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Jarome Iginla: Avalanche Star of the Week

By Nadia Archuleta

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Colorado Avalanche right wing Jarome Iginla was the big acquisition last season. There was no question he was coming over for a last chance to win a Stanley Cup in what is otherwise a Hall of Fame career. Well, we all know how last season went, but it wasn’t for lack of effort on Iginla’s part.

Every Sunday during the off season we’ve been taking a look at different Colorado Avalanche players and the contributions they made to the team. As we gear up for the preseason, there’s just a couple more players to check out. This week, let’s celebrate the contributions of veteran Jarome Iginla.

Jarome Iginla Statistics

We all heard how Jarome Iginla is a notoriously slow starter. As the season wore on, we got a little worried. Was Iginla past his prime? Would he make as big a contribution to the team as we had hoped?

Well, by now we know that Iginla finished first on the team for goals scored (29, and how his teammates tried to get him that 30th during the last game). He also finished tied for second with captain Gabriel Landeskog for overall points with 59.

Iginla is a power forward, and it shows in his statistics. He blocked a respectable 47 shots, or almost two shots per 60 minutes. He also laid 99 hits, or four per 60, on opponents. However, he managed to keep cool and only accrue 42 penalty minutes. About half of those came from fighting, including this bout with St. Louis Blues skater Barret Jackman:

Jackman and Iginla also fought when Jarome was still with the Calgary Flames.

Iginla played mostly with Matt Duchene last season, and his time on the ice shows it — just over 18 minutes per game. That’s top minutes for a forward.

Jarome Iginla’s statistics from Sporting Charts:

Colorado Avalanche right wing Jarome Iginla’s statistics from 2014-15 season. Photo from Sporting Charts.

Jarome Iginla Role

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy signed Jarome Iginla last summer to be a veteran influence for the young core of Colorado forwards. The intent was for the young stars to have a veteran star to look up to.

Iginla was not really meant to be the scoring leader, even though that’s how it worked out. Announcers and color analysts said over and over again that Iginla was meant to take on more of a supporting role. Yet as I mentioned above, Iginla led the team in goals and was tied for first in overall points.

That said, Iginla did serve as a mentor. Coach Roy offered him the alternate captaincy before the start of the season, and he accepted. He was especially supposed to be a calming influence — which didn’t necessarily work out — and be a respected voice with the officials. That he was.

Jarome Iginla scoring on the power play:

Jarome Iginla’s Future

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Jarome Iginla is largely heralded as Hall of Fame bound. In his career, he has 589 goals, putting him at #19 on the all time list. He is only one of two active players with that many goals, the other being right wing Jaromir Jagr (722).

With the Colorado Avalanche, Iginla has two years left on his current contract. He’s 38 years old, and it looks pretty good he’ll retire after he completes his current contract. Some have suggested that Iginla might request a trade to another team if it doesn’t appear the Avalanche can get him his Stanley Cup. Anything’s possible. However, for the near future at least, Colorado has a future Hall of Famer in alternate captain Jarome Iginla.

Next: Jarome Iginla vs the Western Conference

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