Joe. Not sure how it's even a debate. Calder, scoring record, more important position with d responsibility, evolved his role over time, multi champion.
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Iginla. What he lacks in silverware he makes up for by doing what he did in the trap era, as well as being part of significantly weaker teams throughout the majority of his career.
People act like the cup trumps everything, but in comparing individuals I don't think it necessarily does. A lot of things have to go right to win the cup, including being on some fantastic teams. Not to diminish Niewendyk's contribution to those cups...he was huge. But I don't think Iggy gets enough credit for achieving what he did with very little all star level help.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
Man, this is a tough one. Nieuwy and any of his teams he won championship with, had center depth as well as depth from every forward position. On the Flames, he had wingers that could score or made room for him to score. Since the Flames, before they traded away everyone to the Leafs for nothing, no one really draped all over him like everyone draped over Iggy. With Iggy, basically, it's a one man show for most of his career. Imagine if both were Flames on the same teams year after year - one a right winger and the other a centerman, and both are power forwards. Then, put in one of the following as left wingers: Fleury, Roberts, or Joey Mullen. But, I would take Iggy over Nieuwendyk just for the fact that he did it all on his own with mostly second and 3rd line forwards on his teams in Calgary.
Iginla is the better overall talent. Iginla put up those numbers with no help, lets remember in his prime the best Centre he played with was Marc Savard before he got going in ATL and Boston, and Craig Conroy (we all remember how much #### people cried when that trade to get him went down).
Iginla didn't play that many games on a line with Savard at center. In fact, if you remember, the Flames were off to an otherworldly start at the beginning of the 2001-02 season. Two factors put on the brakes.
1.) Roman Turek was signed to a massive contract extension, and promptly crashed back to earth.
2.) Savard was centering the top line with Iginla obviously at TW. The chemistry (and results) were not the same as with Conroy.
The decision was made to switch back. Savard then went on a pouting spree and played himself off the team, not unlike what happened in New York.
I'm surprised at amount of people going for Nieuwendyk. For me it's Iginla by quite a wide margin. I don't think Nieuwendyk was ever a top 10 player in the league or even at any time the best player on his team. Iginla was both of those for the bulk of his career. And Iginla isn't done yet.
Interesting debate for sure, maybe I will have to rethink it.
Yeah I'm a little disappointed to see how many are allowing Iggy's twighlight years block out the years where he was beyond reproach in this city. He epitomized the hard-working, physical, intimidating team the Flames were during their best years.
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After reading through this thread I'm curious as to who Flames fans would rather build a team around then? Both fantastic players but I know who I would pick.
Blessing in disguise that the Flames didn't get the player they had really wanted in the Dallas trade. Getting a guy who was probably the best one shot scorer in the NHL for the better part of a decade is not a bad consolation prize.
Iginla didn't play that many games on a line with Savard at center. In fact, if you remember, the Flames were off to an otherworldly start at the beginning of the 2001-02 season. Two factors put on the brakes.
1.) Roman Turek was signed to a massive contract extension, and promptly crashed back to earth.
2.) Savard was centering the top line with Iginla obviously at TW. The chemistry (and results) were not the same as with Conroy.
The decision was made to switch back. Savard then went on a pouting spree and played himself off the team, not unlike what happened in New York.
