So happy that I got to follow his entire career as a Flame. In the trade with Dallas the Flames we're pushing for someone else but ended up getting Iginla. He could have played his whole career in Dallas and if that happens I probably watch about 1000 less games of Iggy's career.
I remember his first games as a Flame in the playoffs thinking he was going to be special player. Then he became a good player for the Flames for a number of years between 97-01. In the newspaper "journalists" wanted to trade him for Peca, would have been worse than the Brett Hull trade if they got their wish.
The 02 Olympic camp is where things really turned around for Iginla and this franchise. Iginla was a late invite and he always said that camp showed he could play with the elite players in the game. Went on to win the scoring race and he was so great in that Gold Medal game scoring two goals on a line with Sakic and Gagne. I may be biased but the 02 Olympic team is the greatest collection of players in my lifetime, maybe ever (87 team was pretty insane as well tho). Lemiux, Sakic, Yzerman, Iginla , Brodeaur, Pronger, Blake, Kariya, Fleury the list goes on and on. Back then not every regular season game was televised, I remember vividly listening to Peter Maher on the radio listening to games and hearing Iggy score his 50th of the season.
Of course 04 is what I will most remember from Iginla, he and Kipper almost won us a Stanley Cup, to this day the funnest 2 months of hockey of my life. I don't know if I will ever be that invested in a team again.
It's a shame that 04 was the only year Iginla won a playoff series in Calgary. The loss against the Ducks after the lock out hurt but the one I think hurts the worst was against the Blackhawks. We were so injured that year our defense was so banged up the team had to dress 15 players just to finish the season because they were so close to the Cap. Had they not been so banged up they certainly would have won the division and played the Blues in the first round and probably win that series easily.
The teams lack of ability to draft any good offensive players while Iggy was here really hurt as well. The Savard trade was horrible, having him on the team on 04 certainly would have helped our 2nd line and I think he makes a difference for us.
It's an incredibly sad day for me, but the silver lining is that he was able to play 20 years in the league at a high level (he led the Avs in scoring at the age of 37) and he was able to leave the game on his terms. Also love that his first and last regular season goals were against the Cannucks. Ya he never won the Cup but so did a lot of great players. And unlike Kariya Pronger or Lindros he never suffered concussions that ruined his quality of life after hockey.
There will never be another like Iginla again, the man could score, hit and fight you just don't see Richard Trophy winners having 5+ fights a season anymore. I never saw Howe play but I imagine it was similar to Iggy. Sorry to ramble so much just wanted to share some thoughts and memories of my all time favorite player.
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