Calgary Flames: Jarome Iginla’s top 5 career moments

Former Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla will go down as one of the greatest players in NHL history. Let’s look back on the five moments that defined his career.

Jarome Iginla, formerly of the Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings, will be announcing his retirement from the NHL on July 31. He’ll go down as not just one of the greatest Canadians to play in the league, but also as one of the greatest players, period.

Iginla is a player who is universally adored by hockey fans. Even fans of the Vancouver Canucks and other rivals of the Flames have to admit his greatness. On his best days, Iginla was a player who could make an impact in a variety of ways. He could score goals, dish out hits, and was never afraid to drop the gloves.

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The former Flames captain won two goal-scoring titles (2001-02 and 2003-04) and led the NHL in points. Iginla was named to four NHL All-Star teams, notching first-team appearances in 2001-02, 2007-08, and 2008-09, along with a second-team appearance in 2003-04.

He will go down as an outstanding player and quite possibly an even better person. Iginla committed himself to charity when he wasn’t playing hockey. His passions included youth hockey, literacy, and diversity.

As a black hockey player, Iginla witnessed the struggles black players face and saw how hockey isn’t necessarily available to everyone. He did the best he could to inspire many people and make hockey a sport available to as many people as possible. Iginla was blessed with many skills and he used them to be an all-time great hockey player and help others.

The argument could be had that he’s the second-greatest goal-scorer in the post-1995 lockout era. Only Alex Ovechkin, who is easily one of the top 20 players in NHL history, can boast he’s better than him. Anytime you’re second place to a human cheat code like The Great Eight, you’re doing something right.

Let’s take a look at the defining moments of Jarome Iginla’s career.

First Career Goal

Jarome Iginla made his NHL debut during the 1995-96 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He did this despite just coming off a long season with the Kamloops Blazers. Between the regular season and postseason, he played in 79 games, which is a lot for anyone, let alone an 18-year-old.

Part of what defined Iginla was his relentless work ethic and competitive edge. Like an ace in baseball, he wanted to be out there during the key situations in every game. Iginla, days after going through a grueling season, joined the Flames in their first-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

In his first game, he picked up an assist while putting up three shots on goal. Impressive for someone who had literally just joined the team. But in his second career game, Iginla did the thing he was most famous for doing – he scored a goal.

Throughout his hockey career, he had a knack for coming through in big moments. The best players often do their best work while performing on the biggest stages. This was certainly the case for Iginla and it was obvious to see this, even when he was just 18. As a teenager, Iginla stood out and it was just the beginning for him.

The 2001-02 Season

Jarome Iginla had a sort of slow start to his NHL career. Sure, he scored 112 regular season goals by the time he turned 24. That’s pretty impressive. But Iginla didn’t truly blossom until the 2001-02 season.

That’s when he won the first of his two Rocket Richards, his lone Art Ross Trophy, and his lone Lester B. Pearson Award as the player’s pick for the most outstanding player. Iginla also finished second to Jose Theodore of the Montreal Canadiens in the Hart Trophy race as the NHL’s MVP.

Iginla won these awards even though the Flames didn’t make the postseason. Had they made the postseason, it’s very likely he would have won the Hart Trophy. But Iginla deserved the MVP regardless. This isn’t to say Theodore didn’t. He posted unbelievable numbers (30 wins and a .931 save percentage on an otherwise mediocre Habs team) and if it wasn’t for him, they likely wouldn’t have made the playoffs.

However, Iginla finished tied with Theodore in points during the voting process. The latter wound up winning because he had more first-place votes (26 to 23). One writer inexplicably left him off his ballot, which wound up being the difference.

Whether or not Iginla should have won the MVP is up for debate. But what isn’t up for debate is Iginla’s greatness started to show in 2001-02.

Cementing His Legacy

Jarome Iginla never won a Stanley Cup, but his legacy is still one of the strongest in NHL history. As a hockey player, you play to win, whether that be the Stanley Cup or a gold medal. Iginla’s career-defining moment probably didn’t even happen in the NHL. It happened during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Sidney Crosby added another bullet point to his resume as the best post-2005 lockout player with the golden goal against Team USA. But what is often overlooked is the goal does not occur without Iginla. After receiving a pass from Crosby, Iginla battles against the boards to get the puck to Sid The Kid, who then scored arguably the most famous goal in Canada’s lengthy hockey history.

For many, this solidified Jarome’s legacy. Especially considering he never won a Stanley Cup. But helping your country win a gold medal is another way you can cement your legacy as one of the greatest of all-time.

This wasn’t the first time Iginla came up huge during the Olympics. He also helped Canada win their first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1952, picking up two goals and an assist in the championship game against the United States. Iginla’s Olympics heroics are just another example of a great player stepping up his game on the biggest stage.

Coming Home

Jarome Iginla eventually got traded from the Calgary Flames in 2013. He got traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins and later signed with the Boston Bruins that summer. Iginla’s first game back in Calgary was an unforgettable one.

This moment defines what Iginla meant to the city of Calgary. He was more than just an elite goal-scoring forward. Iginla was more than just a captain. He was, in many ways, a hero, both on and off the ice.

The Flames have a storied history, winning a Stanley Cup in 1988. They’ve had countless great players. Theoren Fleury (who should be in the Hall of Fame), Al MacInnis, Doug Gilmour, Lanny McDonald, and Joe Mullen are just a few to call the Flames their team. Iginla’s legacy in Calgary surpasses everyone else’s.

His unselfish acts of charity off the ice didn’t go unnoticed. Iginla won the 2003-04 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which goes to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities both on and off the ice and who has made a significant charitable contribution to his community.

He also won the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2003-04, which is also awarded based on contributions given to one’s community. The love story between Calgary and Iginla is one that never ended. Not even after the Flames traded him.