Hey Avalanche fans, it is your fair weather blogger here. I realize I have gone quite dark, but these are dark times, and even after the trade deadline has come and gone today, I still am not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
With all the trade rumors buzzing around Duchene and Landeskog, the only major move the Avs made today was to trade Jarome Iginla to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional fourth-round draft pick. It was fairly common knowledge that Iginla was on the market to be traded to a club that had some chance of a Stanley Cup run. Currently, the Kings are 2 points out of the wildcard spot in the Western Conference. While a lot can happen to the standing in the next six weeks (unfortunately, not the case for the Avalanche) at least Iggy will be able to contend for a chance at the playoffs.
It might be a twist fate that at the end of this career Iginla be traded to the Kings. As it happens, a King’s jersey is one of the only jerseys that Iginla has ever bought. The Edmonton native was naturally an Oilers fan, but when Gretzky was traded to the Kings, Iginla, then around 10 years old, bought as King’s No. 88 jersey, and put his name on the back well.
Iginla now at the age of 39 has 1,291 points, and ranks third among active players for most points, behind Jaromir Jagar and Joe Thornton. He has played in 1,535 games, and spent 1,024 minutes in the penalty box. However, in his 20th NHL season, he has only been to the Stanley Cup Finals once. That was with the Calgary Flames in 2004 under coach Darryl Sutter. Nearly 13 years later, Iginla will once again play under Sutter, but this time as a King.
While you can tell a lot about a player based off of statistics, what the Avalanche will miss most about him can’t be quantified. Iginla is one of those players that simply put, has it. He has the immeasurable skill-set that makes up the truly great. It is the combination of talent and persona both on and off the ice that players can only hope to emulate. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be learned, but is something you are. Sakic had it. Roy had it. Now the Avalanche no longer have it with Jarome Iginla.
It is with heavy hearts, but hopeful wishes that we say so long to Iginla. No one can blame him for wanting the chance to play with a competitive team again. As Sakic said, “It’s respect for him as a person, him as a hockey player”. Iginla has had an amazing career, and deserves the chance to finish with a strong team, not on a team that has been on the struggle bus (that's putting it nicely) since October. We now have a vested interest in the playoffs, and though I will have a hard time actually rooting for the Kings, at least there is an individual I can cheer on.
Jarome won’t be wearing No. 12 anymore, as it is already belongs to Marian Gaborik, the nice guy that Iggy is, he wouldn’t even think of asking him to switch. Though it has been nearly 30 years, Jarome Iginla will once again wear a King’s No. 88.
Thank you, Iggy! You will be greatly missed.
