Sending Iggy packing
There's something wrong with the Calgary FLames, and I'm not sure what it is. Clearly the intensity and the fire that's needed for playoff success isn't there. Is that a coaching issues? Maybe, maybe not. Is it leadership? Possibly.
We were talking at the office tonight about the possibilty of the Flames moving Jerome Iginla. Obviously this would be a drastic, franchise-changing move, but it's not as foolish as it might sound.
As the 2007-08 season the Flames will need to make some tough decisions about who to keep and who to let go. Robyn Regher, Dion Phaneuf and Miikka Kiprusoff are all up for new contracts and it might be difficult to keep them all. Up to now conventional wisdom suggested that Regher would probably be the guy looking for a new address. But what if the Flames traded Iginla either in the off-season or at some point next year. If Darryl Sutter plays his cards properly he could get a great return for a player of Iginla's calibre, while at the same time freeing up enough cap space to sign the other three free agents with money to spare.
I know trading Iginla will annoy some fans, but it may be what's best for the franchise.
posted by Pete @ 3:51 a.m.
5 comments
5 Comments:
While it's a provocative opinion, I think Edmonton Oiler fans might have some warning for the Flames about trading their star player/heart of the team away.
With Smyth the Oilers made the deal only after a failed negotiation and were unable to get the return the fans expected. With Pronger the Oilers were forced to make a move because of a demand by a player.
The Flames are in a different situation. If they trade Iginla, it's completly their own choice. They control the timing of the move, which should allow them to get a better return.
I don't think they should trade him for the sake of trading him, but if they can get the right combination of players coming back, they should make the move.
The fact that nothing is forcing their hand would make an Iginla trade all the more devastating to the Flame fan base, and dizzying to the team itself. The Flames are far closer to contending than rebuilding, in my opinion. If you don't feel the team is on the right track, I think you were closer to the solution with the coaching change suggestion than going the Iginla trade route.
Especially if he is hot, as per Jarome Iginla.
His rugged good looks notwithstanding, I don't think the Flames should approach the offseason with a narrow-minded view that Iginla is the cornerstone of the franchise.
Maple Leaf fans have been saying Sundin is untouchable for years because he is the face fo the team. Look where that has got them.
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