Jarome Iginla may want to stay in Boston, but Boston might not be able to afford him unless they use more "creative accounting" to retain his services.
Iginla, 36, is obviously no spring chicken and may want to finish out his career only on teams that are capable of winning the Cup year in and out. Surely no one would blame him for that.
But how much money would it take to lure him as a key piece and mentor on a Florida team that should be on the rise starting next season? Guess what? Whatever the figure GM Dale Tallon has the check waiting.
With all the talented youth in place, Tallon has said he needs solid veterans to carry the kids along and help them mature. With $30 million to spend, a strong need at RW, and no state income tax, Tallon can probably make a pitch to Iginla that no one can match.
Word is Iginla wants to play until he is 40, and after posting 30 goals and 31 assists this season he is showing he is still the real deal in this league. It was his 12th consecutive non-lockout season with 30 goals. Playing for a defensive, yet loaded Boston team sure helps those numbers, but visions of him playing on a line with Aleksander Barkov and a rejuvenated Jonathan Huberdeau would be a lot of fun to watch.
No doubt there will be other suitors for Iginla should Boston not be able to sign him. He has stated that he really likes playing in Boston and hopes a deal can be worked out. But Boston is not in a very flexible position with several key players becoming RFAs. But like the Panthers they are quite thin at RW, so desperation and familiarity might be enough to get something done in Beantown.
Tallon means business in what can be argued as the most important offseason in this franchise's history. To this point it looks like he has drafted very well in his tenure in Florida, and as Barkov, Bjugstad, Trocheck, Shore, Howden, Grimaldi, Petrovic, Gudbranson, and Huberdeau grow into their own a healthy mix of veterans should equate to much needed success.
Hiring a new head coach and the NHL Draft are in between the beginning of free agency, which may determine which players on the market are more valuable for the forthcoming systems. But if there is bonafide value out there in this weak free agent crop, Tallon will not hesitate to overspend if he needs to as he did in the summer of 2011. The next season resulted in the team's first ever division title and one goal away in double overtime of Game 7 against New Jersey from advancing.
Tallon has stated he'd like to add 5 forwards and 2 defenseman this offseason.
Most fans probably think the thought of Iginla in Florida is sacrilege, but it can easily make sense for both sides. The Avs went from almost last in 2012-2013 to one of the best teams in the league this year, and Florida is in position to do the same with the right signings this summer.
Should Iginla be one of them?
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