Iginla Destination Discussion

[MissTeeks]

ESPN article today:

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/2...where-fit-best

Jarome Iginla

Is the 40-year-old Iginla the player who scored eight goals in 61 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season -- or the player who scored six goals in 19 games with the Los Angeles Kings after being dealt at the trade deadline?

That's the question teams need to ask about the veteran right wing, who has racked up 625 goals during his NHL career.

"He was old and slow last year and won't be younger and faster this year, but I'm willing to cut a degree of slack to a guy whose clock was ticking and was forced to play on a Colorado team that had no competitive shot," a former Eastern Conference executive said. "He wasn't put in the best position to succeed."

Iginla certainly could add leadership to a young, on-the-cusp group like his old team, the Calgary Flames, or another inexperienced squad in a similar spot.

Iginla can still shoot the puck and convert on the power play -- though, during his tenure with the Kings last season, he was a negative puck-possession player 5-on-5 relative to the rest of his team. In this day and age, a lot of teams value players who won't burn them at even strength. This could weaken Iginla's overall value around the league as he tries to land somewhere.

"Los Angeles was ideal [for Iginla -- big, slow, plays with puck] and he didn't do a ton there, either," the former executive said.

Best fit: Flames

[---Hatrick---]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I don't see them as being all that weak on the wings.

RW Depth:
Strome
Puljujarvi
Kassian
Pakarinen

...and if they run Draisaitl on the wing again? That's pretty solid depth.

With out Draisaital on that list, I'd say that's pretty weak depth

[bax]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I don't see them as being all that weak on the wings.

RW Depth:
Strome
Puljujarvi
Kassian
Pakarinen

...and if they run Draisaitl on the wing again? That's pretty solid depth.

I read somewhere that the plan was to play Strome as third line center behind Nuge so that's leaves

Draisaitl
Puljuarvi
Kassian
Pakarinen

Draisaitl is a good one, but Puljujarvi was in the AHL last year and didn't look too good down there. He will have to improve by leaps and bounds to be a viable second line option. Kassian is what he is and I'll be honest I know nothing about Pakarinen.

Seems like one injury could really hurt them. Not terrible depth, but not great either. It all hinges on the young finn.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

ESPN article today:

http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/2...where-fit-best

Don't know about you guys, but this article got me excited. Where there's smoke there's sometimes fire.

[lazypucker]

As much as how great the Iginla comeback tour will sound for the Flames, Jagr is a much sexier free agent signing...

[---Hatrick---]

My heart says Iggy, but my brain is saying Jagr

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

My heart says Iggy, but my brain is saying Jagr

Go with your heart.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

My heart says Iggy, but my brain is saying Jagr

My heart says either my brain says neither.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I don't see them as being all that weak on the wings.

RW Depth:
Strome
Puljujarvi
Kassian
Pakarinen

...and if they run Draisaitl on the wing again? That's pretty solid depth.

That is worse RW depth than the Flames have - way worse. Strome is a 3rd liner, Kassian a 4th liner, and the other two aren't NHLers.

And that is why Draisaitl has to play RW. Which makes their C depth ####ty.

[Cycling76er]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

My heart says Iggy, but my brain is saying Jagr

I think you should consult both a cardiologist and a neurologist.

[IgiTang]

One thing that does not sit well with me about this whole "Iginla wasn't put Ina situation to succeed .." and uncompetitive Ava team is that Iginla chose the Avs. He was a UFA and wanted to play there. No one out him in that position but himself.

That said, I still love him and think he has more to offer than what he displayed with the Avs.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

One thing that does not sit well with me about this whole "Iginla wasn't put Ina situation to succeed .." and uncompetitive Ava team is that Iginla chose the Avs. He was a UFA and wanted to play there. No one out him in that position but himself..

When Iginla signed in Colorado they were coming off a playoff appearance, boasted a point/game 22-year-old top-line centre, a Vezina-calibre goalie, and the rookie of the year winner. The Avalanche in 2014 were widely regarded to be a team on the rise.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

When Iginla signed in Colorado they were coming off a playoff appearance, boasted a point/game 22-year-old top-line centre, a Vezina-calibre goalie, and the rookie of the year winner. The Avalanche in 2014 were widely regarded to be a team on the rise.

Yeah, his old friend Sakic in the head office and a Jack Adams winner in Roy sure helped sell him too.

That team definitely had a promising future when Iginla signed - never going anywhere and turning into a tire fire is mostly on Sakic.

[Heavy Jack]

If we are able to trade Stajan to Pitty then you have to say bringing in Iginla makes a ton of sense in terms of veteran presence and the transition would be pretty seemless/comfortable for Iggy - the captain/assistant captain debate is ridiculous and Jarome would tell you that first.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Iginla
Brouwer - Jankowski - Lazar
Hathaway, F. Hamilton

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Andersson/Kylington - Stone
Kulak

Smith
Lack

That is an epic line-up.

[Freeway]

I doubt Stajan is going anywhere. He'll probably be assigned to help transition Jankowski (another Ontario/OHL boy in the tradition of Monahan, Bennett and Tkachuk) into the NHL.

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

If we are able to trade Stajan to Pitty then you have to say bringing in Iginla makes a ton of sense in terms of veteran presence and the transition would be pretty seemless/comfortable for Iggy - the captain/assistant captain debate is ridiculous and Jarome would tell you that first.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Iginla
Brouwer - Jankowski - Lazar
Hathaway, F. Hamilton

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Andersson/Kylington - Stone
Kulak

Smith
Lack

That is an epic line-up.

This is even more epic

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Iginla
Brouwer - Jankowski - Lazar
Hathaway, Stajan

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Hamonic
Kulak Stone
Bartkowski

Smith
Lack


Let the young d guys develop unless they steal a job.
Stajan isnt going anywhere.
Freddie is brutal really so not a huge loss.

[Rickbo]

Please god no, make it stop, make it stop.

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Rickbo

Please god no, make it stop, make it stop.

Sure thing! Do not post in this thread! Do not read it. Pretend it does not exist, and it'll stop. In the meantime, this is a topic on the forum. One of many. I am sure you can navigate to others you are interested in.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Rickbo

Please god no, make it stop, make it stop.

Make what stop? Literally nothing has happened or is happening.

This is just a bunch of fans hoping.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Freeway

I doubt Stajan is going anywhere. He'll probably be assigned to help transition Jankowski (another Ontario/OHL boy in the tradition of Monahan, Bennett and Tkachuk) into the NHL.

I think a lot of people really underestimate the value of a veteran like Stajan and Brouwer off the ice. In pretty much every interview a young player makes the same names pop up.

I think most may just look at the cap hit and value on the ice, but if surrounding the young players with a player who helps in their development, maybe it is worth the cap hit. Probably next to impossible to quantify, but smarter hockey people than me seem to think there is some to it.