Jay Feaster really is an enigma in that front office for the Calgary Flames.
Very few people outside of Jay Feaster actually know what he’s doing. Is he in rebuilding mode? Is he trying to contend? Some of his moves are the absolute definition of “head scratching”. Because of that, this team is a total wild card for the upcoming season, though they likely won’t be picked by too many to contend in the Western Conference.
But their success, or lack of (whichever it happens to be), is going to be something worth monitoring for several contending teams this season. That’s because another failed season could make Jarome Iginla available by the time the trade deadline rolls around.
Iginla’s name has popped up the past couple seasons. He’s a candidate for the “go for a ring before he retires” type of trade. With only a few years likely left in him, he’s likely going to want to make a run at hoisting his first Stanley Cup soon.
Next summer, Iginla will be one of several high-profile free agent forwards, assuming he doesn’t receive a new contract before then. If the Flames aren’t looking like anything resembling a Stanley Cup contender, he could choose to bolt. For that reason, the Flames could look to deal him and prevent losing him for nothing.
Should the Flames choose to put him on the market, there will be no shortage of takers. Iginla’s 35, but still capable of putting up 80 points and hasn’t scored less than 30 goals in a decade. He’d be a perfect piece for several teams out there looking to make a Cup run this season.
Of course, until we actually reach that point, no one actually knows if Iginla will be traded. What makes this season different, though, is the fact that he’s a free agent after the season. If the Flames are hanging out towards the bottom of the West when the trade deadline time comes, we may very well see Iginla donning a sweater other than a Calgary one for the first time in his career.
