So that Jarome Iginla guy's pretty good huh?

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

• Sweden scored two goals against Germany courtesy of Ohlund and Eriksson
• Finland scored five against Germany (Pitkanen, Ruutu, Ruutu, Timonen x2)
• The US scored six against Norway (Kessel, Drury, Kane Malone and Rafalski x2)
• Slovakia scored 4 against Norway in playoff action (Zednik, Gaborik, Handzus, Satan)

Let's remember that prior to yesterday's game Iginla was shuffled through lines virtually every period and received very limited ice-time. I think everyone is keenly aware that the opposition was marginal, but everyone in this tournament is playing against the same teams, and Iginla is still the tournament leader in goals with 5 and in the top three for points.

I like that he has the most goals however I believe taking stock on a "free for all" does not make the second coming.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is not like Iginla is any stranger to "big games". Furthermore, I think that it is fair to say that for the majority of this tournament he has looked very good. I don't think the optimism and excitement surrounding his play this past week and last night is at all premature or inappropriate.

Tonight is a big game and yes he has attended and contributed to many "big games"
However I do not think for one instance that Canada would not have won against Norway and Germany if Iggy was not playing.
I believe we are stronger with him than without yet I want to see this prevail more so against tougher opponents NOW.
His past international performance is of course without reproach.

Nothing would make me happier then to see Iginla be a dominant force in this game. And nothing would make me happier than to have my previous post shoved back down my throat if it means Team Canada and Iginla success

I require more proof than Norway and Germany.

[Azure]

I have to admit, Heatley has been pretty good in the Olympics.

Too bad he's stuck playing with someone who has never been able to bring it in big games.

[Textcritic]

^
Agreed. I'm hoping he gets time with both Nash and Getzlaf and the SJ line; he seems to make them both work.

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

^
Agreed. I'm hoping he gets time with both Nash and Getzlaf and the SJ line; he seems to make them both work.

Yeah, Nash opens up a lot of room that a guy like Heatley can take advantage of. Heatley is great at finding himself around the net without anyone in sight, and a guy like Nash who just bulls himself around makes that scenario just that much more likely.

[Henry Fool]

Heatley is always super scary to play against in international tournaments. Maybe the scariest goal-scorer in them, period.

[Timbo]

^^^^ can we please get back to praising or putting down Iggy!

[Smell My Finger]

Staal Crosby Iginla
SJ line
Duck line with Nash
Morrow Toews Richards

Oh ya and Iginla is a Canadian hockey Icon.
Samsung and Nike knew who to put their money behind for the Olympics.

[Jimdon]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Players show their worth in big games, not 8-2 games, vs SUI and USA he played average.

If he doesnt play mean, he isnt effective because he isnt the fastest guy on the ice, but he is likely the toughest and he needs to play that way. I think that is what Babcock is trying to do by downplaying him is to get him angry Iggy Hulk style. He should be powering through these Euro panzies not trying to finesse things.

That doesn't answer my question. How many goals do the other players have in those games? I'm talking about the players that played so much better than him in this tournament.

I understand your argument that Iggy scores his goals against weaker teams, but if he's so terrible how come nobody else is scoring as many as him?

[tvp2003]

None of this Germany/Norway stuff will matter when Iggy pops a hatty against the Russians. Go Canada!

[HPLovecraft]

Iggy scored his goals against weaker teams because those were the only games Babcock utilized him correctly instead of benching him or sticking him into a grinder role.

[grambo]

Originally Posted by Jaybo

"We don't need Iginla to score goals." - Mike Babcock

Is there a youtube vid of Babcock saying that garbage? I've read the quote but would love to see a vid.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Smell My Finger

Staal Crosby Iginla
SJ line
Duck line with Nash
Morrow Toews Richards

Oh ya and Iginla is a Canadian hockey Icon.
Samsung and Nike knew who to put their money behind for the Olympics.

Crosby has his own clothing line with Reebok, Iginla has an existing deal with Nike. They just took advantage of an opportunity.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Thor

Liked how at the end of the game, James Duthie said Jerome leads the way with 5 goals for team Canada but that was against Norway and Germany.

Why are people looking for reasons to downplay this guy, some of our own fans and now even after showing his awesomeness on the top line he still needs to be given an aster-ix for leading the team in goals?

Putting an asterisks beside Iggy's name because he scored against "Weak Teams" is as smart as putting an asterisks beside Babcock's name because he inherited gifted NHL Teams.

Ya, both are true, but they only tell part of the story.

[CMPunk]

He's been playing well...but I'll be more impressed if he steps up in a big game, rather then lighting up the lesser lights

[Ren]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

He's been playing well...but I'll be more impressed if he steps up in a big game, rather then lighting up the lesser lights

Would be nice if Babcock would actually give him a chance on the top line against good teams instead of yo-yo'ing him between the 1st and 4th lines.

[Sylvanfan]

With the player Iginla is right now I think he's far better suited to be a trigger man on a line with other impact players than to be an energy 4th line guy. Iginla no longer has the ability to dominate other elite players one or one consistantly or that extra step to get around a defenceman like he once did. This isn't NHL style hockey where you send your 4th line out to start a fight and beat the tar out of another teams player.

Iginla still shoots the puck as well as he ever did. Get him with the likes of Crosby and Staal who can beat defenders and draw coverage from the other team and I think he can still score goals.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

With the player Iginla is right now I think he's far better suited to be a trigger man on a line with other impact players than to be an energy 4th line guy. Iginla no longer has the ability to dominate other elite players one or one consistantly or that extra step to get around a defenceman like he once did. This isn't NHL style hockey where you send your 4th line out to start a fight and beat the tar out of another teams player.

Oh give it a rest. Iginla is still capable of that. The guy is 32, not 50 like some people are making him out to be.