Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Iginla vs. Nieuwendyk: Who was the better player?

CliffFletcher · 10-25-2013, 02:12 PM

I get the impression a lot of the Iginla advocates here didn't watch Niewendyk break into the league. Before his knee injury, he was a phenomenal pure goal scorer. The fact he changed his game after the injury to become an elite two-way player is a plus in his ledger, not a minus.

When Iginla isn't scoring, he doesn't bring much to the table. Whereas Niewendyk into his 30s was relied on as a top-flight defensive centre, and still chipped in timely goals at a rate not far behind late-career Iginla.

At his peak, Iginla was the better goal-scorer. But outside those peak years, he was not the all-around player that Niewendyk was. I'll take an elite two-way centre who scores 30 goals, wins face-offs, kills penalties, and comes up big in the play-offs over a 40 goal sniper every day of the week.

10-25-2013, 02:12 PM	#143
CliffFletcher Franchise Player Join Date: May 2006 Exp:	I get the impression a lot of the Iginla advocates here didn't watch Niewendyk break into the league. Before his knee injury, he was a phenomenal pure goal scorer. The fact he changed his game after the injury to become an elite two-way player is a plus in his ledger, not a minus. When Iginla isn't scoring, he doesn't bring much to the table. Whereas Niewendyk into his 30s was relied on as a top-flight defensive centre, and still chipped in timely goals at a rate not far behind late-career Iginla. At his peak, Iginla was the better goal-scorer. But outside those peak years, he was not the all-around player that Niewendyk was. I'll take an elite two-way centre who scores 30 goals, wins face-offs, kills penalties, and comes up big in the play-offs over a 40 goal sniper every day of the week.