Are we sure Iginla’s in Pittsburgh? Sure? For good?
Mar 18, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Calgary Flames right wing
Jarome Iginla(12) skates in the Dallas Stars zone during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Flames 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Okay. Shoutout to Aaron Ward on what might be the worst night he’s ever had. Hope he keeps his job – he’s a good guy.
Anyway, the Calgary Flames have traded captain and franchise centerpiece Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Pengu
ins for a 1st round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Ben Hanowski, and and Kenny Agostino.The season is over.
Seriously. It’s done. Just give the President’s Trophy and the Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh and let’s skip to draft day.Honestly, the Wings may as well tank now. Even if we make it to the Cup Finals, we’ll undoubtedly be facing Pittsburgh, a team with two of the three best centers in the world (don’t think for a second the Pens didn’t try to snag Datsyuk, though), 4 players who can score 40 goals in a season, three captains, and depth to rival the Mariana Trench. There’s no winning against that. Here are their forward lines:
Kunitz – Crosby – Iginla
Neal – Malkin – Morrow
Cooke – Sutter – Dupuis
WHO CARES – WHO CARES – WHO CARES
This may be the most unbeatable team since the 2002 Detroit Red Wings.
Speaking of the Red Wings, what does this deal mean for Detroit?
At first glance, things seem bad for every team in the league not based in Pennsylvania. Oh, sorry Philly, couldn’t see you in the standings behind THE ISLANDERS. Pittsburgh immediately becomes the best team by a country mile, and Flames GM Jay Feaster traded Jarome Iginla away for a 30th overall pick and two prospects nobody’s ever heard of. He set the price so low for rentals at the trade deadline that teams are gonna be counting their pucks one-by-one rather than just sending a full bag the other way in a deal.
In the Western Conference, at least.
But you can bet that Eastern Conference teams are going to do their very best to bolster their teams through any means necessary. We’re talking larceny, kidnapping, murder…but more importantly, overpaying for rental players. The league just became a seller’s market – and eastern teams aren’t gonna be giving up annnnyyyyythhhinnnggg.
But Detroit might be.
Players like Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen just saw their trade value skyrocket. Teams in the east can’t avoid confrontation with Pittsburgh, so they’ll be doing everything they can to soften the blow. I made a half-kidding comment on Twitter earlier tonight about the Wings moving Filppula to Toronto for prospect Tyler Biggs. Now I wouldn’t even consider this deal…maybe if the Leafs throw in a 1st round pick or two. Maybe.
…So I’m exaggerating a little bit, but my point is that no matter where they are in the standings, now is a prime time for Detroit to become sellers. Teams will throw draft picks and prospects left and right to find playoff additions, and Ken Holland needs to make as many catches as he possibly can.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see moves of this ilk happen by the upcoming deadline:
1) Detroit sends Valtteri Filppula to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Tyler Biggs and a conditional (upon resigning) 2nd round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft
2) Detroit sends Johan Franzen, Mikael Samuelsson, and a 2nd round pick to the New York Rangers for Chris Kreider (and then adds a 1st round pick, Drew Miller, and Valtteri Filppula to take Marion Gaborik back as well)
3) Detroit sends Johan Franzen and Valtteri Filppula to the Winnipeg Jets for Evander Kane
4) Detroit sends Mikael Samuelsson, Cory Emmerton, and Patrick Eaves to the Boston Bruins for a 1st round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft
Now, I’m not saying these particular deals, or even ones this big, WILL happen, but don’t be surprised if Detroit starts selling off and raking in some ridiculous trade value. And hey, if they suck and miss the playoffs, this is supposed to be one of the best drafts ever, right?
Okay, I gotta go to bed. I have an exam to fail in eight hours. Tweet me whenever: @dzkefalas