kamloops Blazers putting in the water in 94-95?
To have not one but TWO 1500+ games in the NHL first rounders (Doan taken 7th)...
It really is amazing how closely Jarome's career resembles that of Doan. Iginla and Doan are definitely cut from the same cloth. Something to admire really.
I am very glad he didn't "hang them up" and there was no reason he should have. Just a shame he ended up with such a bad team.
It really is. And at the time of his signing it looked like the Avs were on the verge of being cup contenders withh a bright future. It's amazing how quick they went downhill, and their still sliding down. Too bad he hadn't signed with a different team, but I suppose he had no way of knowing the disaster the Avalanche would become.
Look at the great names under Iginla on this list of games played. Amazing.
He is very much a generational player, and is my favorite player of all time. He wasn't just a goal scorer, he was tough as nails, all the while being an actual nice guy.
Note the was, not is, the game is passing him by, but there's no shame in that he gave it his all, and the game gave him back a life most can only dream for.
