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As announced by Flames GM Jay Feaster, the Calgary Flames will hold a press conference sometime next week with captain Jarome Iginla. While there has been much speculation that the press release is to discuss and or announce the extension of his contract with the Flames, this will likely not be the case.
According to Feaster, the intention is to field as many questions as the media can throw their way regarding the current contract of Iginla, and have them taken care of for the rest of the season. I find it interesting that Feaster decides to publicly announce that they will hold a press conference, a week in advance, for such a disturbance. While I certainly understand the distraction this causes to the team and, more specifically, Iginla…holding a press conference which will do nothing more than possibly stir the pot, may not be the best way to address the captain's future with the team.
In my humble opinion, a simple statement from the Flames that the team and their captain will not address any questions regarding the status of his contract may have been wiser. A straightforward message that their intention is to speak with Jarome throughout the next few weeks regarding his contract and that they do not want this to distract hockey operations etc. Rather, they have chosen to broadcast a live press release and subject their captain to a flurry of questions coming from every angle and every reporter looking to get the next big story.
Is this really how the Flames should be addressing this? I personally do not think so.
With that being said, I feel as though there have already been discussions between management and Iginla, and that throughout the next week they will speak some more. Whether a week from now they acquiesce to an extension and make it public or not is left to be seen, though I feel calling for a press conference merely to field questions is ill advised.
You want to keep Iginla around? Let him get ready for hockey and take on duties as the GM and address the media, without an interview process, to state your intentions. Subjecting your captain to a potential flurry of interrogations could do nothing more than spark more interest in the debate and irritate the man of the hour.
Thanks for reading!
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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