Hockey Canada says Iginla needs to start playing if he wants to make Olympic team - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sureLoss · 11-01-2017, 09:21 AM

First Iginla update I have heard in a while:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/j...-olympic-team/

Quote:

“As good a player as Jarome has been, as good a man as he is, if he’s not playing, it’s hard to give yourself opportunity for a fair evaluation, quite honestly, of what he might be able to do in the Olympic Games,” Tom Renney, president and CEO of Hockey Canada, said Wednesday morning at Team Canada’s jersey unveiling event in Toronto.

“It’s tough to go from zero to 60 as a 40-year-old.”

Quote:

The Edmonton native was invited to suit up for Canada’s national team at November’s Olympic tune-up tournament, the Karjala Cup in Helsinki, but declined. The winger recently underwent a procedure to clean up loose particles in his hip.

Following Helsinki, the next major step in Canada’s roster evaluation is Moscow’s Channel One Cup in mid-December.

If he still holds 2018 Olympic dreams, it’s safe to assume Iginla would need to be active by then. Iginla scored 14 goals and 13 assists — low totals, by his standards — in 80 games for the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche in 2016-17.

“Jarome is going to have to be playing hockey,” Renney asserted. “It’s one thing to talk about names that could play. If those people aren’t playing….” The sentence hung unfinished.

“We’ve talked to Jarome, we’ve talked to Shane Doan … only to get their feel on things and to give them an opportunity to understand where we are in the grand scheme of things and how we want to approach this so there are no surprises.”

Yoho · 11-01-2017, 09:24 AM

Not sure you can afford to be this choosey Tom.

Tron_fdc · 11-01-2017, 09:26 AM

Where would these guys play? AHL? ECHL? Europe?

I'm sure there are plenty of teams in the Allcal looking for a winger to play midnight on Sunday.

Otto-matic · 11-01-2017, 09:34 AM

It is a fair request though. As good as Iginla is if he has no intention of playing in the pre-tournaments for Canada before the Olympics then the roster spot should go to someone who is committed and playing them.

CsInMyBlood · 11-01-2017, 09:39 AM

Interesting, this is the first time I've heard that he had a procedure to clean up particles in his hip.

Maybe I missed it, but now makes a little more sense why he didn't try to get a contract anywhere.

GreenLantern2814 · 11-01-2017, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Where would these guys play? AHL? ECHL? Europe?

I'm sure there are plenty of teams in the Allcal looking for a winger to play midnight on Sunday.

Europe. Iggy had nearly 30 points in the NHL last year, I'm sure he's not going to look lost playing for HC Bern for a couple months.

Sounds like the reason Iggy isn't playing is that he's recovering from hip surgery. I hope he recovers in time, I'd love to see him captain that team.

Kerr had a great interview with one of the Hockey Canada scouts yesterday, and I'm actually excited to see how this group does. It sounds like they're going to be very creative with who they take.

Coach · 11-01-2017, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Europe. Iggy had nearly 30 points in the NHL last year, I'm sure he's not going to look lost playing for HC Bern for a couple months.

Sounds like the reason Iggy isn't playing is that he's recovering from hip surgery. I hope he recovers in time, I'd love to see him captain that team.

Kerr had a great interview with one of the Hockey Canada scouts yesterday, and I'm actually excited to see how this group does. It sounds like they're going to be very creative with who they take.

Is there a minimum age? Will they look at taking junior players?

Corral · 11-01-2017, 09:46 AM

Leading Canada to Olympic gold in hockey this year would be one for the ages - surpassing 2002 in terms of accomplishment by a long mile.

corporatejay · 11-01-2017, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corral

Leading Canada to Olympic gold in hockey this year would be one for the ages - surpassing 2002 in terms of accomplishment by a long mile.

without NHL players no one will give two craps about this tournament.

sureLoss · 11-01-2017, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyC

Is there a minimum age? Will they look at taking junior players?

Been reported on HNIC that Hockey Canada is looking at a couple of junior players, but the CHL doesn't want to release players for the Olympics. Believe the CHL is wary of losing star players for both the WJC and Olympics. Reported it is something that Hockey Canada and the CHL are negotiating.

tvp2003 · 11-01-2017, 10:10 AM

This is shaping up to be another Miracle On Ice, except instead of a team of college kids, it will be a bunch of old, slow, NHL rejects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Where would these guys play? AHL? ECHL? Europe?

I hear the Bangladesh Pro League has some pretty stiff competition.

Young_Guns · 11-01-2017, 10:14 AM

At this point, you would think he would have announced retirement. Wondering if he has something worked out with some team where he doesn't want to play the entire season of 82 games, making a debut closer to the halfway point of the season? Perhaps a perennial favourite like Chicago or something (though not sure where he slots in)?

Kjesse · 11-01-2017, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

This is shaping up to be another Miracle On Ice, except instead of a team of college kids, it will be a bunch of old, slow, NHL rejects.

I hear the Bangladesh Pro League has some pretty stiff competition.

Under no circumstances, anywhere, let alone on a Calgary Flames fan forum, should Jarome Iginla be referred to as an "old, slow, NHL reject."

Corral · 11-01-2017, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporatejay

without NHL players no one will give two craps about this tournament.

Gary - is that you?

corporatejay · 11-01-2017, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corral

Gary - is that you?

heh, no but it's taking place in the middle of the night. I don't think anyone is getting up to see Hnat Domechilli suit up for Team Canada.

Parallex · 11-01-2017, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporatejay

heh, no but it's taking place in the middle of the night. I don't think anyone is getting up to see Hnat Domechilli suit up for Team Canada.

Pretty sure there's gonna be a same day rebroadcast. I'll watch it... maybe not with as much anticipation but it's still the Olympics. If we'll watch sports we don't care a lick about any other week of any other year we'll watch Olympic hockey.

Oling_Roachinen · 11-01-2017, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporatejay

heh, no but it's taking place in the middle of the night. I don't think anyone is getting up to see Hnat Domechilli suit up for Team Canada.

But imagine the chemistry him and Iginla will have!

bubbsy · 11-01-2017, 10:49 AM

Sorry if this is a stupid question that has been answered already in other threads but, utside of the KHL/European leagues, what other leagues are making their players available to the olympics, AHL/CHL/NCAA/ECHL?

Clever_Iggy · 11-01-2017, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporatejay

heh, no but it's taking place in the middle of the night. I don't think anyone is getting up to see Hnat Domechilli suit up for Team Canada.

I plan to watch as closely as I watch the Spengler Cup.

Tyler · 11-01-2017, 11:16 AM

You got 2 Gold medals already and you were a pivotal force in 2002, and part of an ageless goal in 2010. You're already a legend.

Why would you then join a rag tag group of cast offs for an Olympics that will undoubtedly have an asterix beside it for some last grasp of glory (that you really don't need)?

I wouldn't do it if I were Jarome.