[Locke]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

What Locke said. If Iginla is on the 3rd like, he's not going to produce the same way he would on the 1st line - his minutes will get cut, he won't get his "No 1 C" et al.

Also - if Iginla is scoring 20 goals, he isn't going to sign for a 3rd/4th line contract, he'll still probably chase $4M+ for as long of a term that someone will give him.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I agree, however for arguments sake: It has already been over two years since Iginla left. His contract will be expiring in two more. Four years down the road, there will be almost nobody left connected to Iggy. The young players will all identify with the current leadership core.

If you're a Flames team at the 2017 trade deadline with aspirations of making a run, and you need a right winger who can offer some offensive punch, and Jarome Iginla is still capable of providing it, then you have to look at that as a hockey decision first and foremost.

The fans would go bonkers, of course, and the media would be all over it. But the locker room would pretty much view him as a rental at that point, I think. Doesn't mean you can ignore the circus his return would cause, only that Iginla's presence wouldn't be the dominating force it was previously.

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Pretty much how I am seeing it. He's already been to 3 teams since being traded from us and has taken a lesser role on each and every single one. If you rely on him to be your primary scorer, then you're in trouble. He's not the same player as what he was 5 years ago. But, he still is a great player for his age and is a great add on any team that wants to make a run in the playoffs.

I guess my real issue is that if Iggy isnt scoring then he isnt bringing anything else either. Hes not going to go out there at 40 and crash and bang, hes too slow for a really effective forecheck and he isnt killing penalties.