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There has been a lot of chatter in recent days that Penguins GM Ray Shero is looking for some added depth, but more specifically, support for Sidney Crosby. There have been plenty of names thrown around of late for possible additions to the Penguins lineup, but none more than Jarome Iginla in recent weeks.
It seems the main focus for these trade talks is twofold. One notion for the rumors is based on the fact that the Calgary Flames continue to play inconsistent hockey and do not appear to be trending in the positive, playoff direction, so far this year. The other notion is concerned with how well Iginla and Crosby have played together during the Olympics in Vancouver. Both reasons for speculation are more than valid, and I for one feel that there may be some legs to these “trade talks”.
Throughout this blog I have done nothing but mention Feaster’s desire to compete and not take the path of selling assets as an attempt to secure better draft positions. And this view remains unchanged. But let’s call a spade, a spade. While this team has the potential to make the playoffs and also play strong hockey, they do not have the potential for a deep run with this group of guys.
There is just too much displacement between the star, or role players, and the up-and-comers or inexperienced ones. Iginla and Kiprusoff, the Flames two most valuable assets currently are in their last years as elite players. The remaining group in Calgary is divided between a few veterans who can provide stability, a few midlevel roster players and some potential development in players such as Baertschi, Cervenka, Stajan and Hudler who still have something to prove with this team.
Point is, in order for success in the playoffs, you need an entire team to be at their strongest and the Flames are kind of hit and miss in that respect. While some players are at their prime, others are moving past that point. While some players are starting to develop their games, others have yet to break out. There is too much disconnect throughout the roster for a real level of success…it’s really that simple.
Now, don’t misunderstand me in saying that the Flames cannot find success with this roster. That’s not at all what I’m saying. If the team continues to work under the leadership of Hartley as they have so far, they have the ability to make a push for the playoffs and compete their hearts out. But it unfortunately won’t be enough and I feel they will inevitably be taken down as the playoffs become more real.
Whether or not Feaster agrees with me shouldn’t really matter, because his desire to continue to battle and remain competitive while retooling his roster would not change by moving an asset like Iginla. On the contrary, actually, by choosing to move a piece like Iginla to a potential Stanley Cup contending team like the Penguins, for instance, the Flames have the ability to bring in some promising youth. Prospects that can the help team immediately, down the road, or both. A player like Iginla being moved to the Penguins would increase their odds at success substantially I feel. Jarome is the kind of guy a strong playoff team needs with respect to every facet of the game. If there are teams out there who are serious about making a push for the Stanley Cup this year, I would argue that Iginla would be the most sought after trade option.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun recently stated that if the Flames do in fact decide to tend offers for Iginla, the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks are all expected to make a pitch. While I understand the Bruins, Flyers and perhaps even a team like Montreal making offers for the vet, I would be a little surprised if teams like the Sharks and Stars made any serious offers given their current rosters. Iginla will likely be a rental player to any team in consideration, and given the price tag the Flames would likely demand, they would need to be a team with high chances of success come the post season.
The Calgary Flames are inching closer and closer to the point where Jay Feaster’s hand will be forced with respect to trades, and the consensus is that Iginla would be the first to go. Many mention of the potential value for an experienced netminder like Kiprusoff, though until the Flames can better assess what they have between the pipes with the emergence of Karri Ramo, there will likely be no movement in that department.
For those Calgary fans out there who are sick of reading about the Iginla trade discussions this is unfortunately an inevitable discussion with the current roster in place. The team may continue to fight for the playoffs and show some promise but they are in their final years with their biggest star Iginla et. al, and as such, some revisions are to be expected.
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