QOTD: Would you bring back Iginla?

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Yeah, a team that plays defense, blocks shots and backchecks. He wouldn't fit in at all, let alone lead by example

A pro who at 37 is still one of the fittest players in camp, can still contribute on the ice and a true pro off the ice.

No problem adding a guy like that to a young room.

[1stLand]

Iggyfanboyardee

[dino7c]

he didn't want to be part of a rebuild, fair enough....but you can't just come back when the team is a contender when you were un-willing to stay through the tough times.

He is in 10th place with the Avs now, how many seasons has a team of his finished in or around 10th?

[HOWITZER]

Provided he could be a valuable contributing member to a flourishing team who helped push the team, maybe. If the flames are fortunate enough to be loading up for a cup in a couple years time I don't want to see nostalgia trump production.

[dino7c]

it remains to be seen how Iggy would do playing on a third or fourth line....sure he has the points this year he has been a top six guy with PP time.

Assuming the Flames are a contending team I can't see him being anywhere near the top six with the guys I have penciled in

[CroFlames]

I wouldn't be opposed to the idea since this was his team for a long time. It would be awesome to see Gio pass him the Cup. I just don't see a fit for him here unfortunately.

I just hope one day I hear Bob Cole say: "You've done Iggy. You've done it."

Seeing him raise the Cup in Flames silks would be something special.

PS: The Flames better retire #12 and #34. Although I think Forever a Flame is a cool idea for most guys, Iggy & Kipper should be retired like #9 & #30.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I wouldn't be opposed to the idea since this was his team for a long time. It would be awesome to see Gio pass him the Cup. I just don't see a fit for him here unfortunately.

I just hope one day I hear Bob Cole say: "You've done Iggy. You've done it."

Seeing him raise the Cup in Flames silks would be something special.

PS: The Flames better retire #12 and #34. Although I think Forever a Flame is a cool idea for most guys, Iggy & Kipper should be retired like #9 & #30.

It would be awesome...but any player with a Flaming C holding the cup would be awesome. I really think it would be a massive distraction to this hypothetical contending Flames team. Wouldn't want something like this to cost them a cup

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

It would be awesome...but any player with a Flaming C holding the cup would be awesome. I really think it would be a massive distraction to this hypothetical contending Flames team. Wouldn't want something like this to cost them a cup

I'm not sure it would be a distraction. Iggy would and should recognize this is Gio's team now, and it's not the same team he left. It is a completely new team.

Having said that, if Iggy ever came back I would picture it as a one year deal, do or die for him. If anything, it would give the guys an added boost, 'win it for Iggy'. I think of the Hawks and Hossa, and the Avs and Bourque back in the day.

Despite the fact that Iggy was a long time Flame, the team is so much different than when he left that I think he falls into the same category as Hossa and/or Bourque if he came back. It would just be extra special for the fans who think we were robbed in 2004 (which we were).

Watching that video of Bob Cole saying, You've done it Lanny. You've done it gives me shivers. I hope Iggy gets that.

[Phanuthier]

We're weak on the RW side, so I wouldn't mind... little worried how it would change the mojo of the team, but Iginla seems like a great guy... I would only worry that too many players might have respect for him and cause a dressing room split (i.e. Iginla vs Regehr), but we got guys like Monahan and Hudler that are huge leaders too. The price tag is a bit high, I'd want to make sure our big year next year is taken care of (Monahan, Gaudreau, Gio, Russell, Hudler, etc)

We'll see where he is in 2 years, but I'm not a fan of having someone retire on your roster - we need all 4 lines rolling and contributing, I don't want Iginla as some depth guy, those roles are better fit for guys like Byron or Bouma. I'm sure people here remember what its like to have a dead weight on the 4th line, and what a huge difference it is this year with all the guys rolling (ok maybe not Bollig). I would only take him if he was still a top 6 guy. I would rather make the moves that get us the cup, not the one that gets us the fairytale story.

I don't know about Iginla being a power forward anymore though, he did have a sweet power forward goal a week ago, but I remember him getting knocked off the puck a lot... I think he resembles guys like John Leclair and Brendan Shanahan, PF's in their prime but just snipers towards the end of their career.


Also, I wouldn't give up very much (if much at all) to get him... maybe some tier 2 prospects at best. I'd hope to get him in his last year of his contract.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Brent Sutter can rant all he wants about playing right. Bob Hartley went through some tougher times and pulled the team that went into one of the Flames' longest loosing streaks into a team that worked well together in his system. His system is more flexible than Sutter's North/South dump and chase. This is why Hartley is now coach and Sutter's not.

I'll never forget the Boston massacre. Butler ties Doug Wilson's record with -7. Hartley doesn't have Kiprusoff either.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I'll never forget the Boston massacre. Butler ties Doug Wilson's record with -7. Hartley doesn't have Kiprusoff either.

Do you remember losing 8-2 to Edmonton under Hartley too? And Edmonton was in last place

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Yes.

Iginla is an experienced RW with size and offensive talent.

That's a perfect fit with what the Flames need right now.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I don't think it's any coincidence that the Flames completely turned their identity around after Iginla left. His last few years here were the complete opposite of the team culture that Hartley has built, and honestly I don't want him back for fear of screwing with what has turned out to be a great system. You have to respect all he accomplished in Calgary and he should rightfully have his number raised to the rafters, but it's over.

[Darkwater]

Absolutely not. We've gone past that. Iginla will always be a Flame, but he's gone now. We shouldn't revisit the past.

[RedMileDJ]

Conflicted. Same as many others have said. I don't know.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I don't think it's any coincidence that the Flames completely turned their identity around after Iginla left.

It's not a "co-incidence". Along with Iginla went half the team - Bouwmeester, Tanguay, Jokinen, Sarich and yes, Kipprusoff. That opened up opportunities for a lot of last year's success stories (Backlund, Byron, Ramo, Russell, Bouma, and of course Gio/Brodie)

Yes, Gio as a captain has been a Godsend and I wouldn't have it any other way. But just as Gio alone is not the "Team", Iginla alone was not the "Team".

[saskflames69]

Give him another two years to bounce around the league or win jack#### with Colorado. When we can finally call ourselves a contender, and if we still have an open spot on the RW, then I would be 100% for Iginla coming back.

I think he knows that it's no longer his team and if anything it would give the rest of the Flames extra incentive to win.

[crapshoot]

Just imagine the feel good story it would be to have Iginla return a few years down the line to a stacked Flames team primed for a lenghty playoff run to mark the end of his career. That has the potential to be a lot more than just a nostalgia act. It could be a real adrenaline shot for both the team, Iginla and the fans. I'm definately not opposed to the idea during the right circumstances.

But then again, I desperately wanted the team to sign Theo Fleury after his tryout a few years back. Actually, I'm still bummed they didn't do it.

[Gaskal]

Could get him at the deadline of his UFA year. Shouldn't be a steep price either.

[Tinordi]

You people have serious separation anxiety issues