Insane Iginla

 According to Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of skill is "the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude,etc., to do something well" and well, last time I checked Jerome Iginla has a bout load of it.  

Born in the summer of 1977, Iginla blossomed as a young hockey player originally beginning his midget career as a net minder before making the switch to the position (right wing) that would eventually see him explode onto the NHL stage. Yet while at his young age, this up and coming star could never in his wildest dreams expect the professional level prize and prestige: one idea he might have relished was that surrounding his undoubtedly then pending success in the then famed WHL junior hockey league. 

In his 3 years of that semi professional play, Iginala led his team to a memorial cup championship in 1994 before scoring 102 goals in the 183 games played with his  Kamloops Blazers. In fact at one point Iginla even made the ardent comparison between his club's playoff success and that of the mighty Montreal Canadians declaring to the world "When you put on a Blazers jersey, it's like putting on the Canadians . You've got to perform." As his list of bragging rights developed and the fine tuned pieces of his now rapidly maturing game became evident, Iginla finally broke into the NHL system seeing himself drafted 11th overall in the 95' entry draft. 

Yet as one looks to the stat sheet, Iginla's 16 year career devoid of a Stanley Cup victory remains a constant reminder to the difficult truth about this wonderful league. No matter how good one specific player on your team might be, that does not necessarily translate into individual wins and in turn Stanley Cup Championship and in the case of Jerome Iginla and the Calgary Flames that cannot be more true. Sixteen years, over a decade and a half and aside from a Cup Final loss in the spring of 2004 legendary Iginla has never seen his team advance past the 1st round: troubling, truly troubling. 

We have known for a while now that Iginla was ready to leave the Flames and as we studied the leagues roomers and rebuttals one fact and eventual press release made Boston fans jump for joy. Just after 12 noon yesterday, news came out that according to WEEI's DJ Bean "Jarome Iginla had been traded to the Boston Bruins for a 1st round draft pick and an unidentified prospect." Well, that was wrong. For one glorious hour it seemed that Bruins fans would have the man who might very well solve the many problems that have played their team all season. A mega goal scorer, a power play threat and a locker room presence all combined into one illustrious 6 foot tall package. Yet we had one problem the Pittsburgh Penguins noticed the same thing. For just a few great hours we believed that Jarome Iginla was a Bruin yet when that paltry span of time came to an indefinite close a team of flightless birds had swooped in and ripped a great prospect of future success from our team of violent bears. 

"To leave is tough, but I'm also very excited about the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh,"  Iginla said following his recent trade to Pittsburgh but really when you think about it, the promise of playing along side the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malken, and Chris Letang, the excitement might very well out weigh the despondency of leaving the Calgary Flames.