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Friday, December 17, 1999
Jarome vs. Joe
Four years ago tomorrow, Jarome Iginla awoke to his hotel phone ringing with the bad news.
He'd been traded.
"Oh no," thought the Kamloops junior star who was in the midst of the training camp for Canada's World Junior team.
"I can't believe they'd trade me out of Kamloops," he said to Canadian coach Marcel Comeau.
"No, wait," said Comeau. "You've been traded in the NHL. From Dallas to Calgary for Joe Nieuwendyk."
Iginla's shock at that news equaled that of Calgarians that day. A Calder Trophy winner, 50-goal scorer and team captain for 1995 11th overall draft pick Jarome Iginla!
"Jarome Who?" screamed the headlines.
The trading of Nieuwendyk, who had held out in a contract dispute, really signified the end to the old Calgary Flames franchise -- the one that had been Stanley Cup champions and perennial league powerhouse.
Nieuwendyk has continued as one of the game's stars, including his Stanley Cup win in Dallas last season in which he won the Conn Smythe trophy.
That alone may seem enough to judge this trade.
Iginla has struggled at times in Calgary on a team that has degenerated into competitive obscurity. And, four years later, the question of Jarome Who remains largely unanswered.
Even for Iginla.
"At the time of the trade it was a little overwhelming," recalled Iginla, as the team departed Dallas yesterday morning, the day after Nieuwendyk's two goals led the Stars to a 5-1 win.
"He was a 50-goal scorer, the captain, but I talked to Al Coates and they told me not to worry about that. Being at the world juniors there was a lot of pressure because I was trying to answer the critics, the guys who said "Jarome Who?
"I wanted to have a good tournament because of that."
He had a great tournament, leading Canada to the gold medal and temporarily silencing the critics.
In his fourth season now, Iginla is still striving for consistency to a game that has been dominated by highs and lows.
His 28 goals last year produced high expectations for this season, but a contract holdout and slow start has Iginla struggling to make a real impact.
"It's my fourth year and I don't think I've lived up to all that I want to do yet," says Iginla, who is just 22 years old.
"I want to be a better player than I am now, and I'm confident that, over the years, I can be. I've been given a great opportunity here being on a young team, getting a good chance to play and I think the team is growing together as well. There is still a long ways for me to go.
"I've had some all right seasons but I want to do better, to produce more than I have done. There is still a ways to go to live up to the expectations from that trade, and even my own expectations.
"It's only natural to make those comparisons with Joe - I'm a fan too and would look at it like that.
"It creeps into my mind, especially when we are playing them and he gets two goals. I knew at the time he was a great player, and I expected that to continue. It was an honour at the time to think I could be part of a trade like that for such a good player.
"Sure that seemed one-sided, but I have to try and live up to that and play against him, but it's tough when he gets two goals and they win."
This is still a trade Calgary can win. But it will take time and much improvement from Iginla, who is as frustrated as anyone else with his struggles.
"I wish I had the answer but it's really not an overnight thing," said Iginla. "It's a cliche, but I really have to get back to working as hard as I can.
"You can get thinking too much, trying to do different things but, really, all I have to do is go out there and play. We've all played so long, from the age of six or seven, so we all know how to do it.
"It's about habits and I have t get back to making sure I have good habits. If you do that, things will eventually go the way you would like.
"This team and I are ready to turn the corner. We have to look at a team like Ottawa, who went through some tough times and built their team a nucleus that is now part of a contender. That's what we are doing here. We all have to prove ourselves, to make some big leaps.
"This season we expect to make the playoffs. It's not just another year -- this is the year we have to prove ourselves that we are making strides."
No one moreso than Jarome Iginla.
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