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Tuesday, September 7, 1999
Iggy's in camp after all
Say, unless the old eyes are beginning to falter, wasn't that ... Jarome Iginla?
"I'm here and I'll be allowed to skate with the team, even if I don't have a contract," said the unsigned winger. "Both Donnie (agent Meehan) and I felt this was in my best interests, and the team agreed to let me.
"I just thought like everybody else: No contract, no camp. And a lot of teams would've just told me to stay away. So I'm happy to be part of things. I don't want to fall behind. If you miss any part of camp, it's tough to get off to a good start to the season. I'll get some insurance (today) and hopefully everything will be finalized within a day or so."
Iginla remains without a deal and, to listen to general manager Al Coates, it doesn't sound as if an agreement is imminent. Specifics have yet to be addressed.
"But it's important for him to be in camp," said Coates. "We'll take this a step, or a few days, at a time."
It seemed all but inevitable that Iginla would be a no-show today when training camp per se got rolling. But the two sides agreed, in the best interests of both parties, to haggle over details while Iginla worked himself into form.
"It's been on my mind lately, obviously," he sighed. "All summer, I didn't think about it. I just figured everything would get done. And I'm sure it will."
Iginla smiled. "I wish I'd been able to skip the testing, but I sure am glad to be with the guys and not at home wishing I was."
He said there's a genuine excitement surrounding the upcoming season, in no small measure because of the acquisition of Grant Fuhr from the Blues.
"I think we've got a really strong D. (Cale) Hulse and Todd (Simpson) and (Denis) Gauthier all have another year under their belts, to go along with Smitty (Steve Smith) and Howie (Phil Housley) and Abbie (Tommy Albelin).
"And our goaltending ... well, adding a guy like Grant Fuhr is a huge, huge boost. Growing up in St. Albert, he was one of my favourite players so naturally, I'm really excited about his being part of our team. And he's had some great seasons since he got to St. Louis. I'm looking forward to meeting him, getting to know him and playing with him.
"Freddie Brathwaite did a great job for us when he showed up last year. We've got some real good young goalies and to add a Grant Fuhr ...
"Up front, we've got a lot of young guys, myself included, who've been in the league a while now and are expected to get their numbers up.
"I can't wait to get going."
NOTES:
The Flames have flown in D prospect Robyn Regehr, re-habbing from the automobile accident that nearly cost him his life, to feel a part of things and, believe it or not, a little light skating.
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