Iginla seen here at Staples in 2009 – Photo: IKIRI
By Paul Armbruster • KingsNewsDaily.com •
Yep, you read it right. They’re dragging Jerome Iginla back into the Kings plans. You know it’s a slow news day when Yahoo and ESPN piggyback stories about an old trade rumor that never was and never will be. Yawn!
The only reason I’m even publishing this so I can say, “Why on earth would Dean Lombardi want to do this? Hello!?”
- Last I checked, the Kings have almost the exact same forward lineup that just won it all.
- Lombardi, who didn’t need to get rid of a quality winger in Gagne, did so anyway knowing he has Toffoli and others in Manchester. But hey, now he needs Iginla all of the sudden? And for what?
- Oh yes, Bernier. You know, the guy who’s seeing more playing time than ever racking up wins while sharing duties with Quick who has struggled in stretches all season. Right, give up a quality backup now for a waning winger the Kings don’t need and bring in Mikka Kiprusoff to compete with Quick? Bad idea.
- In case those who float this nonsense don’t know, the Kings need help on DEFENSE. Yes, you know with Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene out. Remember them?
The only move Lombardi should be actively be pursuing is for a blue-line veteran. Plain and simple. Emphasize the simple there. Amazing these stories not only get published by reputable sources, but then they actually take up most of the day with wonderings about how Iginla might fit into the Kings lineup. News-flash: He doesn’t! But it was refreshing to see the Globe and Mail knock down the rumor, so there’s that. Of course, as I told a friend who actually likes the idea of the trade, “Now watch, it’ll happen.” But it won’t.
Haha I like the sarcasm. I’ve been saying the same thing since the rumor started circulating recently. The Kings don’t need Iginla and they NEED Bernier. It’d be stupid and foolhardy of Dean Lombardi to give up a great back up goalie (who, if it fit into Sutter’s plans, could go 1A and 1B with Quickie – but that doesn’t fit Sutter’s plans) to get another forward when we need help on the back end.
I’m not saying he pushes the panic button and goes out and gets Regehr (or anyone for that matter, as the season ends in about 5 weeks and the guy we’ve had with us for 5 weeks [Ellerby] still has own struggles, along with the guy we’ve had nearly 5 years [Doughty]), but thinking long term, in case we do lose Scuds to UFA, then we’ll need someone to fill his skates.
Not to mention giving up Bernier would mean losing a goalie (the rumor I had heard said Bernier would compete with Kipper and not Kipper with Quicker) and leave us without a back up and our guy in Manch is not even close to NHL ready. So, Bernier isn’t getting traded anywhere (not yet anyways).
I think Iginla would score more goals if he didn’t use a warped stick. Look at that thing, it’s bent. Calgary’s equipment guy must suck.
Need Bernier this season…next season Bernier will be gone and the Kings will need a back up..
nuthin’ to see here…
please be on yr way…:)
I disagree, the Kings don’t need help on defense. What they need is Jonathan Quick to stop being a block of Swiss cheese. Or allow Jonathan Bernier to play every single game. The Kings are doing an excellent job in limiting shots against, and scoring chances against. If Jonathan Quick resembled anything that he was the year before, the King’s would be in fantastic shape. Jonathan Quick alone has cost the Kings a minimum of 5 or 6 games. He will always have a place in my heart for what he did last season, but this is not last season. Put him on the bench and chain him to Bill Ranford until his game comes back. In the meantime, start Jonathan Bernier every game.
Hey, I’M the Cynic here….
…and you obviously didn’t read my email to you close enough. You’re not thinking about things from a ‘Boxes’ perspective or a cap perspective either. You have Jarret Stoll as a 3rd/4th liner making 3.25 mil/year (For the next 2 seasons I might add, an albatross contract as we sit currently). For what he is contributing, he’s worth 1/2 that. Not necessarily his fault, given we’re stacked at center and he’ll be the first to not admit publically that he’d like a bigger role on any team.
Iginla would actually lock up ALL spots on the Right side (Williams/Iginla/Brown) 3 deep for at least 3 years. Center is locked up for twice that. Carter & Toffoli would give you flexibility for both should injuries occur. Penner & Clifford can go 2/3 on the LW side. King/Nolan/Manchester could fill the role temporarily and King has played with Kopi. You’re ONLY focus from a completely stacked team (A la Detroit) would be a #1 LW! The ENTIRE PURPOSE of all this rebuilding was to fill the boxes, make them complete and locked in, THEN have guys in the minors for 2-3 years constantly coming up and filling retirement holes as needed. Detroit has done this for 20 years! We’re so close to being in that situation and creating the dynasty that we’ve always wanted, getting Iggy for at least 3 years (He’s 35, could play to at least 38) gives Toffoli a chance to grow into his own, maybe even learn to play LW with his skill, and not hurt the team or his development.
Don’t cry about Bernier. EVERYONE was ready to ship this guy in the offseason after Quick signed his contract. Suddenly He’s the savior? Please….take yer meds. KND people don’t act like Eklund fans. They are a thinking man’ s breed of fan.
Quick just shot his wad last season AND had back surgery. He’s doing well in spite of his young defense, who BTW is holding their own (We’re in a playoff spot). Many of the games we lost were due to lack of SCORING by the top 6! Iginla would shore that up. Brown needs to be back on the right on the 3rd line where he belongs as a grinder where he plays more physical because it is his NATURAL position.
We have 9.1 mil in cap space. Iggy makes Doughty Money (7 Mil), less Stoll (3.25) makes the hit 3.75 and easily palpable. Not to mention resigning him would most likely be the same or cheaper, given his age ( I see 5-6mil for 3 years range). Plenty of room to sign a #1 LW, fill the final hole, and move on to greatness for a decade or two.
Bigger picture Paul. I felt the same way initially, but after doing the boxes and the math, it makes perfect logical sense. Next time you see Lombardi at TSC, tell him he needs me as an assistant.
“…Iginla would actually lock up ALL spots on the Right side (Williams/Iginla/Brown) 3 deep for at least 3 years. …”
Except that Iginla is just a rental (unrestricted free agent) and would be almost certainly gone by July 1st. Even Browns contract is up before that.
Neither Brown or Iginla would be locked up.
I agree with you Paul. We need a veteran D man or 2 to eat up minutes and take the pressure off of our young D which are prone to mistakes. Also, John Bernier needs to play more until it becomes apparrent that Quick is getting his game back.
Stoll is selling out on defense. I will keep him.
It is so apparent that Quick is off his game (slow surgery recovery for back) or pressure to repeat last year’s great season. Whatever the reason, Bernier needs a long run in goal to get in the groove he was in prior to being benched. Sutter got us the Cup, but, what the team needs now is key saves at critical times to lift the boys up and Quick is just not getting them. No, IMHO, Inginla is not what the Kings need now or in the future.
I don’t see us making any trades unless someone offeres DL something he just can’t pass up.
I agree that Bernier does deserve to get some more playing time.