Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I'm worried also, but I don't think smugness is the issue. It's the special status Iginla has in Calgary, and the terror that management has of getting crucified if they don't get a huge haul for Iginla. So once again, the asset management of the Flames will be heavily influenced by something other than rational hockey consideration.
|
I am glad that management views Iggy as special, as he is a lot more special than a lot on this board give him credit for. Look at the guys popping up in conversations.
Clowe is 30 now, his best season ever was 24 goals and 62 points. No real reason to expect much more from him at this age. Lucic is 24, and after 2 years of 25-30 goal and 60 point range, has stepped back this year, being on pace for below 50 points.
When Iggy was 24 (Lucic's age) he was stepping past that 60 then 70 point range and the next season was his 50 goal Art Ross year, and showed himself to be the best skater in the league.
In this milennium, Iggy's worst year is better than the best year of either of these two guys. And this year, an off year for him, he is still on pace to match their best numbers ever, when playing on a much worse team, with no top line center, and factoring in that the slow start is a much higher proportion of the season. And people are slotting him in on third lines. Ha.
You have to give credit to Iggy for the consistency he has shown, that is something special. Doing what he does year in and year out is hard to do at any age, as many younger players are learning.
The Flames should expect a lot for him