Flames/Lightning Post-Game: The Sheltering of Jarome Iginla
by Kent Wilson on Feb 8, 2010 7:39 AM PST
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For two periods in Tampa, the Flames were the better hockey team. They won the possession battle and were up by one on the score clock. However, they gave it all back in the third period when they succumbed to fatigue and the dreaded defensive shell (ie; playing "not to lose"). Who knows how different things would have been had Kotalik (ejection) and Bourque (injured by cheap shot) still been around. We'll never know, unfortunately.
As mentioned, Calgary was solid for most of the evening, but some old habits seemed to creep back into their game on Saturday. They ended up with just 16 ES shots on goal which was just 40% of their total attempts. The final period of extremely tentative, no forecheck hockey reminded me of many of their pre-trade outings. Generating all of two scoring chances during the 23+ minutes the game was locked at one all isn't going to get it done. And keep in mind the Flames weren't exactly playing the Blackhawks.
What wasn't normal was Brent Sutter's treatment of Jarome Iginla versus the Lightning. Through most of the season, Iginla's been given the tough assignments - own zone draws, match-ups versus the other teams stars etc. Not this time. His corsi number is good, but check out his zone start (face-offs) and head-to-head ice - he took just a single defensive zone draw all night and he mostly faced guys like Lundin, Thompson and Malone. Langkow et al were fed to the wolves to give Iginla a chance to beat up the lesser lights (hell, Mikael Backlund saw more of Lecavalier than Iginla did). And he didn't do it. He finished the night just +2 in terms of scoring chances. That is a depressingly mediocre performance by Jarome considering the circumstances.
During this most recent stretch of important games against lackluster opponents, the captain has just a single assist. He was held scoreless against a middling club, despite soft as butter match-ups, easy as pie zone starts and 21+ minutes of ice time. That's not even close to good enough. The Flames are battling for their play-off lives here. At some point, Jarome has to snap out of his reverie and return to at least a semblance of the player he once was. He's the lone superstar amongst the forwards and he's the highest paid by a full $2.5 million. Teams without legit difference makers up front don't win anything in this league and as it stands right now the Flames are one of those teams.
Also - just so I don't forget to mention it...the officiating in this contest was absolutely atrocious.
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He’s the lone superstar amongst the forwards and he’s the highest paid by a full $2.5 million. (Iginla – 7, Langkow – 4.5)
Is there a secret injury, or is he in a slump, or is this the decline of Jarome? Something smells here.
I’d prefer secret injury because, well, those have a chance of turning a player’s performance around.
In any case it’s not looking good. Player performance always trends downwards on the wrong side of thirty unless there’s injury involved, even then it’s a long shot to recover to previous performance and by that time age might have taken its toll.
by R O on Feb 8, 2010 8:45 AM PST up reply actions
If he’s not just slumping, the Flames are either a) dead, or b) going to have to hope that depth can win over a long stretch. If they want to try Plan B, they need at least one more NHL center, and can’t trade Moss or Dawes to get them:
Hagman-Stajan-Iginla
Higgins-Langkow-Kotalik
Glencross-“Catt Mullen”-Bourque
Dawes-Boyd-Moss
Can you win with what amounts to three “second” lines? Maybe not, but that seems like the only way left unless Sutter has something up his sleeve that we haven’t accounted for.
BTW, that third line center is a place holder as opposed to anyone specific, although the hinted player would do if he was cheap to acquire. I like Mikael Backlund just fine, and I’ll like him more at next September’s training camp. Right now, it’s more than he should have to bear.
As for Iggy, the guy has some hard miles on him. A slip shouldn’t be that surprising for a player that has had to carry as much of the load as he has with limited help for a number of years.
by Robert Cleave on Feb 8, 2010 8:59 AM PST up reply actions
I still prefer a top heavy line up. Despite Lanks’ inability to win faceoffs he is very clearly the best centre on the team, so him on the top line carrying quality on his wings (think Higgins or Bourque on the left and Iggy on the right) and they’re off to the races.
The gap between GM and coach coulnd’t be more pronounced imo. I mean the GM gets forward depth, what is the purpose of that exactly? It is to make sure the depth battle is not lost, so that your good players don’t have to play with your lesser players to buoy them up. Freeing them up to play together against quality.
But no, it’s the same spreading talent policy, just annoying as fuck.
Similar story on defence, though not such a big deal because Bouwmeester for all the world appears to make his defense partner better.
by R O on Feb 8, 2010 9:04 AM PST up reply actions
Addendum: A top line of Bourque-Lanks-Iggy means all kinds of logical second lines are possible. Hagman for sure, maybe with HIggins centering and Kotalik on the wing if Sutter’s feeling like a fight. Or Higgins on the wing with Stajan centering if the latter can handle occasionally having to face Toews or Datsyuk on the deep teams (maybe not but he will have two good wingers to protect him).
The new forwards make all sorts of thigns possible, but the one thing that is now not a concern is what the 2-4 lines look like Lanks and Iggy are together. There are enough frowards that they can be fleshed out with decent players. Just boggles the mind why it’s not happneing.
by R O on Feb 8, 2010 9:08 AM PST up reply actions
Damn no edit feature.
OK, the other thing with having a first line with three good players (albeit ones that can’t really make their teammates too much better) is that if they can win or saw off the PVP matchup, every line thereafter has an easier job.
One of the reasons Calgary is struggling is that the opposition’s quality is almost always winning against us. Meaning when Richards, Toews, Zetterberg, Sedins, etc. are stepping off the ice, the puck’s still behind our net or the faceoff’s in our zone, meaning the depth battle always starts badly. We’re winning the depth battle and it’s uphill, have all season, meaning our depth is quality. But losing the quality battle just means all the good chances are in our end of the rink.
by R O on Feb 8, 2010 9:11 AM PST up reply actions
Over at NucksMisconduct (Yeah Right) One of their guys said that Bourque was spotted with a sling and is out until after the Olympics. So take that with a grain of salt.
But if it’s true Rest my friend, Rest you’ll need it.
Are you geeked for Kotalik?
Incidentially, Assuming that Moss & Dawes are only “injured” at this point who do you put in until RBQ is back. Dawes? Moss? Lundmark (Albeit with Lundy it’s only realistic if the other two are actually injured and not just “injured” for the purposes of having roster space)?
… is that what you think Butter would do or what you would do? Even if Dawes or Moss were able to draw in?
I dont think they’re available. It’s not that easy to circumvent the cap and roster requirements. If they aren’t hurt, they wouldn’t be on IR.
Fair enough, I read that Moss and Dawes are skating with the team so I figured that one or both of them is close to returning (Conroy is apparently ‘working out’ so I took that to mean that he isn’t skating and thus not an option).
I have a suspicion they were trying to keep both Dawes and Moss on the IR until the roster limits came off at the deadline. That doesn’t mean another trade won’t happen, but that would allow the Flames to keep everyone up as long as they were in cap compliance, and the team has plenty of room.
And yes, if Dawes or Moss is ready to go, put Bourque on IR instead and dress one of them.
by Robert Cleave on Feb 8, 2010 12:33 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah. That won’t be better any time soon. And now the third line looks like this:
Glencross-Backlund-Lundmark.
I wish they’d keep Lundmark away from Backlund. They need two solid people to play with him, not a guy who has a penchant for making a huge mistake every couple of games.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 8, 2010 12:42 PM PST up reply actions
Proper link. That other’s a bum steer.
by Robert Cleave on Feb 8, 2010 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
Is there a secret injury, or is he in a slump, or is this the decline of Jarome?
Wow, déjà vu all over again. This question has been asked a few times a season for years now, it seems.
Unfortunately, I’m starting to subscribe to the third theory…he is in a decline. Still, he seems able to snap out of it for a few games here and there; let’s hope he does just that if and when the Flames play after April 10.
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised (saddened, but not surprised) to see him in the press box or getting 4th line minutes at the Olympics.
This year is more pronounced that ever though, Rich. He’s on pace for his lowest shot and goal totals in a decade. That’s stepping into elevator shaft territory.
Yeah, if he plays these final 23 games the same as his last 23 games, he’ll end up with 29G and 38A for 67 points. And the bulk of those points in the last 23 were picked up against Edmonton and Toronto.
I mean, you can’t exactly look at the last 23 games as indicative of the rest of the season, but it does make a person wonder…
Well, I hope that the Olympics help to ignite him again. At this point I just hope they play him.
Iginla has been playing this way all season Avalain. His November was a mirage based on a 30% SH%. This is nothing new.
So hypothetically if Iginla were to continue playing this way, could he renegotiate his contract to something less huge? I don’t know how the NHL treats contracts once they’ve taken effect.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 8, 2010 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
No renegotiation. They’re stuck with the contract unless they trade him or he retires, and neither seems likely at the moment.
by Robert Cleave on Feb 8, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
That sucks. Definitely don’t want the former to happen ever, or the latter for another 8ish years.
CofRed, I could see it being possible. If you’re Iggy’s age, of his character, and you want to win a cup with your team, the motivation is certainly there to open up more cap space for the team if you’re struggling as badly as he seems to be.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 8, 2010 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
No normal person makes 7 million dollars a year, either. From my perspective, if I had the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup with MY team (after all, it’s been his team for a decade now) due to taking a couple million off the paycheque, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 8, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions
Moot anyway. He’s no more allowed to volunteer it than the club is allowed to request it.
I could see a guy taking a bit less money as a UFA to get a good situation, though. Manny Malholtra was alleged to have done just that to go to San Jose, and I’m sure others have as well.
by Robert Cleave on Feb 8, 2010 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
hossa took a painful hit to his wallet last year to play with detroit
by Rod Blogojevich on Feb 8, 2010 2:06 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah. Either getting on a true competitor or the whole ‘hometown discount’ scenario; it’s just a shame that Iggy’s play has deteriorated so drastically this year. Then again, you look at the career stats of a lot of elite players, and some of them do have an entire year where they just don’t seem to get it done. I choose to remain overly optimistic about the whole situation until the bitter end.
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 8, 2010 3:15 PM PST up reply actions
i know turek did it (which is why i love turek still) but that was pre-lockout so i don’t know what the new deal is.
by walkinvisible on Feb 8, 2010 4:35 PM PST up reply actions
Well, yes, I realize that he’s been playing this way all season. I wasn’t disagreeing with you; I was trying to further your point. I’m not sure exactly where I implied that his play lately was different than most of the season. My comment on not being able to look at the last 23 games as indicative of the future is just that anything can happen in the future.
I mentioned the last 23 games simply because there are 23 games left, which made the calculations simple. I didn’t do it because I felt the last 23 games were an anomaly – just the opposite in fact. If you want to take in his whole season including November he’s on pace for 33 goals this season, not 29. That’s still 2 goals below last year and the 05-06 season.
“Also – just so I don’t forget to mention it…the officiating in this contest was absolutely atrocious.”- is that a surprise between these two teams? Remember the Stanley Cup finals that the officiating so obviously wanted the Lightning to win? Also, the third period of this game was an absolute snooze-fest. The Flames didn’t look at all like they were even remotely interested in winning. I missed the first 40 minutes, but saw that the Flames had outshot the Lightning 20-10 after 2, so I think its fair to go out on a limb and say they were probably playing considerably better. You can use fatigue as the issue (and it probably played somewhat of a role, sure) but from what I saw the last 15 or so minutes it looked more like they were just completely uninterested in the game.
What are you talking about? It’s not like the officiating robbed the Flames of a cup-winning goal or anything…
by SmellOfVictory on Feb 8, 2010 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
what are you talking about ?!? lombardi isn’t a first line centre. he’s also not worth jokinen OR kotalik unless you throw in a first rounder or something….. we didn’t like that guy here in calgary, good riddance.
[/sarcasm]
by walkinvisible on Feb 9, 2010 9:06 AM PST up reply actions
Officiating
Yes the officiating was suspect in the Calgary-Tampa final. First the Gelinas goal-replay showed it was in, and then Kerry Fraser called a penalty with a minute left-Calgary pulled their goalie-swarming the Tampa net-Leopold hits the post-Calgary possession-then Tweet-2min penalty for interference-unheard of to call a penalty in the last minute. Looked suspect-a Cup for a US team in a softer market assured. Remember the head of officiating Andy VanHellemond was borrowing money from referees to cover gambling debts-he then was assigning top games to referees that lent him money. This was hushed up quickly, but the story came out-I think its safe to speculate there was corruption of the officials.
As far as Iginla goes, he will rebound, it sounds like the coach is placing him in awkward positions. Any more trades coming? Don’t the Flames need a Goalie still? We’ve plenty of forwards to dangle.
Everyone here wants a Goalie but does Daz want a goalie, that my friend is a whole different story. I sure hope he does go after that goalie because when you look at all the lost points we’ve suffered under McBackup.
Joseph was alright but again he was at the end of his career, another problem is does Biron want to be a backup?
Is that Delivery? No it's Giordano.
At this point, Biron is a backup.
Go Flames Go
"WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOUR?"
by Justin Azevedo on Feb 9, 2010 12:11 PM PST up reply actions
Surplus of forwards when injured return=Trade?
It seems likely that Calgary may have to trade one or two of their forwards. There is a need for draft picks and a legitimate goalie/backup. Not sure if Keely-Mc-Goalie-Shantz-Irving-or any prospects are ready to fill the role. I’d like to see a move for a younger Goalie and not an aging expensive back-up. Maybe trading for another organizations prospect would be the route-though Shantz was that move-he has a good pedigree. Hey I thought we had scoring? What about Hagman-how does he look?
Officiating in 2004
Here is a link to an espn news story about the officiating fiasco that quite likely cost Calgary a level playing field in the Cup final-corruption! Calgary showed character coming back in every series all of which went 7 games as I recall. What I am concerned about is the character of the Flames today-determined to win or a bunch of aloof strangers thrown together. I guess the acid-test is against Ottawa-what a confidence builder if they win.
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