Perhaps one of the least known facts about Jarome Iginla is
that his full name is Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla. But
one of the best known facts about him is that he was one of the most talented
and toughest forwards the NHL has ever seen. The 41-year-old native of
Edmonton, Alberta has decided to say goodbye to the league though as he
announced his retirement on July 30th. Iginla definitely left his
mark over the past 20 seasons, especially in Calgary, where he played 16 of
them.
Iginla's name can be found at the top of the leader board in
just about every category for the Canadian franchise as he's the all-time
leader in games played at 1,219, goals with 525 and points at 1,095. He's also
number one with 161 power play markers and 83 game-winners. The only major area
he doesn't rank number one is in assists with 570 as he ends his career with 39
fewer than leader Al MacInnis. The 6-foot-1-inch right-winger also added 28 goals
and 21 assists for 49 points in 54 playoff games for the Flames.
Let's not forget Iginla also suited up for the Pittsburgh
Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings during the
final four years of his career. When his totals with those clubs are added,
Iginla walks away with 625 goals and 675 assists for 1,300 points in 1,554
regular-season games with 37 goals and 31 assists for 68 points in 81 playoff
contests. He wasn't one to shy away from the rough stuff either and ended up
serving 1,040 minutes in penalties in the regular season and another 98 in the
postseason. He ranks 13th all time in games played and is tied with
Joe Sakic at number 15 in goals scored.
Iginla was originally drafted from the Kamloops Blazers of
the WHL by the Dallas Stars back in 1995 with the 11th pick overall.
However, he was traded to Calgary along with Corey Millen for Flames' star Joe
Nieuwendyk just a few months later. While in Kamloops as a junior, Iginla
racked up 102 goals and 134 assists for
236 points in 183 games, won two Memorial Cups and was named the league's
player of the year in 1996. During his NHL career Iginla made the All-Rookie
Team, three First All-Star Teams a Second All Star Team and played in six
All-Star Games. He also won the Rocket Richard Trophy twice for leading the NHL
in goals and the Art Ross Trophy once as the top point-getter. .
In addition, he took home the Ted Lindsay Award in 2002 as
the league's most outstanding player after a season of 52 goals and 44 assists
as well as the 2004 NHL Foundation Player Award and King Clancy Award for
community leadership and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2009. One thing
that eluded him though was the Stanley Cup. He did lead the Flames to the Final
in 2003/04 as club captain, but they were eventually upended in seven games by
the Tampa Bay Lightning. Iginla left Calgary in March of 2013 when he was dealt
to Pittsburgh for the rest of the season. He then signed as a free agent with
Boston for a year, Colorado for two years and was traded to Los Angeles in
March, 2017.
Iginla also represented Canada at numerous international
tournaments. He led the World Junior Championships in scoring with five goals
and seven assists in 1996, won a gold medal, was named to the All-Star Team and
also named the top forward of the tournament. He won a gold medal just a year
later at the age of 19 when playing for Canada's senior squad at the World
Championships and added two goals and three helpers. He scored twice in the
final game of the 2002 Olympics to lead Canada to a gold medal and also became
the first African/American to capture a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
He played for Canada in the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and
won a gold and then played at both the the 2006
and 2010 Olympics. He led the 2010 Games with five goals and helped his
homeland win another gold medal. Iginla was a perfect example of a power
forward and similar to Gordie Howe in many ways as he could skate, score, setup
teammates and easily take care of himself when the going got rough. And like
Howe, fans should see Iginla in the Hockey Hall of Fame as soon as he becomes
eligible.
Labels: Ian Palmer