[NEWS] Update on Iginlas contract (but it is Francis)

[jhunt223]

Kunitz - Crosby - Iginla mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Iggy Snipe]

This talk about Iginla is a family man and its his number one thing is non sense. People move cities all the time with their families. Yes, it is hard to movie kids away from familiar places and friends, but they will make new ones.

When you are making millions of dollars a year, moving is not nearly as hard. I do not feel bad for him, and I bet he is actually excited about making a decision to move teams. He has wasted 3 years playing under Brent Sutter's boring ass system that got him playing with no talent on his lines. I want to see him succeed somewhere else, and I also want to get some good return for him as a fan of the Flames.

He needs to focus on hockey, he will have plenty of time for family once his career is over in 4 or 5 years.

IMO, Iggy is gone. Flames need him to stay for their fan base to stay high, but its not happening. It will be best for both parties anyways in the long run.

He will get a 3 year contract with whoever team he goes to for 18 million. He is easily worth 6 per. Look at Doan, Iggy is way better too.

[malcolmk14]

You're projecting your own failures and insecurities on another person.

It's possible that Jarome Iginla is well enough adjusted that he doesn't need a Stanley Cup to validate his life or his career.

Not everyone has the same values you do.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I know first hand because I was in fact that coward. I was once offered a career job of a lifetime but I being young and whipped didn't want to leave my girlfriend and the city to put in the time. I've still done well but I realize what could have been and that me being too comfortable and cowardly got in the way of what would have been greater career success. If Iginla stays in Calgary he's being like I was. A coward and he will regret it like me. It's inevitable when post retirement he looks at his trophy case and laments the one missing trophy.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by transplant99

OK then.

Just so I can keep track here...

Iginla is a coward and now doesn't "give a crap"?

Don't even try mixing me in with the coward comment.

If his primary focus in life is his family and not his career, well yeah, in relation to other players, he doesn't give a crap. That's why younger players tend to be more hungrier than older ones....they don't have families to shift their priorities away from the job.

If Iginla is so adamant about staying (and that's an if still of course), I couldn't help but question his desire to win. If he doesn't even want to sacrifice 3 piddly months living somewhere else for getting the one thing that is missing in his career, well, then yeah, he doesn't give a crap. There are no guarantees that he will win a cup anywhere else... but it's sure as hell a guarantee that he won't win one here.

The family excuse is such bull####, and it trivializes actual people who have had to make huge sacrifices in their life. Iginla has the means to bring his entire family and have them live in absolutely luxury. Living in some Boston penthouse for 3 months is not a sacrifice....most people would absolutely jump at that kind of opportunity.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

You're projecting your own failures and insecurities on another person.

It's possible that Jarome Iginla is well enough adjusted that he doesn't need a Stanley Cup to validate his life or his career.

Not everyone has the same values you do.

Well if he doesn't value the cup he should at least turn in the captaincy. You can't have a guy that isn't hungry as the captain of the team. It's part of the problem that's been festering for years under his leadership and why this team never rises to the occasion down the stretch. Just not hungry enough. The other teams always want it more.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Yeah I don't think Iginla is that coachable, I don't think he really does what it takes to win, and I don't think the team can really move on until it actually moves on from the Iginla and friends era, an era defined by failure.

I don't agree with all of this, but I agree that nothing will really change as long as he stays.

The team has been built around him and it is too difficult to separate other guys from Iginla and make rational decisions on them. Guys like Tanguay and Cammalleri are inseparably entwined with Iginla, which obstructs an ability for the team to make independent decisions on them and make plans to move forward.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well if he doesn't value the cup he should at least turn in the captaincy. You can't have a guy that isn't hungry as the captain of the team. It's part of the problem that's been festering for years under his leadership and why this team never rises to the occasion down the stretch. Just not hungry enough. The other teams always want it more.

Yep, everyone's priorities change in their life. If Iggy wants to focus on his kids, that's totally up to him. But then there are professional consequences, like with every job. He needs to step aside as captain, and let someone new come in who is career driven. No more franchise role pressure, but no more franchise role money and perks either.

[malcolmk14]

I agree with this. But to call him a coward and say he will regret his career when he's done is just so off-base and unfair.

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well if he doesn't value the cup he should at least turn in the captaincy. You can't have a guy that isn't hungry as the captain of the team. It's part of the problem that's been festering for years under his leadership and why this team never rises to the occasion down the stretch. Just not hungry enough. The other teams always want it more.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I agree with this. But to call him a coward and say he will regret his career when he's done is just so off-base and unfair.

I agree with you. It's funny to hear anonymous Internet posters accuse someone who plays sport in front of 20,000 people almost every night a coward. That's precious.

In interviews he doesn't seem to agree with the notion that he has to change his game. I think he still sees itself as an impact player who can keep scoring 30 goals. His physical conditioning can't be questioned by anyone so if anyone could do it it would probably be him.

Having said that I think it's pretty clear that there is a difference of opinion between how he sees himself and how management of the Calgary Flames sees him.

Much like they were hesitant to give him the money Jarome felt he deserved when he got his first big contract there seems to be the same kind of Hesitation. Early in his career contract issues almost caused him to leave, I wonder if this time it will be enough.

Whatever happens the flames better resolve this quickly. Because they have a demonstrated ability to always end up dealing from a position of weakness no matter what the circumstances. I'd hate for that to happen this time too.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I agree with this. But to call him a coward and say he will regret his career when he's done is just so off-base and unfair.

Maybe it's a bit harsh but if it was just Sundin I was talking about I don't believe many here would call it unfair. From a distance it's really no different with Iginla.

[Dion]

Iginla is a coward?

Iginla is okay with losing?

This thread sure went downhill fast!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe it's a bit harsh but if it was just Sundin I was talking about I don't believe many here would call it unfair. From a distance it's really no different with Iginla.

A bit harsh?

It was over the top and uncalled for.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Dion

Iginla is a coward?

Iginla is okay with losing?

This thread sure went downhill fast!

Can't say that yet, but if he re-signs with the Flames it's probably pretty fair to say that, at the very least, he no longer cares about winning.

[bubbsy]

i think people are taking the whole 'coward' statement a bit over the top.

i think what "erick estrada" was simply pointing out that if iginla doesn't have interest in leaving , knowing that this team will not compete for the playoffs, let alone the cup, in the final years of his career, it can only be because like many of us he's grown accustomed to the things and not keen on major change, even if it means staying on a team that is basically a below avg team..

The flames are the leafs from a few years ago. It's the exact same situation. curious how king/feaster would try to have us believe it is not.

[browna]

As mentioned, the Sundin thing was more of a tit-for-tat thing. He felt the Leafs disrespected him, and screwed him by scaring other teams off at UFA time so they could sign him, and for a cheaper rate, so when they came begging to trade him 9 months later, he screwed them over in return.

Much different. I don't doubt that sort of poor management is one of the main reasons JFJ got fired.

If Iginla signs for 3 or even 2 years, at around a $3.5m hit, would that satisfy some here calling him various names and questioning his values/virtues?

Would playing for that $ not be effectively passing the torch, keeping the franchise player still able to produce and still in top shape, while helping the team in opening up cap space for the team to get on with finding/trading/drafting his replacement? Well under UFA market value I'd expect.

[Robo]

I'm at the point where I just want change for so long I have been watching this exact same story year after year. It's exhausting to cheer for this team and to listen to management talk about how close we are to a playoff spot and how we don't need major changes. I hope iginla forces this team to trade him.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Dion

A bit harsh?

It was over the top and uncalled for.

No it's not. That's just your opinion as was mine based on a speculated scenario. For all we know if the Flames asks him to waive he may accommodate and for all we know he signs elsewhere in the summer.

[bluejays]

I know many are mentioning how great Iggy would fit in with the Pens, but I'd tend to disagree.

Who is Jerome Iginla? Iggy did great 3 years ago, playing with Crosby. That was 3 years ago though. Jerome has slowed significantly during that time and while a great guy and traditionally a leader by example, has at times been a somewhat crappy leader on this team - sulking comes to mind, moreso than him being disfunctional.

What's in it for Iginla? He primarily gets a better chance at winning a cup and play with the league's best. He also gets a second chance at resurrecting his career. Downside is he leaves the team he's known all his life, along with the city he's grown his familiy into.

From a Pens perspective, they get a once good leader, who's shown in a short tournament he can work with Crosby. Crosby however, has worked effectively with each linemate he's played with whether Neal/Malkin/Kunitz, all have shown they work well with him and aren't fully made by Crosby. So where does Iggy fit in when those guys work really well with him already? I don't see it.

From a Flames perspective, who can the Flames reasonably get from the Pens when the Pens are pushing for the cup? At best maybe James Neal and a pick? How does that really help the Flames when he may just be a younger Tanguay? What about a 1st rounder? It'll likely be a late first, so how is that beneficial for your franchise player and face of the franchise for the past 10 years?

The Flames need to get max value for Iggy, and that'll likely come from a team which is borderline playoffs who's ownership is pressuring to get them in. Pittsburgh isn't the team to get that 1st rounder from as it'll likely be late.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't think there is anything in this article that is 'new info'.

As far as I thought, Iginla would have re-signed with the Flames if they were comfortably in a playoff position. Are they? Nope.

Now it is plan 'B' - Not re-sign a contract, get moved to a contender and maybe re-sign with the Flames this off-season.

If Iginla signs now (but wants to return to the Flames), then the Flames would have to use assets to get him back.

Heck, he may never really return - and less likely if he does NOT win the cup wherever he ends up going to, but this keeps his options open, it is also in the best interest of the Flames. Nothing to really read into. Not like the Flames and him have reached some sort of an impasse. Both sides are keeping their options open, and it makes little sense to sign a contract extension now.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Can't say that yet, but if he re-signs with the Flames it's probably pretty fair to say that, at the very least, he no longer cares about winning.

Or another perpective could be that he wants to stay loyal to the club where he has played his whole career.