Sorry, when one player has been the focus of the organizational mindset, nothing is going to change until that player is gone.
This will be the path, until he retires, leaves as a UFA, or is traded.
Couldn't agree more.
Nobody else has to be a difference-maker because we got Iggy (and to some extent the same applies to Kipprusoff). And he's just not a difference-maker enough himself anymore.
Until the torch is passed, the team will continue to be in his shadow.
Yes never. Nice cherry picked stat. Conroy's best year in career that was completely on the back of Iginla's highest goal total and 2nd highest point season. Iginla propelled Conroy to those numbers and that's it.
I love Conny, but the fact he's the best centre we can think of that's every played with Iggy proves the point. He was a legit NHL #2 centre for some seasons, and a 3rd line centre for some as well. Basically a 2b centre is the best the Flames have ever given Iginla. Maybe that's the debatable, but what's not debatable is that Iginla has NEVER played with a legit #1, so the comment stands. Iginla has never played with a good centre.
Nobody else has to be a difference-maker because we got Iggy (and to some extent the same applies to Kipprusoff). And he's just not a difference-maker enough himself anymore.
Until the torch is passed, the team will continue to be in his shadow.
It's not his fault, but there you go.
I'll probably get blasted for this...but if Iggy were not to waive his NTC, I'm not sure I'd offer him a contract moving forward... And it's nothing against Iggy, I love him and he'll continue to be my fave player...but the team needs to move on... It's time to go young and go lean for a bit... If I were GM, Iggy would be in different silks next season one way or another.
I'll probably get blasted for this...but if Iggy were not to waive his NTC, I'm not sure I'd offer him a contract moving forward... And it's nothing against Iggy, I love him and he'll continue to be my fave player...but the team needs to move on... It's time to go young and go lean for a bit... If I were GM, Iggy would be in different silks next season one way or another.
It sucks to write that
If Iggy was in a Yzerman or Sakic situation then I'd probably feel differently. Those guys weren't counted on to provide offence at the end of their careers the same way that Iginla is with this team. I'd really like to see Iggy retire as a Flame but its just nit realistic.
Even if we rent him out and he comes back he'll still bear the expectations to carry this team. Not fair and unrealistic. Totally agree with you, time to close this chapter.
For better or for worse, Marc Savard was also on this team. While there was a coaching issue there, he did have almost 200 games played for Calgary, which should have helped solidify his role as a number 1C.
For better or for worse, Marc Savard was also on this team. While there was a coaching issue there, he did have almost 200 games played for Calgary, which should have helped solidify his role as a number 1C.
It didn't.
Iginla isn't the easiest player to play with.
Iggy isn't the easiest player to play with now? Give me a break! Tanguay, Conroy, Langkow, Husselius, Cammalleri all had career numbers playing with him.
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If we are going to move in a new direction, we need to move the following players for the reasons outlined:
Iginla - this organization needs to move in a new direction; it can't with him
Bouwmeester - if you want to build a winner, he cannot be here; career loser
Glencross - see Bourque; mostly a floater; forgot what got him there
Tanguay - not a team-first player, as seen under Keenan
Cammalleri - useless big contract, but might just have to ride it out
Iggy isn't the easiest player to play with now? Give me a break! Tanguay, Conroy, Langkow, Husselius, Cammalleri all had career numbers playing with him.
Calm down Vinny.
I'm not saying that he isn't talented, he is a very talented winger. However, the whole #1C thing has become a bit overblown. You can't just plug Joe Thornton in there and say he magically gets 20 more goals - Iginla just isn't that type of player. He isn't a Shanahan or Stamkos, who finds the open slot and can receive the perfect pass.
Much different player than that. For the most part I think Iginla has produced what he should have produced over his career.
I'm not saying that he isn't talented, he is a very talented winger. However, the whole #1C thing has become a bit overblown. You can't just plug Joe Thornton in there and say he magically gets 20 more goals - Iginla just isn't that type of player. He isn't a Shanahan or Stamkos, who finds the open slot and can receive the perfect pass.
Much different player than that. For the most part I think Iginla has produced what he should have produced over his career.
Maybe not today, but that sounds exactly like what Iginla has been for most of his career. If Iggy had a #1 center he probably would have reached 60 goals at one point
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No, Caramon is right. Iginla in his prime wasn't a finisher, he was a creator. Used his strength to gain the zone or along the half wall to create room to shoot for himself. He was never a triggerman.
I'm not saying that he isn't talented, he is a very talented winger. However, the whole #1C thing has become a bit overblown. You can't just plug Joe Thornton in there and say he magically gets 20 more goals - Iginla just isn't that type of player. He isn't a Shanahan or Stamkos, who finds the open slot and can receive the perfect pass.
Much different player than that. For the most part I think Iginla has produced what he should have produced over his career.
Are we watching the same player?
I mean Iginla might not be that kind of player now but he was when he was younger. The man has scored 500 goals, alot of them had to with his ability to find the open slot, have one of the best slap shots in the league and being able to one-time any pass. Just look at some highlights of his goals throughout his career. You also mention Shanahan and Stamkos but they had Yzerman and St Louis so it's a different situation.
It just amazes me how Iginla has been able to put up so many points without ever playing with a #1C or another elite player while being the main focus point of other team's defenses for the last decade.
oh and for those that want to tell me Langkow is not a "No 1 C" I'd say at any given year he was with the Flames (pre-serious injury) or 3 years past, name 29 centers better then Langkow... or hell name 20... so while we didn't have Crosby or Toewes, don't give me that crap that Iginla has never had a C to play with. I'd take Langkow over, say, Backstrom any way.
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"With a coach and a player, sometimes there's just so much respect there that it's boils over"
-Taylor Hall
Langkow does not get nearly enough credit, in the three years before playing with Iginla when he was on a powerhouse Coyotes team he was
17th in league scoring by centers
33rd in league scoring by centers
22nd in league scoring by centers
Averaged 24th in the league over those three years
When he came to Calgary and played with Iginla and suddenly became a great player, he was:
31st in league scoring by centers
15th in league scoring by centers
22nd in league scoring be centers
Averaged 23rd in the league over those three years. Langkow was a damn good hockey player before he ever played with Jarome Iginla.
On top of that, he was a SOLID 2-way center. Not some one-dimensional soft center (i.e. Backstrom) which helps gets plays started that don't show up on the scoresheet; helps recover the play with his work in the slot and threat of tipping in goals (which he was one of the best at) and work along the boards. Maybe not top 10 center, but he was close to one of the top 10 centers in the NHL if you factor in the total package of what how effective he was on his line.
__________________
"With a coach and a player, sometimes there's just so much respect there that it's boils over"
-Taylor Hall
Agreed Eddy. Not surprisingly, Iginla's best years came when he had a defensively responsible 2-way center on his line. And Calgary's best years (regular-season, that is) in Iggy's time were with Langkow.
