Trade to Penguins has rejuvenated Iginla

[Skyceman]

After wearing a "C" on his red sweater for nearly a full decade in Calgary, Iginla has been letterless in black and yellow for the past month, helping him feel free, fast and fortunate again at 35 years old.

"I'm feeling as good as I've felt now as far as energy than I have in a while," Iginla told NHL.com. "I don't mean years or anything, but this year has been a tough year. It was a contract year, we had the lockout, and I knew we had to get off to a good start or I was maybe moving. There were unknowns, uncertainties. I love playing hockey, still love it as much as I ever have, but it was stressful leading up to the trade.

"This is exciting, this new experience. I don't feel that pressure or have that pressure of being a leader at all."

Iginla hasn't been on a contender in a long time; so long that he had to think back to 18 years ago, when he was a junior with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, to remember the last time he felt as good about his team going into the playoffs as he does about the Penguins.

"We won the Memorial Cup and we were rated first overall," Iginla said. "In the NHL, we [the Flames] never got there. Even when we went to the Cup Final [in 2004] it was all underdog stuff, so I haven't been in this situation in the NHL."

He called coach Dan Bylsma's system different than any he has ever experienced in the NHL, which is saying something since Iginla played for 10 different coaches in Calgary. Iginla said his adjustment was difficult because after relying on his instincts for so long it now seemed like he had to re-learn how to play, where he was supposed to go.

He didn't, of course. The game isn't any different in Pittsburgh than it is in Calgary, save for the talent level. But Iginla had to figure out the Penguins' way of doing things, how to thrive in a competitive, winning environment again.

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=668388

[nik-]

meh. My "hope the Pens win for Iginla" phase lasted about 2 days.

[jayswin]

Great to hear. I hope he gets his cup this year. He likely won't be on a team this good again in his career.

[Neeper]

I hope Iggy wins a cup with the Pens. Go Pens Go! At least it gives me something positive to cheer for instead of cheering for someone to lose (Canucks).

[Travis Munroe]

I recall iggy not wanting new systems with certain coaches in Calgary. It's amazing how quickly a team like the pens can turn that attitude around.

[Miniac]

Originally Posted by Neeper

I hope Iggy wins a cup with the Pens. Go Pens Go! At least it gives me something positive to cheer for instead of cheering for someone to lose (Canucks).

You can cheer for the Blues to lose

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Great to hear. I hope he gets his cup this year. He likely won't be on a team this good again in his career.

Put any of those ten coaches he had here behind the current Pen's bench and I bet they all would have similar results as Bylsma.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Put any of those ten coaches he had here behind the current Pen's bench and I bet they all would have similar results as Bylsma.

No they wouldn't. Not even close. Bylsma has coached that team a lot of time without one or both of Crosby and Malkin and they never miss a beat. He's one of the top 5 coaches in the NHL.

[Caged Great]

I hope the isles win.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

No they wouldn't. Not even close. Bylsma has coached that team a lot of time without one or both of Crosby and Malkin and they never miss a beat. He's one of the top 5 coaches in the NHL.

Right, I guess we were just missing a coach like Bylsma all those years in Calgary

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by nik-

meh. My "hope the Pens win for Iginla" phase lasted about 2 days.

Really don't understand this attitude. Either you're rooting for the guy or you're not.

So when the trade first happened it was a 2-day fad for you?

And now you're so indifferent you had to pipe in within 60 seconds to make sure everyone's aware you don't really care?

Cool story.

[sun]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Right, I guess we were just missing a coach like Bylsma all those years in Calgary

Sure as #### wouldn't have hurt.

Aside from D Sutter, who was the last Flames coach that got another head coaching job after leaving the team? Pretty long list of duds.

[Major Major]

I hope Iggy wins a cup, but not this year. Not saying I'll be upset if it happens, but as a Flames fan, we are negatively effected if the Pens have a successful playoff, however slight.

Also, I remember rolling into the playoffs with a Vezna winning goalie and Northwest Division Champions in 06. The flames weren't the pittsburg penguins of that year, but they had a legitimate stanley cup contending team.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

Really don't understand this attitude. Either you're rooting for the guy or you're not.

So when the trade first happened it was a 2-day fad for you?

And now you're so indifferent you had to pipe in within 60 seconds to make sure everyone's aware you don't really care?

Cool story.

It didn't take effort to post so indifference doesn't really apply. Personally I'm just sick of hearing about ex Flames players and coaches and their success and happiness elsewhere and their fancy new winning environments while we're here burned to the ground.

It doesn't make me feel happy to hear about how awesome it is somewhere else, especially from people this team was being shortsighted catering to.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by nik-

It didn't take effort to post so indifference doesn't really apply. Personally I'm just sick of hearing about ex Flames players and coaches and their success and happiness elsewhere and their fancy new winning environments while we're here burned to the ground.

It doesn't make me feel happy to hear about how awesome it is somewhere else, especially from people this team was being shortsighted catering to.

Makes it that much more surprising you spent 48 hours thinking it was great.

Pretty easy to avoid such stories and threads if you don't like it. It's pretty apparent what's going to be said to the press and what kinds of stories are going to be written and should really come as no surprise.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

It feels weird for me to care as little as I do about Iginla playing with the Pens now. First time he suited up in a Pens uniform I watched the whole game. Now? I kind of forget that he's even there.

That's not a shot at Iggy, he's one of my favorite players of all time, but I guess it's just a reminder how much I've moved on already. I would have no problem seeing the Isles take that series.

[nik-]

I didn't say I thought it was great, I said me hoping the Pens won lasted about two days. At the time it was fresh, but how many times are you supposed to hear about how awesome everything else is before you're tired of it.

[Captain_Obvious]

Iginla didn't send out a press release. Reporters ask questions and write stories. Gearing up for the playoffs is going to be a prime time for such comments to be recycled.

I know when something doesn't interest me, I don't go out of my way looking to read about it and comment on my indifference about it.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by nik-

I didn't say I thought it was great, I said me hoping the Pens won lasted about two days. At the time it was fresh, but how many times are you supposed to hear about how awesome everything else is before you're tired of it.

Yeah, I like the guy but sometimes there's a part of me hoping the grass isn't greener when a player leaves.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

Iginla didn't send out a press release. Reporters ask questions and write stories. Gearing up for the playoffs is going to be a prime time for such comments to be recycled.

I know when something doesn't interest me, I don't go out of my way looking to read about it and comment on my indifference about it.

Report the post or put him on ignore. You're de-railing the thread pretty quickly.