GreenLantern wrote:Nizzy wrote:
P.S. whats your take on IGGY selling his house? Do you think he is ever going to return to the flames eventually? thxSpoiler:I posted something about this in the house thread, linking Iginla's press conference, but he has essentially said he had his choice of 29 hockey teams to go play for and he chose Pittsburgh. He chose this team because they have the two best players in the world, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He stated that he wants to play with those players and ultimately win a Cup. The only way I see Iginla leaving Pittsburgh is if they decide not to sign him at a discount (which as I said above would be foolish) OR he wins a Cup this year. He doesn't see any other team in the league with a better chance than the Pens. And keep in mind his list was submitted BEFORE Murray, BEFORE Morrow, so he isn't just jumping on the bandwagon hoping this one shot works out.
Iginla is a fierce competitor and the only quality that might go above this is his loyalty. He stuck to the city of Calgary like the class act he is despite season after season of crap players and disappointment. As the Captain should he take some blame for this disappointment? Absolutely. But the fault does not lie entirely at his feet. How does that old saying go, you can lead a man to water but you can't make him drink? Oh gosh now I am getting philosophical? Someone stop the madness!
The truth of it is, if it wasn't for him and Kipper the Flames would never had made the playoffs, we never would have had that magical 04 run and I would probably be on medication for severe depression. This kind of loyalty is what you want on your team, Iginla described leaving Calgary as hands down the toughest decision he has ever made in his life. A lot of people will say "Oh yea, no brainer..." but really think about that statement. The toughest decision in your entire life? When all you want to win is a Cup and this team is clearly going full rebuild and you still hesitate down to the last minute to leave? Loyal to a fault.
Also keep in mind that Iginla plays 82 games, and no offense but that seems to be pretty rare for stars on the Pens. In any training camp be it world junior, Olympic or NHL Iginla has always been praised as the best in shape, year after year, the guy is a fitness maniac.
As for selling his house, this doesn't surprise me as I said in the other thread, he summers in BC and I don't expect he will return to this area for at least a few years. The only way he comes back to Calgary as a hockey player is if he wins a Cup this year like I said above.. but even then I can't see it. The Iginla era is over and the best thing he can do for the Flames right now is stay away and let them rebuild their identity. He might come back to retire there if his current team isn't competitive, but believing that team will be the Pens I can't see it.
I fully expect he will be involved in the organization in some way post retirement though. Bah wow long post, sorry for the novel, can you tell I like Iginla?
Good post
