[Signing] Iginla to Colorado (3yrs, $5.3mil AAV)

[DeluxeMoustache]

^^ Iggy is respectful of his old friends Linden, Yzerman and Sakic. Let's not let that be lost on anyone.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

He was very much considering Vancouver. Listen to his interview on TSN, he outright addresses how he was surprised to find himself wanting to go to Vancouver after spending so many years on their chief rival.

As he's good friends with Linden and has a lot of respect for him, It's not surprising to hear him say that. However in actuality, we know playing on a team with a good shot at a cup is still a priority... and that's clearly NOT Vancouver.

[Atodaso]

He really is following Bourque's path. He just had to play for Boston first, haha!

In all seriousness this doesn't bother me as much as it would have 2 or 3 years ago. I will say I'm more relieved it didn't end up being Vancouver more than I am happy he is now an Av.

[SanFranFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Bar-Down

Avs Lineup

Tanguay - O'Reilly - Iginla
McGinn - Duchene - Landeskog
Talbot - MacKinnon - John Mitchell
Mcleod - Briere - Bordeleau
Winchester

Erik Johnson - Brad Stuart
Tyson Barrie - Ryan Wilson
Jan Hejda - Nick Holden
Stefan Elliott

Varlamov
Berra

Man, that D still need some serious help IMO.

It will be interesting to see what the actual lines are. Both Landeskog and McGinn are LW so not sure if they'll go that way. MacKinnon played RW last year so maybe they will go with Landeskog - Duschene - MacKinnon as the top line and really load up the Top 6.

[flamesfan1297]

That looks like a good forward lineup but the defense looks terrible

[Calgary4LIfe]

Colorado's defense is still rather young, though the addition of Stuart increases it (and I think Stuart slots down further).

They were 14th in the league last year in GA - while not great, it was definitely not bad. Think they will improve, and Johnson is definitely taking some big steps.

[The Yen Man]

I think Iggy's bought into Darryl Sutter's mentality that, with league parity, most teams that make the playoffs have a decent shot at the cup. Sure, Colorado may not be cup favorites, but they should make the playoffs in the next three years. Once you're in, anything can happen. Colorado was probably the only decent playoff team willing to give him the money and term that he wanted.

[IgiTang]

So how do Avs fans feel about the pickup?

I think Iginla may help Landeskog take that next step as a true PWF, heart and soul type.

[bubbsy]

does iggy have the wheels to play on these high speed avs lines?

In boston his line was completely void of speed, and built off getting the puck deep, board battles, and setting up one timers off the cycle.

There is so much creativity/skill amongst the avs forwards, just curious if iggy will be able to keep up in their transition offense.

i feel sad that the habs basically ended any shot iginla had at the cup in my eyes. Don't get me wrong, i think the avs are a progressing club but hard to say if they have what it takes to make any serious noise in the west.

[BigTuna]

Boston's on a downward spiral. So slow and Chara has lost a massive step.

[Vulcan]

May have already been said but on the Vancouver CTV news it reported that the Canucks offered more money than the Avs.

[Wolfman]

If there was a team that he went to, Avs are a team I'm ok with. I'm just glad I didn't have to burn my jersey because he went to the Canucks. Lol

[indes]

So Iginla is fine as the first line RW on the bruins but will only be a 3rd liner on the avs?? I think the speed of the avs forwards will balance out nicely with Iginlas positional skills, board play and shot.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Stuck in Canada Day traffic today and the Toronto sportsnet radio program on at 6 was saying the Avs - being a young and fast team - made some odd transactions the last couple days in acquiring older and slower guys in Briere, Stuart and Iggy.

I suppose a case can be made for veteran leadership, experience, etc. Of those three Iggy obviously has the best chance at success but I think he's going to struggle a bit in keeping up with the younger guys. Should do well on the PP though.

Happy he might stick with a team longer than a season now as well. Avs are definitely on the upswing (and also are not the Canucks...)

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Kind of hard not to think they'll do damage. Varlamov was a Vezina finalist and if he keeps that form, with Roy winning the Jack Adams as well and the additions to their offense they could easily do damage. They need to bolster their right side and upgrade their D though IMO but they are not far off.

If they were in the East the Avs would probably do a lot of damage. As it is now there are 5 teams in the West that Colorado has to get through to get to the finals with Chicago and LA being their largest hurdle. Add to that, both Chicago and LA are showing no signs of declining anytime in the future.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Dion

If they were in the East the Avs would probably do a lot of damage. As it is now there are 5 teams in the West that Colorado has to get through to get to the finals with Chicago and LA being their largest hurdle. Add to that, both Chicago and LA are showing no signs of declining anytime in the future.

And Boston couldn't beat Montreal this year, and some of their vets will be a year older and they're going to have to make cuts to get under the cap.

The fact Iginla wasn't going to fit under the Bruin's cap not withstanding, they could conceivably be getting worse each season now.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

^^ Iggy is respectful of his old friends Linden, Yzerman and Sakic. Let's not let that be lost on anyone.

Maybe I missed it, but when did Iginla become friends with Linden and Yzerman? For Linden, was it the NHLPA?

I wouldn't worry about Iginla's wheels, Tanguay doesn't exactly have wheels and not every line has to skate.

As for additions, yes they bring in Iginla's offense but they lose Statsny. I'm not really convinced they will actually be better this season, I still see Colorado as one of the teams in the challenge for a playoff spot. Sure anything can happen in the playoffs, but you how contenders like Colorado and Chicago and how solid they are in the playoffs, then you see pretender teams like St Louis and San Jose who are still trying to make it.... and well, I thought Colorado looked a step behind the rest of the West's contenders, and that was before they lose Statsny, and that was in Patrick Roy's Jack Adams season. Experience is just another thing missing in Colorado besides a weak blueline...

[Hackey]

Ya the West is so tough it's going to be awfully tough to have to go through 3 of LA, Chicago, St Louis and Anaheim. Even if your a top seed Dallas and Minnesota won't be easy either. Whoever wins the West will definitely be earning it.

[GreenLantern2814]

I really like what Jarome's doing here; he's going to a team that isn't ready yet. This isn't a 'win me one this year boys' thing; he has good hockey left in him. This shows a team he's in it to win it for the long haul, and that this great core should just develop at their own pace without feeling pressure to 'win it for the grizzled HOF vet who hasn't won a Cup yet'.

This now becomes a 'win it for Jarome' in year 3 thing when he could well be on his final legs. But he's not nearly there yet. This is a player who still has a lot to give a team like Colorado.

[Hackey]

I do like the idea of Jarome playing somewhere for 2 or 3 years before winning. Makes it more meaningful for sure. It's definitely gonna be tough but Colorado is set up nicely for the next little while and lots can change for them and other teams in that time span.