Since the start of the season, I've gushed about guys like Huselius and Lombardi, Giordano and Ference (well...maybe not Ference). But, on the heels on his 2nd four point night in the last 4 games, it's about time Jarome Iginla got some press around here.
First, it's important to establish that I was one of his most outspoken critics last season. After the lock-out, the NHL saw an unprecepented explosion of offense, a renaissance evoked by more powerplays and less goaltender equipment. And Iginla was seemingly left in the dust. While players like Thornton and Jagr broke the 120 point plateau, there was Jarome, floundering behind the likes of Bryan McCabe and Jarrett Stoll. He scored less goals than Henrik Zetterberg and Marian Gaborik, even though they both played significantly fewer games than him. His ESP/60 figure was an abysmal 1.80 - smaller than many team's 3rd line wingers. Iginla's struggles resulted in the creation of the "Jarmoe" epithet, often employed by Oiler fans who delighted in his hardship(s). Even most Flames fans had to grudgingly admit that, in the face of his salary, expectations and past accomplishments, the 05/06 version of Iginla did indeed seem like a pale facsimile of the Jarome they knew before the lock-out.
Well, the 05/06 season is dead and with it, the Jarmoe doppleganger. Iginla showed up leaner and meaner in training camp and he's currently enjoying a career best start to a season. In his last 13 games, Iginla has 25 points. Only 7 players have more than Jarome's current point total, six of whom play in the much higher scoring Eastern Conference (Crosby, Jagr, St. Louis, Spezza, Hossa). The lone Western Conference player ahead of him, Teemu Selanne, has 2 more points but has played 5 more games. Further, Iginla is one of only 5 twenty-goal scorers in the league right now and the first of the 3 WC players in the top 15 in terms of goal scoring. His 29 even-strength points put him 2nd to only Sid the Kid, and his efficiency at ES is currently a staggering 3.98/60 minutes of ice. Better than double his number from last season. Only 3 players enjoy higher PPG numbers than Iginla in the league at this time, one of whom is Martin Havlat - he of the 13 game season. The other 2 are Jaromir Jagr and the phenom Sidney Crosby. Should Jarome continue to score at a rate of 1.37 points per contest, he'll end the year with 112 points. All while laboring in the offensively oppressed Western Conference, with the "offensively challenged" Calgary Flames. Wow.
The accolades don't end with his offensive stat line, however. Iginla does things most of his scoring contempories find aversive. When's the last time you saw Jagr fight anyone or grind for the puck in the corner? How often does Crosby kill penalties? (answer - almost never. The kid is sitting at just over 13 minutes of SH ice-time this season. Jarome's up around 64). Iginla's also looked upon to take important offensive and defensive zone face-offs, despite the fact that he's a winger. On the Flames, only Jamie Lundmark is better than Jarome in the dot. This is Selke nominee type stuff. Hell, all told, this is Selke, Richard, Ross, Pearson and Hart type stuff. For the first time since he signed the contract, Jarome's $7 million is actually starting to look appropriate...
Vive La Jarome!
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I probably should have shelved the Iggy fellation until after the game tonight. No doubt all this positive regard will somehow ensure a lacklustre performance from the Captain: more to make me look foolish than anything else. However, even if Iginla is again a force to be reckoned with, the cards are stacked in the Ducks favor. The Flames are lacking 3 of their top 6 blueliners, and Carlyle just LOVES to get the likes of Selanne and Kunitz out against weak-links such as Brad Ference. Not to mention the fact that the Ducks are the best team in the league and the Flames suck on the road. It'll take 2 rookies and a journeyman playing well above their heads, as well as probably the Flame's best road effort to have any hope whatsoever this evening. In fact, garnering even a single point from this match would be an admirable feat.
For a not-so-humble view from the other side, visit Sleek at the Battle of Caliornia.
