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.