Over fifteen hundred games played, six hundred goals, two Olympic gold medals, the list goes on. Those are some of the many impressive accolades earned in the incredible career of Jarome Iginla. But now, after twenty seasons in the National Hockey League, the 41-year-old has decided to hang up his skates and call it a career.
Iginla was selected as the eleventh overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. However, just a few months later, he was traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Joe Nieuwendyk, who was having contract issues with the Flames at the time. He made his NHL debut during the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs and was immediately flown to Calgary following the end of his junior season. At the beginning of the 2003-04 season, Iginla was named the 18th captain in Flames history.
After an incredible sixteen seasons in Calgary, Iginla was traded from Calgary to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 27th, 2013 in exchange for the Penguins’ first round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. He also stated that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were behind his decision to leave Canada for the Steel City. Following the end of that season, Iginla signed a one-year deal with the Boston Bruins worth $6 million.
Following the 2013-14 season, salary cap issues forced Boston to let Iginla walk. He later signed a three-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche worth $16 million. After a successful three seasons in the Mile High City, Iginla was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on March 1st, 2017 for a conditional pick. Kings general manager Dean Lombardi decided not to re-sign Iginla for the 2017-18 season as it was revealed he had hip surgery.
No matter how you look at it, Jarome Iginla had quite the ride in the National Hockey League. He won the prestigious “Rocket” Richard Trophy twice (2002, 2004), the Art Ross trophy once (2002), as well as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2004. Iginla also made the NHL All-Star game six times in his career. It is no doubt that Jarome Iginla is a hall of famer. The Edmonton native will be holding a press conference at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta on Monday morning to officially say goodbye.
