Could this be the last season with Calgary Flames for Jarome Iginla? -NHL Feature
Jarome Iginla has always been the face of the Calgary Flames franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). People who do not even follow hockey at least know that when you are talking about Iginla, it is always a discussion with the Flames involved.
Now, looking how the 2011-2012 NHL regular season has progressed for Calgary, it seems a little odd to think that way right now, but is captain Jarome Iginla giving off vibes of a potential trade during the offseason?
It certainly does seem so since Iginla might be performing like his usual self, but that pizzazz just is not there this time around. The sparkle in his eyes whenever he comes out for Calgary is not there anymore, which is definitely a scary situation for
the player.
Being the Rick Nash of Calgary, Iginla is also looking for something big in his last few seasons as a professional hockey player and staying with a team that just is not able to deliver is not logical anymore.
There was certainly a point when Iginla would be able to single-handedly take Calgary Flames deep into the playoffs but these past few seasons, this just has not been the case for what used to be, a top-level Canadian team.
At the moment, Calgary stands at the number 11 spot in the Western Conference with 72 points and a satisfactory 30-25-12 record and nothing really to boast about. They are not that far away from making the playoffs, but observing their performance this
season, does anyone really believe their Stanley Cup material?
There are a number of teams that would annihilate the Calgary team any day when it comes to the playoffs, since in the postseason, it is a whole different ballgame and not the type of slow paced games their accustomed to during the regular season.
Iginla has played in 67 games this year and has a 54 point (27 goals, 27 assists) record, not bad for the 34-year-old veteran right winger, but seeing him still part of a low ranked team just does not look right.
In his tenure with the Flames, Iginla unfortunately, has never won the Stanley Cup but came inches close to the championship as he lead the team to the 2004 Finals against Tampa Bay Lightning, which they sadly lost in game-seven of the series.
The veteran captain definitely does have a lot of potential and could make for a great addition on basically any team in the league but would he really leave Calgary for a chance at Stanley Cup glory is the question that remains to be answered.
Leaving the NHL now and even retiring only to comeback would be disastrous for him, since it barely ever works and the comeback is usually better off not ever happing. Iginla, if he managed to stay healthy, has many seasons left in him as an amazing player,
but it is his choice how he wishes to end it off.
One thing is clear, if Calgary, whether intentionally or due to pressure from the captain, puts Iginla on the market after the season and playoffs come to an end, we are likely going to be seeing a blockbuster trade happen with a number of teams fighting
for the rights to the player.
Teams like Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings or even St. Louis Blues could be already looking at the player and planning for his arrival on their squad.
Making the postseason would be a crucial point for Calgary and their relationship with Jarome Iginla as they would potentially look to make a run for the cup with him and if not, could be saying bye to him sooner than thought.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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