Quote:
Originally Posted by Canada 02
‘How did you get the team to play that hard?’ ” said Gulutzan, now 45. “I remember that was one of the questions I asked him after their playoff run. I hadn’t seen a team play that hard. And Darryl’s answer, I still remember, was: ‘I didn’t. I didn’t do it.’ He said, ‘Once Jarome and the leadership got on board and together, they looked after it themselves.’
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I think this is a key statement. Iggy from 04 to 08 was not the same leader as his last couple of years. Yes, it is all speculation but there are reports of young or new players being left out of activities. Even Conroy had to step in once Iginla left and say that is not how we do things here. I get a sense that Iginla wasn't buying after Darryl especially with certain coaches and that is where the disconnect comes from.
I firmly believe players would have taken a bullet for each other in and around 04, and that was Iginla's doing. I do not get the same sense from his last couple of Flames teams and I again believe it was Iginla's doing. Was it on purpose? I highly doubt it, just the way things evolved. I think we talk about two different players during Iginla's time here.