If you've been following any hockey news over the past few days, you've heard about the rumors involving 35-year-old Calgary Flames winger Jarome Iginla.
Late Wednesday night, after Iginla was scratched from the line-up for the first time in 441 games with the Flames, a deal was reportedly struck between Calgary and the Boston Bruins. Iginla will join the Bruins, who needed some good news after coming back from a two-goal deficit only to blow that lead with eight seconds remaining and lose in a shootout to division rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.
In return for the Flames captain, reports indicate the Bruins are sending young defenseman Matt Bartkowski and a top prospect in Alex Khokhlachev up to Calgary. Along with the two young players, a conditional first-round draft pick will be part of the swap if Iginla is re-signed in Boston next season.
All in all, this looks like a great pick up for the Bruins at a time when they really needed it. Iginla ranks third among active players with 525 career goals, and his veteran presence will be a huge spark at the Bruins ramp up for another Stanley Cup run. As to where he'll fit in, that's tough to say right now. The Bruins have been shaking up their lines a little bit recently, but on the offensive side of things Wednesday night, they scored five great-looking goals, with the first and second forward lines looking very sharp.
A third line spot would seem weird for the six-time all star, but right now seems the most practical unless they decide to mix up their pairings again. Whatever the Bruins do will be very interesting, and they have back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday against Philadelphia and Buffalo to figure things out, provided the deal is completed and Iggy joins the black and gold by then.
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