QOTD: Would you bring back Iginla?

[Jay Random]

I wouldn't be inclined to bring back Iginla, just because this team depends so much on speed and he has lost a couple of steps. It's nice to dream about bringing him back for a Cup run in 2017, but let's face it: by that time he will be 39 and probably slower than he is now – if he's still playing. I just don't see a fit for the team.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I wouldn't be inclined to bring back Iginla, just because this team depends so much on speed and he has lost a couple of steps. It's nice to dream about bringing him back for a Cup run in 2017, but let's face it: by that time he will be 39 and probably slower than he is now – if he's still playing. I just don't see a fit for the team.

I think he'd sign a low $, 1 year term with us, knowing that he won't have that big of a role. He'd be a good 3rd liner for us. It's really hard to find players that can play a checking role and can score goals like Iggy does. Even at 37, he's still good at it.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Hopefully the team has better options on the PP in 2017, if they don't they won't be contenders

There really is no problem if we have a hole on a 2nd line RW that we want to fill.... but again, bring him back only if there is a role for him to play. Pass if he's just going to be on the 4th line trying to get his name on a cup. I doubt Burke or Treliving would try to bring him back for the story or fairy tale finish anyways, when its a square peg in a round hole and creates tons of problems.... I'm sure given Iginla's skills and his innate fitness, he'll still be a gold on a 2nd line RW.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Absolutely not.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

It's really hard to find players that can play a checking role and can score goals like Iggy does. Even at 37, he's still good at it.

I haven't watched Colorado this year, I confess. Has Iginla remembered how to check? He seemed positively allergic to it the last year or two before he left here.

Anyway, Iginla may still be good at 37, but let's wait and see before talking about 2017. Free agency day that year is also his 40th birthday.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I haven't watched Colorado this year, I confess. Has Iginla remembered how to check? He seemed positively allergic to it the last year or two before he left here.

He's arguably been the best forward on the Avs (which is kind of sad because of how much young and energetic the other Avs players should be). He seems engaged more than usual, it's pretty odd.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

He's arguably been the best forward on the Avs (which is kind of sad because of how much young and energetic the other Avs players should be). He seems engaged more than usual, it's pretty odd.

That's good to hear. Not so good for the Avs, as you point out, but very good for him.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's good to hear. Not so good for the Avs, as you point out, but very good for him.

I want to move on from Iginla as much as most of us do too. However, you all have to think that a homecoming would not only drive Iginla, but also the Flames' fans and the team itself.

I guarantee that we'll have a more stacked team in a few years than we did in 2004, we'll have a great opportunity of bringing that cup home.

[Tinordi]

Seriously, is every fan base this obsessed with former players?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Seriously, is every fan base this obsessed with former players?

With former players who were the face of the franchise for 15 years? Yeah, pretty much.

The Baertschi thing doesn't really fit that pattern. It's more that CPers are obsessed with arguing, even if we have to make up something to argue about.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's good to hear. Not so good for the Avs, as you point out, but very good for him.

I think the Avs were very overrated this off season. There was a lot of "best young talent in the NHL... so much amazing fire power and young players... going to join the elite tier with Chicago and Anahaim this year... will be Cup contenders for the next few years..."

Right now, I'm starting to think we have some of the best young talent in the NHL.

(I hope we aren't a one year fluke like the Avs were last year)

[cannon7]

I think the Avs will stock up on d-men in the offseason and take another run next year. So Iggy should still get his chance. Although one can't help but enjoy the irony that the Flames are in playoff contention and the Avs are not.

[dino7c]

Iggy is still putting up the goals be he is NOT playing a 3rd line role with the Avs...I don't think he would be good in that role and I don't think we will have a spot in the top 6. Certainly hope not anyway.

I highly doubt it would ever happen the risk of distraction on a hypothetical contending team would be too much. Not even from the player(s) but the media would be going crazy it would likely take away from what the current players were doing.

And to be honest the guy didn't want to be part of the rebuild so I don't know if he should just waltz back in when the team is a contender.

[CroFlames]

Like I said before, I would not be opposed to it. If he is looking for a contract after his current one expires with the Avs and the Flames are in a position for a run, I would give him a low dollar, 1 year deal and let his sail off into the sunset wearing the Flaming C. He is obviously not going to be the go-to guy, but you can't fake talent. And he has talent. Him on the 4th line doing some grinding and chipping in would never hurt, and I'd easily pay him 1.5 mil all day long to chip in 10 to 15 goals, and pot a few in the playoffs.

[heep223]

[locsofblu]

Maybe in a limited role similar to Lanny's when he won his cup in 89. But depends how is game is at the time.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I guarantee that we'll have a more stacked team in a few years than we did in 2004, we'll have a great opportunity of bringing that cup home.

That really wasn't a stacked team in 2004. It was a team that was weak on offence, OK on defence, and rode an incredibly hot goalie as far as he would go. They finished 6th in the Western Conference that year, which is about where they deserved to be; and then went on a tear in the playoffs.

Add Bennett to the roster, and next year's Flames already figure to be closer to ‘stacked’ than the 2004 edition. However, they're a completely different kind of team at present. I question whether they will be tough enough physically to hold up to the playoff grind, or whether their PP will be much help to them once the refs put away the whistles. The '04 Flames were a lot more like the current L.A. Kings, who are always a threat in the playoffs but have a hell of a time just getting in.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

(I hope we aren't a one year fluke like the Avs were last year)

The Avs have a bit of a history of only being good every second season. Beginning with 2009-10, their record every second year was 95, 88, 112 points – pretty good. Beginning with 2010-11, it was 68, 67 (prorated), and this year they are on a pace for 87 – pretty bad. The general trend is up, but they zig-zag a lot.

A lot of the ups and downs have to do with their inconsistent goaltending, of course. But they also really haven't been a good defensive team. People look at their talent up front and tend to forget how bad they can be at the other end of the ice.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That really wasn't a stacked team in 2004. It was a team that was weak on offence, OK on defence, and rode an incredibly hot goalie as far as he would go. They finished 6th in the Western Conference that year, which is about where they deserved to be; and then went on a tear in the playoffs.

With Kipper in net the Flames were not a 6th place team. We had the second best points percentage in the league with him in net. The problem was his mid-season injury and only arriving in November.

So if by deserve you mean, we deserved the lower point total that came from having Turek and McLennan in net half the time, then ok. But we were not this mediocre team that suddenly got hot.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by saillias

But we were not this mediocre team that suddenly got hot.

No, they were a mediocre team that suddenly acquired a goalie, who happened to be the best in the world that year. That team had grit, work ethic, and spirit galore, but not an abundance of talent.