Jarome Freakin Iginla

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

None of those players represented the Flames in the same way as Iginla. The only real comparable is Fleury. He stuck with the Flames through the hard times and he carried the team on his shoulders when the rest of the early-90s players left for greener pastures. The way he acted as and after he left will always tarnish that iconic status, unfortunately.

As far as the other players you mention, none have meant as much to the team as Iggy.

Nieuwendyk played 9 seasons with the Flames
Roberts played 10 seasons
Otto played 11
MacInnis played 12

Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla is in his SEVENTEENTH season with the Flames. He is the all time leading scorer by 200 points.

His legacy is cemented as the biggest playing contributor to our franchise. I was at the Dome when he got his first point in his first playoff game, assisting on a Theo Fleury goal in '96. Having seen his development into the unplayable beast of a power forward that led us to within an inch of the Cup, nothing would give me more joy than to see him retire a Flame. Scratch that, ONE thing would give me more joy: if he retired a Flame with a Stanley Cup ring on his finger. Even if he's only a role playing Lanny MacDonald-esque leader for the 2018 Stanley Cup winning Flames, I'll be overjoyed.

The trade return we would get from the 35-year-old Iginla would do nothing to help the team win now, and any picks and prospects are a huge gamble. A trade would deflate the franchise & I guarantee the fan base will dwindle. Don't get me wrong; I was a Flames fan at 2-years old & I'll be a Flames fan when Jarome moves on. It will be a sad day for the franchise if he moves on to another team.

I can argue that Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Otto, MacInnis provided this city with it's lone Stanley Cup. The greatest team in the history of the franchise by a long shot and IMO one of the historically great teams to play in any NHL season.

Outside of 2004 all Iginla has been is the face of the team during years of mediocrity on a team that was either flat out bad or underachievers. He may be the greatest Flame based on games played with the franchise and holding all the scoring and points records but I value that 1989 Stanley Cup above anything Iginla added to the Calgary Flames.

I don't want to ruin what's supposed to be a positive thread on Iginla but I just have a problem with a lot of newer fans that didn't get to watch the team in the heyday of the franchise and don't realize how good the teams of the mid to late 80's were and how important all those players listed to the history of this organization. I appreciate what Jarome has accomplished as the face of the franchise for 17 years but outside of maybe 5 years it's been amongst some of the worst years in the history of the franchise in Calgary.

[minnow]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I can argue that Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Otto, MacInnis provided this city with it's lone Stanley Cup. The greatest team in the history of the franchise by a long shot and IMO one of the historically great teams to play in any NHL season.

Outside of 2004 all Iginla has been is the face of the team during years of mediocrity on a team that was either flat out bad or underachievers. He may be the greatest Flame based on games played with the franchise and holding all the scoring and points records but I value that 1989 Stanley Cup above anything Iginla added to the Calgary Flames.

I don't want to ruin what's supposed to be a positive thread on Iginla but I just have a problem with a lot of newer fans that didn't get to watch the team in the heyday of the franchise and don't realize how good the teams of the mid to late 80's were and how important all those players listed to the history of this organization. I appreciate what Jarome has accomplished as the face of the franchise for 17 years but outside of maybe 5 years it's been amongst some of the worst years in the history of the franchise in Calgary.

"I don't want to ruin what's supposed to be a positive thread on Iginla but I just have a problem... "

Yes you do, to both!

[blender]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I can argue that Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Otto, MacInnis provided this city with it's lone Stanley Cup. The greatest team in the history of the franchise by a long shot and IMO one of the historically great teams to play in any NHL season.

Outside of 2004 all Iginla has been is the face of the team during years of mediocrity on a team that was either flat out bad or underachievers. He may be the greatest Flame based on games played with the franchise and holding all the scoring and points records but I value that 1989 Stanley Cup above anything Iginla added to the Calgary Flames.

I don't want to ruin what's supposed to be a positive thread on Iginla but I just have a problem with a lot of newer fans that didn't get to watch the team in the heyday of the franchise and don't realize how good the teams of the mid to late 80's were and how important all those players listed to the history of this organization. I appreciate what Jarome has accomplished as the face of the franchise for 17 years but outside of maybe 5 years it's been amongst some of the worst years in the history of the franchise in Calgary.

A good post, and your point about the quality of the 88-89 squad is well taken. I remember it well. Nevertheless, I feel that you are undervaluing the quality of of the post-lockout Flames, led by a still unearthly Iginla. Sure it was crushing and frustrating to watch them lose in the first round year after year, but parity had come to the league in a big way.
Three Flames teams of that era stand out for me as very good teams, able to go a long ways if they had a bounce or two that they just didn't get.
No excuses; they simply didn't get it done, but to say they were mediocre seems unfair, especially considering the cap era and the nature of the competition they are playing against.
Just my .02, but after the last three years, the lengthy playoff streak of 04-09 looks pretty appealing in comparison.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I can argue that Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Otto, MacInnis provided this city with it's lone Stanley Cup. The greatest team in the history of the franchise by a long shot and IMO one of the historically great teams to play in any NHL season.

Outside of 2004 all Iginla has been is the face of the team during years of mediocrity on a team that was either flat out bad or underachievers. He may be the greatest Flame based on games played with the franchise and holding all the scoring and points records but I value that 1989 Stanley Cup above anything Iginla added to the Calgary Flames.

I don't want to ruin what's supposed to be a positive thread on Iginla but I just have a problem with a lot of newer fans that didn't get to watch the team in the heyday of the franchise and don't realize how good the teams of the mid to late 80's were and how important all those players listed to the history of this organization. I appreciate what Jarome has accomplished as the face of the franchise for 17 years but outside of maybe 5 years it's been amongst some of the worst years in the history of the franchise in Calgary.

The 1989 Flames were a special team and can be looked at as one of the greatest teams in the history of hockey. But you know what? Those guys all ended up leaving. All of those hall of famers went on to other teams as the money came calling.

I firmly believe Jarome Iginla is the best and most important player in Flames franchise history. The overall level of success of the organization, as bad as it is, could've been significantly worse without the loyalty and contributions of Iginla. Let's not forget Iggy can't draft, develop talent, or make trades. The only thing he can control is his game on the ice, and in that regard he's done more, for far longer than anyone else to wear this jersey.

Not pointing the finger at you specifically but some of the disrespect he is getting around here sometimes is disgusting. I'm not even saying we should'nt trade him...but let's give the man the respect he deserves for what he's contributed to this team. Outside of him and Kipper, there hasn't been much else over the years we could be proud of, and that other NHL teams, players, and fans, would be envious of. If the Flames even had a shred of respect around the league in the last 15 years, you can bet a lot of it had to do with #12.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Not pointing the finger at you specifically but some of the disrespect he is getting around here sometimes is disgusting.

Couldn't agree more, but hey, its easy to sit in mom's basement and bitch and whine and think that teams and players that don't win the cup just suck. The list of teams that have never won the cup is LONG. The list of teams that have never made a finals appearance is quite a few. The Flames may never win another cup. Just saying.

[nieuwy-89]

I am a huge fan of Jarome and would agree that he is the most important single player in franchise history.

However, I think there is a win-win opportunity if the Flames can trade Iggy to an Eastern contender for a first round pick and/or blue chip prospect at the trade deadline, then re-sign him to a 2-3 year cap-friendly deal as a UFA this summer.

The win for Jarome is the chance at a playoff run and hopefully the Cup.

The win for the Flames is good asset management and a chance to accelerate the "rebuild" or "retool" or whatever it is that Feaster is trying to achieve.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I can argue that Nieuwendyk, Roberts, Otto, MacInnis provided this city with it's lone Stanley Cup. The greatest team in the history of the franchise by a long shot and IMO one of the historically great teams to play in any NHL season.

Outside of 2004 all Iginla has been is the face of the team during years of mediocrity on a team that was either flat out bad or underachievers. He may be the greatest Flame based on games played with the franchise and holding all the scoring and points records but I value that 1989 Stanley Cup above anything Iginla added to the Calgary Flames.

I don't want to ruin what's supposed to be a positive thread on Iginla but I just have a problem with a lot of newer fans that didn't get to watch the team in the heyday of the franchise and don't realize how good the teams of the mid to late 80's were and how important all those players listed to the history of this organization. I appreciate what Jarome has accomplished as the face of the franchise for 17 years but outside of maybe 5 years it's been amongst some of the worst years in the history of the franchise in Calgary.

The franchise has only been in Calgary for 33 years. If the last 17 years have been amongst the worst, that is still more than half of the entire history of the franchise! It's silly to pine for the good ol' days & discount everything that's happened since when the good ol' days were short-lived & the franchise is so young.

No doubt 88-89 was a special team. It was a stacked team. MacInnis & Nieuwendyk are arguably the most talented players to ever wear the Flaming C, but neither of them were ever the face of the franchise & they both became icons for other teams. During the cup-winning season Lanny MacDonald was the talisman. Even after Lanny retired he was the face of the franchise for a good while.

When I think of the Flames as a team I think of those classic late 80's teams led by Lanny MacDonald. When I think of a great player who hoisted a no-hope 04 Flames team firmly on his shoulders & carried them to what should-have-been a Stanley Cup; a player who led the league in goals, won Olympic golds, competed with everything he had despite the failings of the team & management around him; a player who opted to stay with the franchise that nurtured him to his prime when he could have gone for huge money to a contender, I think of Jarome Iginla.

[Psytic]

I would definitely trade him at the deadline. What is there to lose? You get some assets he gets a chance at the cup we re-sign him for less in the off season all we lose out on is the conditional pick or what ever conditional is based on him re-signing with what ever team we trade with and hes back next year. Rent him in the purest sense of the word is what I would do. A few months of Iggy gone in trade for a prospect sounds good to me if we aren't making the playoffs.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I would definitely trade him at the deadline. What is there to lose? You get some assets he gets a chance at the cup we re-sign him for less in the off season all we lose out on is the conditional pick or what ever conditional is based on him re-signing with what ever team we trade with and hes back next year. Rent him in the purest sense of the word is what I would do. A few months of Iggy gone in trade for a prospect sounds good to me if we aren't making the playoffs.

I think that is incredibly unlikely to happen. If he goes I think he's gone for a few seasons. The return on a rental Iginla would be negligible.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I think that is incredibly unlikely to happen. If he goes I think he's gone for a few seasons. The return on a rental Iginla would be negligible.

I think we could get a prospect out of it but the picks are usually conditional. We sent away Jokinen and re-signed him again so it does happen.

[Iggy Snipe]

Originally Posted by Psytic

I think we could get a prospect out of it but the picks are usually conditional. We sent away Jokinen and re-signed him again so it does happen.

A lot of people on this board don't have a clue. What happened when we traded Phaneuf? Everyone wanted him gone and we literally got nothing for him.

Calgary is lucky to have a guy like Iggy. He has scored 30+ goals 11 years in a row, and every year its the same thing- trade Iggy.

I'm all for making the Flames better, but Iggy going doesn't do that. When he resigns, it will be for less money, and he will still produce 25 goals per season for sure, and he could still be getting 30+. Hes been among the league leaders in goals every season for 10 years. Jesus.

If he tested free agency he would get 7 mill for at least 2 years. He wont. He will sign in Calgary for 4-5 million. He is worth it. Even if hes getting 20 goals and 50 points- which he would when hes 40. He decline will be slow. It wont go from 30+ goals to 10.

Anyways, this is all for fun anyways. Calgary will do whatever they like with Iggy and we cant do a damn thing.

Heres hoping he stays, and Flames make the playoffs.