It’s entirely possible that all six members of the Boston Bruins’ top two lines could be playing in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia this upcoming February.

First line center David Krejci is a lock for the Czech Republic. The same can be said for Loui Eriksson (Sweden), Patrice Bergeron (Canada), and Canadian wingers Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic bring a physical edge that the Red and White might be in the market for based on the duo’s invitation to Canadian Olympic orientation camp currently happening out in Calgary. Well, that’s only five. Who’s out?

None other than the Boston attack’s only three-time Olympian, Jarome Iginla.

No, really though, the same man that set up Sidney Crosby’s now infamous “Golden Goal” just under four years ago wasn’t even extended an invite. Of course, facts are facts, and Iginla’s now 36 years old, but to suggest that he’s no longer an asset-- especially on international ice surfaces-- is simply untrue.

In three trips to the Olympics (‘02, ‘06, and most recently the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver), the Edmonton native has tallied 10 goals and 14 points in 19 contests. With Iginla on the roster, Canada has won two Gold medals, and he even wore an ‘A’ on his jersey in ‘10 as one of the country’s undisputed leaders and notable ambassadors for the game.

But with the start of the Canadian camp coming this afternoon in Calgary-- Iginla’s stomping grounds for 17 seasons and over 1,200 games-- No. 12 was nowhere to be found.

Why not?

An undeniable victim of the lockout from a gameshape scope (Iginla had just one goal in the first 16 games of the year) and on a simply brutal Calgary club, the 17-year pro Iginla posted a rather sleepy season this past year, recording 14 goals and 33 points in 44 games. Quiet totals given his career totals, sure, but those figures are still a stat-line that would equate out to a 26-goal, 62-point pace over an 82-game season. All things considered, those numbers aren’t necessarily spectacular, but what about Iginla’s aforementioned leadership qualities and success (albeit with a smaller sample size) with Canada’s new ambassador and all-world talent, Sidney Crosby?

During his 28-game tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins (13 regular season games and 15 playoff contests) in 2013, Iginla netted nine goals and 23 points, with Crosby assisting two of those nine and with two of those 14 helpers coming on goals by No. 87. Naturally, their lack of chemistry could be viewed as skewed stat when you factor Crosby’s 13-game absence with a fractured jaw, putting Iginla and Crosby together for a mere 15 games.

But like anything when it comes to a squad as talented as Canada’s, it’s completely subjective.


(Video courtesy of Bruins.NHL.com)

Let’s look deeper though, shall we?

For all intents and purposes, and at an aforementioned 36 years old, 2014 is probably last Iginla’s last chance to don the Red and White for Canada at the Olympics.

It’s a club that he could by all means captain (and should depending on who you ask), and one that could use his leadership. And while this year’s projected Canadian squad will have captains like Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Eric Staal, and even Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf, some major veteran leadership is notably missing with the loss of names like Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger along with the lack of an invite from heart-and-soul types like Brenden Morrow.

Forwards invited to this week’s camp in Calgary:


Undeniably going against a mountain of talent, and left off for (somewhat) justifiable reasons, it’s Iginla’s performance with Olympic Gold on the line that’s made this snub ever so confusing, even for this American hockey blogger. In 2002, and despite being one of the youngest guys on the roster, Iginla lit the Americans up on their own ice twice en route to a Canadian Gold. And as previously mentioned, he made the pass to Crosby in 2010.

In essence, Iginla, even at his age, has a place on this roster. He fits.

Not that he necessarily made a huge jump (he really went from being a first liner to a second liner), but one of the things I noticed most about Iginla throughout his brief tenure with Pittsburgh was his willingness to not be thee guy. It almost looked like he welcomed it, in fact. Iginla proved himself capable of playing the role of a complementary piece, and that's exactly what he could be for Canada in 2014, something a guy such as Jordan Eberle or John Tavares could struggle with from an adjustment standpoint alone. Iginla, knowing what was on the line, simplified his style to adjust.

His history, resume, and character speaks for itself.

Heading into 2013-14 seemingly written off by most experts (Iginla, who’s currently projected to skate with Lucic and Krejci on the Bruins’ top line this year, was left off NHL.com’s top fantasy 200), Iginla noted in a Feb. 2013 interview that his chances for a fourth trip to Olympic hockey could come down to his regular season play before the break itself.

"I think a lot of who makes that team, or it seems so in the past, is who's had good years prior and leading up to it so you get a chance to go to that camp and who's having good years when it's selection time," Iginla told the Toronto Sun. "The best thing you can do to try to make it is to be playing well.”

If he breaks through and earns a nomination to Team Canada’s roster with some elite play for the B’s, a team coached by Canadian assistant coach Claude Julien and general managed by Peter Chiarelli (another Canadian assistant), he would become just the second player to play in four straight Olympics for Canada (Pronger’s the other).

Talk about motivation, no?

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