Pens should take a pass on Iginla

Pens shouldn't fall in love with old Flame

By Mark Madden 

Special to The Beaver County Times | Posted: Monday, March 18, 2013 12:16 am

Jarome Iginla would help almost any NHL team. But he wouldn’t help the Penguins. The veteran Calgary winger would jump right onto many teams’ first line. Iginla would be a terrific get for most power plays. But the Penguins don’t need him in either regard. Iginla will be highly sought as the April 3 NHL trade deadline approaches. The Penguins shouldn’t go after him.

Winning a Stanley Cup is a matter of building a team, not collecting players. Iginla’s savvy would provide a leadership element the Penguins could use, a complement to Sidney Crosby’s captaincy. If Iginla doesn’t come to Pittsburgh, he could go to Boston. The Bruins are the biggest threat to the Penguins in the Eastern Conference. Keeping Iginla away from the Bruins would be good.

Calgary reportedly wants a top-four defensive prospect, a current NHL player, and a high draft pick. That’s too much.

The pros are dwarfed by the cons. The Penguins don’t need Iginla.

Pascal Dupuis has a lot to do with that.

Dupuis has 14 goals, Iginla seven. Dupuis has seven goals in his last seven games. Right now, Dupuis is a better, more productive player than Iginla. He’s a perfect fit for linemates Crosby and Chris Kunitz.

Increased confidence leads to bigger and better. Witness Dupuis’ backhand goal against the Rangers Saturday. A thing of beauty.

Iginla’s acquisition would likely force Dupuis down the depth chart to the third line. It wouldn’t be the first time Dupuis was cursed by his versatility. Dupuis can play either wing, any line, first through fourth.

But Dupuis is respected and well-liked by his teammates. Dumping on Dupuis would be a mistake. It would send the message that success doesn’t guarantee reward, or even stability. Iginla wouldn’t be an upgrade.

Iginla is a shooter. Playing Iginla with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal would be too much of the same thing.

Iginla won’t come to Pittsburgh to play on the third line.

The Penguins simply do not need Iginla.

Iginla doesn’t need the Penguins, either. Not really.

One man, one team. That’s how you become a legend. That’s how you stay a legend. Iginla can forever be the face of hockey in Calgary, or he can pimp himself out to try and win a Stanley Cup with a team that’s not his.

Which move is best? Ray Bourque could best answer that.

With nine straight wins, the Penguins don’t have too many questions to address. The few answers needed may come from within.

Top-six forward? Beau Bennett seems a good bet. Top-four defenseman? Simon Despres continues to improve and has added a physical element. He should definitely be in the lineup regularly. (That might not happen. Despres was a healthy scratch in yesterday’s 2-1 home win vs. Boston.)

The most legit need remains third- and fourth-line size and grit. Players like Ryane Clowe, Eric Fehr, Matt Hendricks and Brenden Morrow figure to be on the market. They won’t come cheap, but the price will be reasonable.

The Penguins have acquired some major names at the deadline: Ron Francis. Ulf Samuelsson. Rick Tocchet. Kjell Samuelsson. Marian Hossa. Chris Kunitz. Bill Guerin. James Neal. Iginla should not join that list.

General Manager Ray Shero should instead get players whose names you probably won’t remember. Not unless they get engraved on the Stanley Cup.