One of the more interesting questions Calgary Flames fans are asking to start the 2013 National Hockey League regular season is what the team should do with their captain, Jarome Iginla.
Iginla, is in the final year of his contract where he is making $7 million. Now with the Calgary Flames at two losses and an overtime loss to start the season in an abbreviated form due to the lockout, one needs to ask Flames General Manager Jay Feaster how patient he will be before he either trades his star player or signs him for a few more years at a discount price.
Last season, Iginla led the Flames with 32 goals, 67 points, 251 shots on goal and five game winning goals. So far this season, he leads the team with two assists and 16 shots on goal according to Yahoo! Sports. But one needs to question if he is worth $7 million at the age of 35? Is it a guarantee he will end his career in Calgary or want to play somewhere else to get his name on the Stanley Cup? Also, is he worth $7 million, when other players who also recorded 67 points last year make significantly less. P.A. Parenteau, had 67 points with the New York Islanders last year and signed with the Colorado Avalanche at $4 million a season for the next four years, according to www.nhlnumbers.com and Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs had 67 points last year and makes $4.25 million in a much bigger hockey market.
Iginla however shows great leadership, and also has a strong physical presence still, two intangibles that do not show up in the point total. Flames management has decided to keep Iginla around for now, and we'll have to wait and see if it is the right long and short term choice.
Comments