I have to be honest. The biggest reason I don't want the Flames to acquire Iginla is that I couldn't take the blasting he would take on these boards. Some people remember him still as the Iginla of '04. That guy that put this team on his back and carried them through those playoffs, and for season after season. That's not him any longer.
He is slow. Every slow player on this team has often been accused of 'not caring' or not putting in a full effort. He can't get to the open areas for a shot. He can't fight through the traffic like he used to. He just isn't the same player.
I can see him fitting in on the 4th line. Who do you take out? Hathaway? Bouma? The most logical would be to remove Stajan (yep, going to get flack for that suggestion). Why? Because Stajan is also pretty slow. This team needs speed, so I would only be interested in Iginla replacing someone else that is slow. He has to come here knowing what his role is, rather than expecting to play with Gaudreau/Monahan/Bennett.
He will be blasted continually on these boards. That's for sure. People really need to focus on Iginla when they watch the Avs play - he looks so slow. A shell of his former self. If you didn't see "12 Iginla" on the back of his jersey, it is likely you wouldn't know who that player was.
With that being said, would it be a good story? For sure. Would the team rally around him? I bet they would. I think there are ways you can bring him in (and it will be free) that will help this team. Limited minutes on the the 4th line. 10 minutes to keep him fresh. He isn't that young Iginla that if he was playing poorly, you just kept increasing his ice time until he played through it.
He isn't going to be used on the top 3 lines. Though this team could really use a RHS on the PP, I have my doubts he would be good there either. However, he definitely could be a very good rallying cry for this team to make that push if they are still looking playoff bound.
As for him getting vetted - I don't think that is an issue. He has been to Pittsburgh, Boston and Colorado. Exactly zero bad stories about him, and countless others about how his work ethic and preparation are second to none on the team. I think he could make a good role model on how important it is to look after yourself and prepare the right way. His longevity and health in this league didn't come by accident.
I would be very apprehensive about Iginla. Anyone expecting much in the way of a stats-sheet contribution will quickly hate him. Anyone expecting him to play a rough and tumble game will be disappointed. Anyone expecting him to contribute positively on the defensive side of things will be disappointed. He is what he is at this point, and making the other players on this team rally around him and try to get him a cup would be his best contribution. I think he will still help the team win - pot in the occasional goal, stick up for a teammate occasionally, etc., but not something you would expect regularly.
I love Iginla, and I want to remember him as a dream of a player. I don't want to remember him like I remembered Lanny his last couple of seasons, and having the media joke around with him in saying: "Maybe you can play defence next year if you are slowing down, and maybe Goalie if that is too fast for you. hahaha"
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