click to enlargeAs you can see, the difference is real and startling: In 21 games against the relatively stronger teams, Iginla has just one goal, 18 points and is a putrid -17. His PPG pace is 0.86, he averages 2.95 shots on net and his SH% is .02!
In stark contrast, Jarome has made hay against the weaker-thans all year: 19 goals, 40 points, +16 and a PPG rate of 1.33, 3.93 shots/game and a SH% of 0.16.
One can quibble with my assignment of certain teams to certain conditions here, but I think I've caught the meat of the issue. Naturally, we can realistically expect a drop of just about anyone's stats in this kind of split, but...there's no way it should be such a steep drop-off, especially for a player of Iginla's caliber and pay-scale. I mean, ostensibly the reason to retain and pay a player like Jarome a huge chunk of dough is so that the team can compete with the other good teams in the league. Unfortunately, the captain has failed utterly in that assignment this year - so much so that I'm struggling to get my head around it still.
Causes? Fears? Does this make anyone wish for a better center at the deadline? I dont know what's going on here, but, whatever the cause, Iginla has to be better going forward. Calgary can't hope to do much in the play-offs if #12 continues to be little more than a detriment against the better teams in the league; there isn't any weak sisters in the post season, afterall.
