Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Jarome Iginla (12) and Boston Bruins right wing Nathan Horton (18) at the face-off circle during the third period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Boston Bruins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
I think we all remember those feelings about three months ago. Veteran winger Jarome Iginla was looking to leave the Calgary Flames in search of a team that could help him win the Stanley Cup. He was even willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to be on a championship team. At the end of the March, we believed that we had locked up Iginla for Boston. Then at the eleventh hour (more like 11:59), Iginla stunned Peter Chiarelli, the Bruins organization, and the fan base by pulling a 180 on all of us and signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Iginla thought this was the best move for him. He had played with Sidney Crosby on the Canadian National team. Crosby had been part of the advertising team to bring him to Pittsburgh. Adding his offensive power to an already explosive combination of lines practically guaranteed them the Cup.
Then the underdog Boston Bruins beat the Penguins in four straight games to kick them out of contention. Iginla was shutout in the series.
Yesterday, Iginla fell back on the old adage, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” The future Hall of Famer signed a one year deal to play in Beantown. The initial compensation package starts out at 1.8 million. Depending on how he plays and how many games he puts up, he could receive incentives that exceed four million dollars. Last season, Iginla earned thirty-three points (fourteen goals) in forty four games for Calgary. He put up an additional eleven points (five goals) in thirteen games for Pittsburgh. The post-season was good for Iginla as well (save for that whole Boston sweep), He scored twelve points(four goals)in fifteen games.
After losing Seguin, Iginla brings another marquee name to Boston. The right wing has eleven hundred and six points(five hundred and thirty goals) in 1,232 career games. He is currently third among active goal scorers,(Behind Jaromir Jagr and Teemu Selanne). He will return to his preferred position of right wing (he was on the left side in Pittsburgh), and will likely be the last piece in the Krejci line. He’ll be replacing fan favorite Nathan Horton who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday.)
The team has lost six players in the free agency frenzy, and the addition of Jarome Iginla will add power and stability to the Bruins offense. Perhaps Iginla will get his Stanley Cup after all now.