In light of Jarome Iginla's retirement announcement, it's only fitting to reflect on the top moments from his legendary career.
Iginla was drafted 11th overall by the Dallas Stars in 1995, but was traded to the Calgary Flames before ever suiting up in the NHL. The Alberta native spent 16 seasons in Calgary before stops in Pittsburgh, Boston, Colorado, and Los Angeles.
In the end, Iginla suited up in 1,554 games, registering 625 goals and 675 assists while winning two Rocket Richards, the Art Ross, the Lester B. Pearson (now the Ted Lindsay), and two Olympic gold medals.
Undoubtedly, Iginla will end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame as soon as he's eligible, and it's moments like these that defined his remarkable tenure in the NHL.
Ousting the Canucks in Game 7
In Round 1 of Calgary's memorable 2004 playoff run, a tooth-and-nail battle led to Game 7 versus the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames captain rose to the occasion, burying two goals before assisting the clinching goal in overtime to send his team through.
A heroic Game 5
After the Canucks, Calgary improbably eliminated the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks, the two top seeds in the Western Conference. Iggy and the Flames then met the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.
Deadlocked at two games apiece, Iginla took over in Game 5, ripping the go-ahead goal off the post and past Nikolai Khabibulin in the second period. He went on to cement his signature performance with a helmetless rampage during a near two-minute shift in overtime, ultimately setting up Oleg Saprykin's game-winner to bring the Flames one win shy of a championship. He finished the 2004 playoffs with 22 points in 26 games.
Point No. 1,000
Would you expect Iginla to score his 1,000th point any other way? His patented leg kick and laser beam of a wrist shot terrorized opposing goalies throughout his entire career.
600-goal club
It wasn't his prettiest highlight, but Iginla became the 19th player to join the illustrious 600-goal club in January 2016. As it stands now, he's tied with Joe Sakic for 15th all time on the NHL's goal list.
Setting up the Golden Goal
The sound bite is permanently etched into the minds of Canadian hockey fans: "Iggy!"
Of course, it was Sidney Crosby who shouted it right before Iginla set him up for the unforgettable goal, which clinched 2010 Olympic gold for Canada on home ice.
Iginla had a knack for stepping up for his country on the biggest stage, as he also potted two goals and an assist in the deciding game of the 2002 Olympics.
Bonus: Fighting Lecavalier
As prolific of a scorer he was, Iginla was also as tough as they come. His fight versus fellow superstar Vincent Lecavalier in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final embodied everything that he was capable of and instantly created an all-time moment.
The Calgary Flames and forward Mark Jankowski have settled on a two-year, $3.35 million contract, two days before the 23-year-old's scheduled arbitration hearing, the team announced on Wednesday.
Jankowski, drafted 21st overall by the Flames in 2012, reached the conclusion of his entry-level deal at the end of the 2017-18 season, his first as a regular in the NHL.
Jankowski scored 17 goals and added eight assists while averaging over 13 minutes per contest in 72 games during the 2017-18 season. With him signed, the Flames have three remaining restricted free agents to secure: Garnet Hathaway, Brett Kulak, and the recently acquired Noah Hanifin.
Watson will be placed on probation, and any violation could result in up to a year in jail. Among the conditions of his probation, Watson is ordered to complete 26 weeks of a batterer intervention course.
If convicted, Austin faces up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, and up to a $2,500 fine.
The 26-year-old was free on $4,500 bond, and the Predators released the following statement after his arrest.
Kaiton's agent countered Carolina's initial offer, which included a significant pay cut, but Hurricanes' new owner Tom Dundon wouldn't budge.
"I was hoping for a reasonable offer to stay but obviously the offer was an invitation to leave," Kaiton said.
"It's his decision to offer what he offered and it was quite a substantial decrease. It really basically told me they weren't that interested in keeping me. That's life. It's his team."
Dundon has made a series of changes within the Hurricanes' organization since taking over in January, including replacing general manager Ron Francis with Don Waddell and hiring Rod Brind'Amour as head coach.
Kaiton won the Hockey Hall of Fame's Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for broadcasting excellence in 2004. His career began with the Hartford Whalers during the team's inaugural season in 1979-80, and he had been with the club ever since.
Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios will join the Chicago Blackhawks as a team ambassador, the club announced Monday.
"Through multiple generations of players and fans, Chris Chelios will forever be etched into the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. His contributions to our organization and the overall sport of hockey stand tall," Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said in a statement. "We are proud to welcome Chris and his family back home to the United Center and we are honored to call him an ambassador."
Chelios joins Blackhawks legends Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, and Denis Savard, who will represent the organization at events in the Chicago area.
He suited up in 664 games over nine seasons with the Blackhawks, recording 487 points and winning two of his three Norris Trophies.
Mega-contracts are certainly out there - Connor McDavid and John Tavares, for example, are set to count for $12.5 million and $11 million, respectively, next season, but there remains a handful of superstars across the league locked into highly valuable team-friendly deals.
Here are 10 players who are assisting their teams both on the scoresheet and the payroll.
Nikita Kucherov, Lightning
Cap Hit: $4.76M (2018-19) 2017-18 points: 100
Kucherov's cost is only a steal for the Lightning for one more season, as his recent extension will double his cap hit starting in 2019-20. Still, in the two seasons since coming off his entry-level contract, Kucherov trails only Connor McDavid in points (185) and Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine in goals (79) while earning less than teammate Ryan Callahan. His impending raise may cause cap issues down the road, but for now, no one provides more bang for their buck than Tampa Bay's superstar.
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche
Cap Hit: $6.3M(2022-23) 2017-18 points: 97
MacKinnon entered a new stratosphere last season, earning the second-most MVP votes after scoring 97 points in just 74 games. His dominant breakout campaign makes the Avs' decision to ink him long term out of his ELC in 2016 look like a stroke of genius, and if he produces similarly through his prime years, Colorado owns one of the league's top bargains.
Taylor Hall, Devils
Cap Hit: $6M (2019-20) 2017-18 points: 93
The only player deemed more valuable to his team than MacKinnon was Hall, who put forth 93 points in his career season. Despite scoring 41 more points than his most productive teammate, and finishing sixth league-wide in the Art Ross race, Hall's modest cap hit ranks 62nd in the NHL.
Brad Marchand, Bruins
Cap Hit: $6.125M (2024-25) 2017-18 points: 85
Over the past two seasons, Marchand tops all left wingers with 170 points in 148 games, yet ranks seventh in AAV the position, making less than the likes of Zach Parise, Patrick Marleau, and Evander Kane. He's priceless to Bruins, as he plays in all situations and makes up one-third of the best top line in hockey. He also leads the league in licks per 60, so there's really no understating his value.
Aleksander Barkov, Panthers
Cap Hit: $5.9M (2021-22) 2017-18 points: 78
Barkov's flown under the radar a touch since the Panthers surprisingly drafted him behind MacKinnon at second overall in 2013, but 2017-18 was a coming-out party for the hulking Finnish pivot. Barkov racked up a career-best 78 points in 79 games and routinely made highlight reels due to his Datsyuk-esque hands. He also ranked sixth among all forwards in playing 20:54 per contest and excelled against top competition at both ends of the ice.
All that for under $6 million? The Panthers have themselves a keeper.
Tyler Seguin, Stars
Cap Hit: $5.75M (2018-19) 2017-18 points: 78
Seguin's another player on the list that will offer extreme value for only one more season, as barring a long-term extension with the Stars, the 26-year-old will headline a potentially star-studded unrestricted free-agent class next summer. Since joining Dallas, Seguin's averaged 0.99 points per game over five campaigns, doing so while criminally underpaid as one of the league's top centers.
Mark Scheifele, Jets
Cap Hit: $6.15M (2023-24) 2017-18 points: 60
After breaking out with 82 points in 2016-17, Scheifele was on track for yet another monster campaign before a shoulder injury suffered in December limited him to just 60 games. He still managed 60 points, then cemented his status as an elite first-line center in front of the world with an incredible playoff run that featured 14 goals in 17 contests. The Jets are inching toward some salary headaches in future years, but Scheifele's pact will stand out as one of the league's best for six more seasons.
Seth Jones, Blue Jackets
Cap Hit: $5.4M (2021-22) 2017-18 points: 57
Jones, only 23, has just begun to scratch the surface of his all-world potential. Last season with the Blue Jackets, Jones finished second among all NHL blue-liners with 16 goals and ranked 11th with a career-high 57 points. He was also fourth in Norris Trophy voting and earned a second-team All-Star nod for his outstanding campaign in which he played over 24 minutes per night and owned a sterling 54.3 Corsi For percentage at even strength. Jones is stepping into his own as one of the league's top rearguards, and the Blue Jackets have him secured on the cheap as he enters his prime.
Dougie Hamilton, Hurricanes
Cap Hit: $5.75M(2020-21) 2017-18 points: 44
It's hard to pinpoint exactly why the Flames felt the need to deal Hamilton, but the Carolina Hurricanes were smart to pounce on the chance to acquire the 25-year-old. Hamilton tied for the league lead in goals among defenseman with 17 and added 27 assists on Calgary's top pair. He's also 6-foot-6, shoots right, and owned the second-highest Corsi For percentage of all blue-liners at 57.8 percent. Plain and simple, Hamilton is a foundational piece to any D-corps in the NHL, even if he isn't paid like one.
David Pastrnak, Bruins
Cap Hit: $6.66M (2022-23) 2017-18 points: 80
One year ago, Pastrnak's negotiations with the Bruins lingered all the way into September, and after the first season of the six-year, $40-million deal, Boston certainly has no regrets. Along with Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, Pastrnak completes the Bruins' powerful top trio and is the most dynamic of the bunch. The 22-year-old right winger registered 35 goals and 45 assists last season, before adding 20 more points in 12 playoff contests. The contract stalemate is nothing but a distant memory now, and Boston is reaping the benefits of its reasonably paid superstar.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images) (Salary cap info courtesy: CapFriendly) (Advanced stats courtesy: Corsica)
The Anaheim Ducks are working on a two-year bridge deal for restricted free-agent defenseman Brandon Montour, as the two sides couldn't work out details for a long-term extension, general manager Bob Murray said, according to The Athletic's Eric Stephens.
Montour and the Ducks have an arbitration hearing set for Tuesday in Toronto, but it's still possible for a deal to be struck before then.
After making his NHL debut in 2016-17, Montour established himself as a key fixture on the Ducks' blue line last season with an impressive campaign. The 24-year-old appeared in 80 contests, registering nine goals and 23 assists while logging over 20 minutes per game.
Montour is one of three RFA's on the Ducks' books currently without a contract, along with wingers Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie. Murray will have approximately $8.8 million in cap space to work with to get the trio signed, per CapFriendly.
The initial rush of offseason player movement across the NHL is long gone, and we're now deep into the extended lull of summer activity.
Save for a few big names remaining on the trade block, the free-agency well has run dry after a bevy of transactions. Now, let's take an early look at what we may be in store for next year when an unprecedented crop of superstars potentially hit the open market.
Forwards
Tyler Seguin, C, Stars Age: 26 2018-19 Cap hit: $5.75M
Since arriving in Dallas, Seguin has produced 384 points in 387 games, yet the Stars have missed the playoffs in three of his five seasons with the club. With the hefty salaries of Jason Spezza and Marc Methot slated to come off the books after next year, the Stars will have plenty of cash to throw at Seguin in the form of an extension. But, another fruitless campaign in the Lonestar State could play a factor in Seguin's offseason decision.
Blake Wheeler, RW, Jets Age: 31 2018-19 Cap hit: $5.6M
Wheeler is the heart and soul of a deeply talented Jets roster and is coming off a 91-point regular season, adding 21 more in a playoff run that ended in a Western Conference Final appearance. He'll undoubtedly have a ton of suitors, and based on Winnipeg's impending cap crunch, he could be one of the more likely candidates to be playing elsewhere come 2019-20.
Artemi Panarin, LW, Blue Jackets Age: 26 2018-19 Cap hit: $6M
After a stellar debut season in Columbus, Panarin's name has been thrust into the trade spotlight. Following a report indicating he's not interested in signing a long-term extension with the Blue Jackets, the game-breaking sniper could potentially be on the move sooner than next summer. But, if he hits the open market next July, he'll become one of the richest wingers in the NHL.
Max Pacioretty, LW, Canadiens Age: 29 2018-19 Cap hit: $4.5M
Pacioretty's days in Montreal appear to be numbered, as GM Marc Bergevin intends on trading his captain and won't be negotiating an extension. Pacioretty's potential landing spot will, of course, play a big role in whether he tests free agency, but no matter what team he signs his next contract with, he'll fetch more than what he's made with Montreal over the past five seasons.
Matt Duchene, C, Senators Age: 27 2018-19 Cap hit: $6M
Could there be more Duchene drama? After working his way out of Colorado, Duchene has to decide if he wants to re-up in Ottawa for the remainder of his prime years. If he stays, kudos for sticking it out. If not, Ottawa's move to acquire him could go down as an all-time blunder, particularly if the Avs end up using the Sens' original pick to select presumed 2019 No. 1 choice Jack Hughes.
Jordan Eberle, RW, Islanders Age: 28 2018-19 Cap hit: $6M
Due to the departure of John Tavares, the outlook for the Islanders heading into 2018-19 remains in limbo. On top of the loss of their captain, New York made a series of questionable signings and trades to supplement the roster. Eberle has always been a polarizing talent, but, for the most part, has been stuck on lousy teams, and if that doesn't change next season, hitting free agency for the first time in his career seems like a reasonable idea.
Wayne Simmonds, RW, Flyers Age: 29 2018-19 Cap hit: $3.975M
Since 2011-12, Simmonds ranks 15th in the NHL with 187 goals, and, due to his consistent production, the Flyers intend to lock him in to an extension. That said, Philly's top six is crowded with the return of James van Riemsdyk, and a potentially diminished role may not entice Simmonds to stick around.
Defense
Erik Karlsson, Senators Age: 28 2018-19 Cap hit: $6.5M
Until he's traded, trying to map out Karlsson's future is a fool's errand. In the meantime, let's enjoy imagining the insanity of this generation's top defenseman going through a Tavares-esque free-agency process.
Tyler Myers, Jets Age: 28 2018-19 Cap hit: $5.5M
Like Wheeler, Myers might not fit in the Jets' future plans due to their financial squeeze. Winnipeg would be losing a solid piece, but Myers would be set for a nice payday. Several teams would certainly make a pitch for a 6-foot-8 right-handed shot capable of putting up 30 points.
Jake Gardiner, Maple Leafs Age: 28 2018-19 Cap hit: $4.05M
Speaking of cap crunches, the Maple Leafs face the distinct possibility of losing Gardiner next summer. Tavares, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner will all be making big money after next season, and Gardiner will likely have to take a discount to stick around. The swift blue-liner has his flaws, but he is an offensive catalyst who can run a power play, making him highly desirable as a UFA.
Ryan Ellis, Predators Age: 27 2018-19 Cap Hit: $2.5M
The Preds won't be able to get away with paying Ellis peanuts for much longer as he's proved to be more valuable than his current cap hit over recent years. Fortunately for Nashville, the team has $9 million in available cap space as it stands right now, and could get an additional $7 million off the books if Pekka Rinne departs after next year. With this in mind, Ellis re-signing in Nashville is more probable than the defenseman exploring his options in free agency.
Nate Schmidt, Golden Knights Age: 27 2018-19 Cap hit: $2.225M
If Vegas can come close to replicating what the club accomplished in their inaugural season, Schmidt is a virtual lock to re-up in Sin City. But, if the regression everyone predicted over the course of their fairytale season finally hits, he's in for a tricky decision.
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets Age: 29 2018-19 Cap hit: $7.425M
Conceivably, the Blue Jackets could lose both Panarin and Bobrovsky in the same offseason. Ouch. While he's already paid handsomely, Bob has authored a .922 save percentage over his current contract to go with a Vezina Trophy, so it's within the realm of possibility he demands a higher figure. It just depends how much Columbus is willing to pay.
Semyon Varlamov, Avalanche Age: 30 2018-19 Cap hit: $5.9M
A healthy contract year will go a long way for Varlamov, who's been shut down early in back-to-back seasons. When he's actually on the ice, he's been effective, stopping pucks at a .919 clip since his Vezina runner-up season in 2013-14. If he does hit the market next July, surely one of the many teams in need of a productive goalie will take a chance.
Bowey, 23, was drafted 53rd overall by the Capitals in 2013. He made his NHL debut in 2017-18, collecting 12 assists in 51 games, and chipped in six points over nine AHL appearances.
Locking up Bowey means the only player on the Capitals' ledger without a contract for the 2018-19 season is winger Tom Wilson, a restricted free agent. The club has over $7 million in projected cap space to arrange a new deal for their enforcer, per CapFriendly.
After tumultuous 2017-18 season that yielded just 71 points - their lowest total in a full schedule since the league expanded beyond six teams in 1967 - things don't appear to be getting easier for the Habs. Making things even more uncertain for the team are recent reports that indicate general manager Marc Bergevin wants to trade captain Max Pacioretty as soon as possible, and there won't be any contract negotiations between the two sides.
Pacioretty's name swirling about the trade market is hardly news. He was frequently discussed as an expendable piece at February's deadline, after which he wholeheartedly denied any perceived desire to leave the team. The 29-year-old was also in the mix at the draft, but despite some close calls, nothing ever materialized.
So now, with one miserable season in tow, and another seemingly on the horizon, the Canadiens have the remainder of the offseason to move on from Pacioretty, and are forced to deal him for less than he's worth.
Without coming to terms on a contract extension, Montreal's lost significant leverage with any suitor vying for Pacioretty's services. A sign-and-trade is now off the table, and much like the Erik Karlsson situation in Ottawa, buying teams won't be willing to sacrifice significant pieces for a single-season's worth of Pacioretty in their top six without the guarantee that he'll stick around for the long run. In addition to Pacioretty's diminished value, the idea of Bergevin acting on a deal out of desperation is cause for concern considering how the club has made out in the aftermath of his recent major trades.
At this juncture, it's hard to imagine the circumstances surrounding a Pacioretty trade being much worse. Supplementing the contract extension scenario, Pacioretty is coming off an uncharacteristically poor season, further damaging Montreal's chances at getting a sufficient haul for its best forward.
Pacioretty only appeared in 64 games in 2017-18, accumulating just 37 points - two shy of what he managed in the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign. Before last season's dreary showing, Pacioretty was among the most productive goal scorers across the NHL. In fact, from 2011-12 to last season, the Habs' captain ranks ninth in the entire league with 206 goals in 503 games, all while carrying a remarkably team-friendly $4.5-million cap hit.
Surely his productive past will be Montreal's main selling point, but there doesn't appear to be a way Bergevin and Co. escape this saga without collecting their fair share of criticism - a recurring theme of late in La Belle Province.
Montreal's always under the microscope, but Bergevin's already taken heat for saying "the answer is in that dressing room," after a 2-6-1 start to last season, then followed up his sentiments months later in the club's year-end press conference, saying his team's attitude needs to be better. A failure to accurately assess what went wrong, on top of a handful of questionable personnel decisions over recent years, has Montreal's fan base ready for something positive, and Pacioretty's impending departure isn't that.
The Canadiens have a few glaring needs on their roster, primarily down the middle of the ice and on the blue line, but does Pacioretty currently fetch a roster player that can sufficiently step into either of those roles next season? With no term attached, does he even pull an A-level prospect or a first-round pick? If not, Bergevin will be forced to rummage through the bargain bin of future assets while giving up a player that's eclipsed 30 goals five times since 2012.
Pacioretty is certainly due for a raise next summer, as his career production speaks for itself. And even with a projected $12 million in cap space next season, the Canadiens - who ranked 29th in goals for - are depositing their captain's future into the hands of another team.
Potential avenues for a Pacioretty trade are limitless, and there's always a possibility Bergevin gets creative and finds a way to maximize Montreal's return. But the possibility of Pacioretty succeeding in greener pastures are much greater, and they'll only have themselves to blame if they have nothing to show for him down the line.
