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Saturday, October 9, 1999
Iggy's back!
Flames' top sniper signs bonus-laden deal
"I got up this morning, at home in St. Albert, ready to workout like usual, and I got the call," said Iginla, who led the Flames with 28 goals last season. "Believe me, that was the best news I could've heard.
"I've got a lot of energy bottled up inside me, not playing all these months. It's been tough, watching the exhibition games and especially these first couple in the regular season."
Iginla hopes to play Monday when the Flames host the Carolina Hurricanes in a Thanksgiving matinee. That decision will be made by the coaching staff but considering the locals' problems scoring goals, it's a no-brainer.
Iginla was the lone Calgary player left unsigned and had practised with the team throughout training camp, buying his own insurance. Once the regular-season began, however, he departed for his off-season home outside Edmonton.
Flames general manager Al Coates completed the deal over the telephone, with Iginla's agent Don Meehan overseas in Sweden.
So Iginla received the money he wanted, the Flames got the term they were after.
"We felt it was important to get the term," said Coates. "A lot of the young players now are insisting on two-year deals."
To tie Iginla up for a reasonable amount of time, Calgary was forced to up its ante significantly. The last reported offer had been in the area of $950,000 US per season.
Iginla earned $650,000 as a base last year, with a deferred $200,000 signing bonus payment tacked on.
Iginla diplomatically shrugged off criticism that had been levelled at him by coach Brian Sutter this week for not being with the team, saying: "Brian's a competitive guy."
The signing is good news for Sun readers who responded to a poll yesterday asking if Iginla should be signed immediately or traded ASAP.
The majority or readers wanted the Flames to get him back in the lineup.
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