Amid the Avalanche free-fall, there came a point when even pretending that Colorado had a chance to make the playoffs became, well, ridiculous.
Quibble over exactly when that moment was, if you will, but there’s no disputing this: If Jarome Iginla, 39, is going to have another shot at the Stanley Cup in the final season of his three-year, $16-million contract, and perhaps the final season of his career, it sure isn’t going to be with the Avalanche.
So, yes, Iginla recently indicated to Colorado general manager Joe Sakic that he would prefer to be dealt to a contending team before the March 1 NHL trading deadline. That makes his no-trade clause academic.
“We’ve touched base about it,” Iginla said Friday. “As it gets closer, I imagine we’ll talk more about what he sees, what opportunities are there. It’s not bailing. It’s not that I said, ‘I want out,’ or anything. It’s just being realistic. Now we’re in the last month before the trade deadline. I’m saying if it works for the team and they’re going to get something, hopefully, it works for me if I’m going to have a chance to be part of the playoffs. I don’t know how much longer I have.”
The Avalanche is 4-24-2 in its last 30 games heading into a Saturday afternoon home game against Winnipeg. The tension is palpable, the disappointment evident. This is a team emotionally steamrolled, and this is a season to be forgotten — if it ever can be.
“We’re going to be a rebuilding team, there’s no question,” Iginla said. “They’re going to try and move guys at the deadline to get whatever draft picks they can. I’ve seen that for however long I’ve been in the league. It’s just the nature of the game. I think it makes sense for the team to do that.”
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he isn’t taking Iginla’s request personally.
“I think you look at Jarome and his career and what he’s done here, he’s been a true professional here,” said the first-year NHL head coach. “I can only go by what I know this season. I love the way he carries himself. I love his compete. I love his passion for the game. He’s a good teammate, a calming influence in our room. He’s not a real boisterous talker, but he has a demeanor to him that I respect, and I respect his career.
“If he has an opportunity to go and get a chance to win, I think everyone in the room wants to see that happen, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing for him to say that at all. If we were two points out of a playoff spot, maybe it would be a different scenario for me. But I look at it as I hope he gets an opportunity.”
The question becomes, though, will anyone want Iginla — the 39-year-old Iginla — even with the Avs essentially giving him away? He’s iconic within the sport, one of the most respected and well-liked players in the league, and a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer.
But he also has only six goals and six assists this season, has slowed noticeably on the ice, has been relegated to the third or fourth lines, and his major remaining contribution — blasting one-timers from the top of the circle on the power play — might be too specialized for teams giving him a look.
With 617 career goals, he is eight behind Sakic, who is No. 15 on the NHL’s all-time list. At the start of the season, he seemed a good bet to overhaul his GM; now, it appears to be a longshot.
Iginla was adamant he still believes he can make significant contributions for a contending or playoff-bound team.
“I do,” he said. “In this next part, I need to get my game where it needs to be. It hasn’t been good enough this year. But I do, I do believe I can help out a team.”
And, yes, it would get him out of a horrible situation.
“It’s still hockey,” he said. “It’s fun. It’s the NHL. But at the same time, it’s been a hard experience hockey-wise for all the guys. It snowballs. We’re a better group than this. You let it snowball and you lose your confidence. In third periods, we haven’t had any success. You try and stay as positive as you can and expect the good things, but it’s been a tough go. There’s lots of good players and pieces and I don’t think it will be that long to turn it around. I hope this is something guys will look back on and learn from and hopefully never go through again.
“I’ve missed the playoffs a lot of times, but usually you’re in it until the end. You’re in the mix, you’re in the hunt. This has been the hardest experience that I’ve had.”
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WINNIPEG AT COLORADO, Saturday, 1 p.m., ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on: Avalanche D Mark Barberio
Claimed on waivers from Montreal on Thursday, the 26-year-old Barberio — in the first year of a two-year, $1.5 million contract — practiced with the Avalanche on Friday and will play against the Jets. “It was a whirlwind 24 hours,” he said. “You go from a low of one team not really wanting you, to 24 hours later a team picks you up. It’s kind of a fresh start and new life and I’m excited.” He said of going from a contending team, and one in his hometown, to the Avalanche, which won’t make the playoffs: “I want to bring some energy and I want to bring some positivity too, because I’m a pretty positive guy. … They’re picking me up and I want to show them that they made the right decision. I want to build a future here. This is a great opportunity for me and I just have to take it.”
Jets: This is the fourth and final stop on this road trip for the Jets, and they will be trying to finish it undefeated. They’ve beaten Chicago 5-3, St. Louis 5-3 and Dallas 4-3. … Mark Scheifele had two goals in the win over the Stars. … In the Central Division, the Jets are 7-4-1 on the road, with six wins in a row.
Avalanche: Calvin Pickard will be in the net against his hometown team. … Perhaps you’ve heard this, but the Avalanche is 0-8-1 in its last nine. … Tyson Barrie did some power-play work with the two units on the second rink before the full practice, then left the ice. … “He just had some soreness after the back-to-backs (at Anaheim and Los Angeles), and being out,” Avalanche coach Jared Bedbar said. “I would say he’s probable.” … Fedor Tyutin (groin), Joe Colborne (ill) and Rene Bourque (upper body) didn’t practice. … Defenseman Eric Gelinas cleared waivers and remained with the Avalanche, at least for the time being.
