Quote:
Originally Posted by Flame19,289
These are quotes from an NHL.com article after the game against Norway, but I think they are worth pointing out after the game against the Swiss...
Iginla:
Babcock: |
Its interesting how things can be taken out of context. Its still really difficult to tell what their intentions are but from Babcock's quote, its almost like he was complementing Iginla.
He says the team doesn't need Iginla to score in order to help the team. Which can mean that he can help the team in many other ways not just scoring.
On the other hand you have a player like Heatly, his job is to score goals, because he can't really do anything else.
I think Iginla and Babcock need to get on the same page. I think Babcock wants Iginla to be the Holmstrom to Crosbys and Nashs, Datsyuk and Zetterberg. He wants Iginla to play a certain way regardless of what line he was playing. Maybe Babcocks opinion was that Iginla change the way he played once he played with Crosby (I do remember one shift last night where Iginla left the zone too early, Babcock probably didn't like that)
So Instead of leaving Iginla up there he replaced him with players he felt were going to do the job asked of them (Toews, Bergeron, Richards)
Even though I understand the reasoning, Babcock needs to realize this isn't Holmstrom, Franzen, Morrow or whoever. This is Jarome Iginla, he is first and formost a power forward, but he can do so much more, rather than just creat space for Sidney Crosby. He has made a heck of a living carrying a team with no one to create space for him.
After thinking about it I am less confused but still pissed off, because Iginla deserves more than he is getting.
Based on the reasoning above, I do believe Iginla will get a chance again to be an impact player, and if Iginla's career is any indication he won't waste it and Team Canada will hopefully be better for it.
If I am completely wrong and Iginla barely gets a sniff the rest of the tourney, then the brass is off their rocker putting the hopes of the country in the hands of Perry, Nash, Staal and Marleau ahead of Iginla