Iginla pulls the Flames out of the fire
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 | 10:24 PM ET
If there were one word used to describe the early part of this season for the Calgary Flames it would have to be “inconsistent.” This veteran team with depth and skill at all the key positions was thought by many to be a real threat in the Western Conference.
With Iron Mike Keenan at the helm, Miikka Kiprusoff in goal, Robin Regehr and Dion Phaneuf anchoring the blue-line, and the likes of Jarome Iginla, Daymond Langkow, Alex Tanguay and Kristian Huselius up front, Flames fans were expecting at least another Northwest Division crown from their team, if not a legitimate shot at a long playoff run.
As the December cold rolled into Alberta, the Flames looked to be more like pretenders than contenders with a less than impressive 10-13-3 record. With Calgary sitting at 12th in the West and out of a playoff spot, questions were surfacing about how Keenan was handling his team. And when Iron Mike publicly questioned and criticized the play of his Vezina winning goaltender, critics of the veteran bench boss were watching with interest anticipating a meltdown in Cowtown.
While the overall play of his team was filled with the ups and downs of inconsistent play, Calgary captain Jarome Iginla has been anything but. The Flames’ all-time leader in games played and owner of a new five-year contract extension has been by far the best player on the ice for his team all year. Iginla is having the best year of his career offensively and on a nightly basis his play has been inspiring to fans and teammates alike.
Pivotal stretch
Iginla’s leadership and intensity on the ice may have, by itself, grabbed this troubled team from the brink of a disastrous season and brought them back into the race for the conference lead. An eight-day period from Dec. 9-16 may be remembered as the stretch the Flames roared back on track, and it was their captain who led the way.
With Calgary embarking on a season-long, six-game road trip and sitting two games below .500 and out of a playoff spot, the success or failure of this trip, could define the season.
While Iginla was unable to hit the scoresheet in the first game of the trip, his team gutted out a 3-2 win in Chicago to set the tone for the remaining games. With four games in four cities over the next six nights, Jarome Iginla took over.
Down 1-0 to Florida, Iginla scored with 10 seconds remaining to force overtime, and watched as his linemate Kristian Huselius scored the shootout winner. Two nights later in Tampa Bay, the Flames captain had a 4-point night in a wild 9-6 victory, scoring his sixth hat trick of his career, including the game winner. A night later, he scored again in a 4-3 win in Carolina. In their fourth game in six nights, Iginla was at his best. His two-goal, two-assist effort gave the Flames a five-game winning streak, and put them back into a playoff spot. In a four-game span on the road, Iginla had seven goals (two of them game winners) and three assists for 10 points, earning him player of the week honours in the NHL.
Great leaders are intuitive
Leadership can be displayed in many different ways. Great leaders seem to always know what is needed of them, when it is needed, how it needs to be done, and who they need to help them do it.
Jarome Iginla is a great leader, and his play this season has reminded us all just how much he has grown into that role. Whether his team needs a big goal, a big hit, a fight, a blocked shot, or an emotional boost, the Flames captain has been there.
Calgary has never had a Hart Trophy winner in their 28-year history, but Jarome Iginla should be their first. After 34 games he has only been held pointless seven times. He leads his team in goals, assists, points, power-play goals, game-winning goals, shots and faceoff winning percentage. He is second in NHL scoring and third in goals.
With all that he has done to this point in the season, his greatest accomplishment however may have been how he has guided his team through a difficult start, and carried them on his back through one of the toughest parts of their schedule.
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About the Author
Former NHL player, coach and broadcaster Craig Simpson brings over 18 years of expertise to his analyst role on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. Craig played 10 years in the NHL with Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Edmonton, capturing two Stanley Cups with the Oilers in 1988 and 1990. He continues to hold the distinction of being the last Oiler to score 50 goals in one season (56 goals in 1987-88).
Injuries cut his playing career short in 1995, but the native of London, Ont., didn’t stray far from the game. Simpson worked for eight seasons as a hockey commentator with TSN, FoxSportsNet and Rogers Sportsnet and was an assistant coach with the Oilers organization for the past four years (2003-07) before joining CBC.
Simpson lives in Edmonton with his wife and three children. Viewers can catch Craig on Saturday nights providing analysis and commentary during the second game on HNIC. His blog appears every Tuesday on CBCSports.ca.
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Comments
Jeff
Kelowna
Whoever says Iginla doesn't cut to the net has been smoking far too much crack. Iginla lives in front of the net and has about three different cutting to the net moves. Half of his goals are scored from within 5 feet of the net.
Iginla has a great shot, is physical, is an under-rated passer, fights, is one of the best players in the NHL along the boards, and is a great leader. When the Flames are down with less than a minute left, Iginla freaks out and scores.
I hate the Flames as much as the next guy, but you people really need to take your blindfold off and recognize that Iginla is without a doubt the best player in the NHL right now. Conversely, you can actually try watching a Calgary Flames game before you flap your trap and make idiodic comments.
Iggy for MPV
Posted January 15, 2008 01:06 AM
axeman51
toronto
This might be the most ignorant and biased comments I've ever heard about hockey.Thankfully not too many Flames fanes haves jumped in to deffend Iginla , as his stats and character speak for themselves.As for being the most skilled player in the league, Iginla probably sits out of the top 10. As for being the most complete and valuable skater in the league, he is simply the best .
Let's all atleast admit it, the guy is awesome and anyone would love to have him on their team.The downfall of being a superstar is that the opposing fans hate to recognize a player's credentions and talent. Someone actually made a post that a 2 time Rocket Richard and 4 time all-star is having a "lucky " season and a "peripheral" player ? Just like one can make an argument that Wayne Gretzky didn"t have the haredest short or was the best checker. Slagging Iggy is a joke whether a foe or fan .
Posted January 10, 2008 09:12 PM
blake
calgary
I'd like to respond to a few comments on this thread regarding my prior posting.
Iggy is a good player, but he is a good player in Calgary. The league is full of numerous examples of players who stood out when there was little to no supporting cast.
Iggy is a peripheral player. Sidney Crosby cuts to the net. Iggy doesn't.
The Western Conference is tough, but Vancouver has it tougher and last I checked they were in 1st Place. San Jose also has a tough travel schedule and again, 1st Place. As of today, Calgary sits in 5th and Minnesota has 2 games in hand.
Is Iggy the best player in the league right now? Luongo has a 1.97 GAA and 6 shutouts and his team is in 1st place and he has beat Iggy 4 times this year. Kovalchuk average's 1.39 points per game. Lecavilier, 1.46 points per game.
Is Iggy an MVP candidate? Probably. Is he the best player in the league? No.
It was mentioned in a post that he carries the team on his back. Hockey is a team sport. Carrying a team on one's back suggest individual and not team.
Finally, remembering Iggy in 2004. If I recall, Tampa won the Stanely Cup that year. Calgary won nothing. Lecav. has a Stanley Cup. Iggy doesn't. And don't forget Calgary backing into the playoffs last year and being swept (for all intents) by Detroit. Where was the leadership then?
Posted January 4, 2008 09:17 PM
Jesse
Kamloops
Wow. i can't believe some of the comments i am reading about iggy. he is one of the best leaders in the game, can do everything from score to fight. i watched him play for the blazers in junior hockey and was the best then too, leading them to two memorial cups. Blake Bell: Selfish? what are you watching he will fight for anyone on the team and pass the puck in stead of scoring on the open net any game of the year. IGGY FOR HEAT!!!
Posted December 29, 2007 01:37 AM
Hussy
Are you kidding me, Blake. Iggy is the best player in the league right now and he stays consistent every night. The reason why he stays to the outside is because it creates more room for him to make the pass to his linemates who is busting in towards the net. He pulls the defenceman over and makes the play or if has room, goes for the farside of the net.
Posted December 28, 2007 05:35 PM
Eamonn
Calgary
I cheer for the Flames (living here makes it a requirement I think) but I am a true-blue Leafs fan (we aren't made, we are born that way). But speaking as a hockey fan, Iginla is a phenomenal complete-package player. I can only wish we had him out there with Sundin! As to comments about Calgary being a small-market Canadian team, keep in mind that due to interest levels, a city of 1 million in Canada has the same interest level as an American city of 5-10 million. Iggy has had some questionable seasons, but even an off year is better than most in the league. This year is on par with his performance in 2004, and we all know where that ended up.
Posted December 27, 2007 04:40 PM
Jason
To me, this reminds me alot of the Jose Theodore incident, where Jose had a good season and played adominably well in the playoffs, then just sucked. So what, you have beginners luck. It doesn't mean that your just a big player, means you came in at a lucky time and not to mention playing under stress also places another factor. Sorry to all you Iginla and Flames fans, but the fire was put out since the moment Jerome stepped foot on this team.
Posted December 24, 2007 04:23 PM
wade
calgary
Obviously brent is a flames fan.
You can't be a Flames fan and be objective when it comes it Iggy.
He is a peripheral player. Sure he gets points, sure he scores, but he is still a peripheral player. As for fighting, any fan of hockey knows Iggy, and the Flames in general, only fight when their losing.
I have not said Iggy is not a deserving player in the NHL, he is just a peripheral player who used to get his nose dirty but now stays outside and perfers the cycle. Even Crosby cuts to the middle.
Posted December 20, 2007 07:18 PM
Gus
I'm not a Flames fan, but people, please get real with slagging Iggy. You're missing what Craig is saying. The Flames had a rough schedule (like our Western Canadian team ALL do - night after night in different time zones) and Iginla carried the team on his back on pretty much every single night.
It's a captain's job, sure. But Iggy always seems to go above and beyond. You have to admire that, no matter who you cheer for.
Posted December 20, 2007 06:18 PM
Brent
Calgary
Jarome is a peripheral player??? He will peripheral play his way onto your scoresheet to the tune of 2nd in the NHL and into the corners to dig out pucks as maybe the best board guy in the league and, if necessary, into the penalty box with 5 for fighting if and when necessary. He will also win the important face-off, feed his linemates for goals, and give a gracious interview. Maybe you're just a peripheral hockey fan...or have Iggy confused with Markus Naslund.
Posted December 20, 2007 05:18 PM
wade
calgary
To Paul:
Iggy is not the best player in the league. He is a good player on a small market Canadian team. Watch him. He is a peripheral player. Sure he had a good week but that does not make him a MVP candidate.
He only stands out as he has no supporting cast in Calgary.
Posted December 20, 2007 03:24 PM
Paul
Calgary
I think Blake Bell might be nuts - Iginla is the best character player , and perhaps just plain best player in the league. In the last week he has been way out front.
Posted December 19, 2007 11:34 PM
Lindsay
Calgary
I don't know who is a better leader out there
than Iggy . Could be argued Joe Thornton. Iggy
is the ultimate package. Great leader, great
shooter, good passer, great fighter. If he
keeps up his pace, and Flames playoff bound,
he indeed will be a Hart trophy candidate.
Unfortunetly the fact he is in the West does
not help. Good on you Craig for pumping up
the West side of the NHL . The attempt of
brainwashing everyone with Leafs, Crosby ,
Lecavalier, Heatly and more Leafs is not
working.
Posted December 19, 2007 11:28 PM
Blake Bell
calgary
I think jarome is over-rated. If he was more of a team player, Calgary would be better off. He's too selfish. I'd like to see him traded and a true leader brought in.
Posted December 19, 2007 06:28 PM
Shawn Mackenzie
Jarome is not only a great player but is also the most positive person on and off the ice.
Posted December 19, 2007 02:27 PM
Flames4ever
Calgary
With great respect To Vinny and Sid the Kid. Iggy is the best in the league, recently voted the nicest player in the league by his peers, there is no better ambasador for the game.
Posted December 19, 2007 06:32 AM
cormac southam
Great run by the Flames. Kiprosoff starting to look himself and Iginla wow.
Posted December 19, 2007 06:21 AM