Iginla is undisciplined

[T.Low 1,011]

OK, you guys are right. I've alwasy admired Jerome Iginla and was somehwat suprised by the comments on this board about his antics. He's obviously highly skilled, and he'll drop the gloves.

Tonite, he got mowed over by one of the Canucks; mowed over big time. He gets up and looks at the ref with his hands out like "WTF, Ref?" I could almost hear the "Whaa". Getting no response from the ref pisses him off so he goes and hits two guys in a row and gets an interference penalty, already down 3-0 late in the second.

I just can't see Datsyuk or Zetterberg doing that. First game of the season and he's already loosing his cool.

C'mon, Jerome.

OK, I admit after reading my OP again, it definitely doesn't convey an accurate account of the scene that openned my eyes to Iginla's poor attitude.

I simply said that he went and hit two guys, wich you are right, says nothing. For that I apologize an expect to run the proverbial gauntlet, skating fast and sliding bare assed into snow bank wearing only a jock strap, hockey gloves, and togue, to atone for my lazy OPmanship.(It was late after watching Wings then Flames)

More accurate account here, not meant to neccessarily change anyone's mind, rather to make sure that all the cards are on the table.

What I would have been excited about: IF he would have gotten up and continued play and lined up a couple of Kronner Highlighters. Wow, impressive. Don't f*** with Iginla. But thats not what happenned. And that may very well be what you guys are envisoning thruout this whole thread because I didn't make myslef clear.

First the crying to the ref. In and of itself, not that big of a deal. But then he tried to chase guys down, and take these awkward, i'll timed, off line hits where he didn't even really make contact with the targets, and kind of bounced off of them hurting himself more than his intended targets. It was embarrassing. They were harmless hits because he couldn't line them up, because he was trying to hard to hit someone when a hit wasn't there. It really showed me how vulnerable to distraction he can be. You put the whole 20 second sequence together, it looked like a 5 yr old having a meltdown, not a hockey player defending his honor. Its one shift out of a star's career that you know he would rather forget. But guys on LGW say he does too often for them, and now I can see what they are talking about.

It wasn't that big of a deal, but it was enough of something that I hadn't really seen in him before to warrant taking him off my personal favorites list.

I actually said to the tv, "Wow, dude, sit down and grab a hanky, it's not that bad.

Yes, I thought he was an awesome power forward. Yes I liked his grit and skill combo. I actually had high hopes for him and Bertuzzi on the same line. Now I'm afraid there are going to turn into a big ***** and complain line.

Does that paint a different picture than what you were thinking before? I'm not trying to tell you what to think, I'm not trying to make friend's with you or piss you off, I just want to make myself clear so you can make up your own mind based on an accurate picture.

Cheers

Edit: (Tori) Spelling, typos, clarity, new revelations, all sorts of s***.

Edited October 11, 2008 by T.Low

[Zion 93]

You mean you weren't convinced after his antics in Game 5 of the opening round in '07?

Exactly what popped into my head. Do I even need to read the rest of this thread? Well done, Jedi.

[Zion 93]

Hell, when our guys get run over cleanly we cry like babies for somebody to go do something about it. We cried like little girls for Kenny to sign Downey or somebody to do something about the hits that leveled Franzen, Williams, Lebda, etc...

Yup, that's right, when Wings players get run over by clean hits we throw our arms up and want somebody to go beat up the other guy. Is that "smart" hockey? Is that any different from what Iggy did with his "stupid" hockey?

No we don't. We get up-in-arms when players take exception, not when they are body-checked cleanly. (Keep your friggin' head up, Jason Williams) I get more pissed when Lebda gets punched in the face by Daymond Langkow (surprise, another Flamer) with no retaliation.

I am a fan of disciplined sport. Thats the style of hockey I play, the style of basketball I play, and the way I race white water slalom. Keep focused. There is a time for hitting and fighting to be sure, but Iginla made an idiot of himself last night, not a leader, and it cost his team. I don't fear those guys. The guys I fear are the ones who get tougher and player harder and are more difficult to stop when they get beat on more. There are guys in our league that you don't want to upset, because then you will not be able to stop them. The "Oh s***, you just awoke a sleeping giant" guys. Those are the guys I want on my team. No the ones who want to fight when they are frustrated.

Like this fine Red Wings team we have?

[akustyk 84]

Everyone makes mistakes. Iginla's anger causes him to make mistakes, but he will never give up until the final horn goes, and I admire that in a hockey player. Obviously cheap crosschecks on Mathieu Schnieder are garbage, but whenhe does it clean, I love it.

QFT

as long as Flames are still in contention you'll only see great things from Iginla.

the problem is when his team is down and frustrated. then Iggy is prone to make

dumb mistakes and allow the anger to get better of himself and can consequently

expose some really reckless and classless behaviour.

[Never_Retire_Steve 35]

I love Iginla and wish he was a Red Wing..... IMO he is the best captain in hockey.

[akustyk 84]

I love Iginla and wish he was a Red Wing..... IMO he is the best captain in hockey.

right now?

I think I'd rather have Joe Sakic. not that flashy anymore but he is a true leader when

it comes to playoffs. unlike the other guy who earned himself the nickname Igoonla

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

I love Iginla and wish he was a Red Wing..... IMO he is the best captain in hockey.

Seconded. I'm going to take heat for it, but I'd say it's a toss up between him and Crosby. I would love to have either captain my team.

ps - Iginla just dropped Willie Mitchell with a left hook. It was pretty sweet.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I personally can't stand losing either. But to turn your stick into a weapon at any stage of the game is unacceptable, especially if done because the other team is simply beating you. Perhaps I have developed that from the fact I am actually trained in armed combat, but I don't think the stick should ever be used against another player regardless of the reason. So what if Iginla was pissed off that his team was losing. That doesn't make him a great leader. The ability to attack your opponent, by itself, is not leadership. And the way Iginla did it in the examples being mentioned here? That's not leadership either. Leadership, when involving physical altercations, would be something like what Datsyuk did in the finals.

And "Sore Loser" in the context presented here is bad because it indicates that a certain player or players is/are not going to simply play out the game; rather once it appears they are going to lose they are going to start headhunting; this is where the problem is, the intent to injure. Iginla does this, most old school enforcers did this; Iginla is a worse offender because he is actually going to be on the ice.

Hold up, i'm not advocating stick swinging or anything. But I have no problem with a guy who is frustrated going out and taking a few chops and people, lightly cross checking a couple of guys and trying to stir up a fight. I have no problem with that at all. I didn't see this particular game that started the thread so I don't know if Iggy was swinging his stick like a wild man. All i'm saying is that I have no problem with players going out looking for a fight.

Look at Mike Richards tonight. The Flyers are getting trounced 4-0 and he tries to get Brandon Dubinsky to fight. And Dubinsky obliges him.

What's the difference between Richards doing that and Iggy trying to pick a fight late in a 6-0 rout? I don't see any difference. Richards is trying to send a message and fire up his guys. So is Iginla. The time of the game means nothing to me.

[eva unit zero 271]

Hold up, i'm not advocating stick swinging or anything. But I have no problem with a guy who is frustrated going out and taking a few chops and people, lightly cross checking a couple of guys and trying to stir up a fight. I have no problem with that at all. I didn't see this particular game that started the thread so I don't know if Iggy was swinging his stick like a wild man. All i'm saying is that I have no problem with players going out looking for a fight.

Look at Mike Richards tonight. The Flyers are getting trounced 4-0 and he tries to get Brandon Dubinsky to fight. And Dubinsky obliges him.

What's the difference between Richards doing that and Iggy trying to pick a fight late in a 6-0 rout? I don't see any difference. Richards is trying to send a message and fire up his guys. So is Iginla. The time of the game means nothing to me.

I didn't see the Richards thing, so I can't comment specifically on the incident. But I personally consider cross checking to count as using your stick as a weapon, which is why I have never even once done it to an opposing player. Regardless, if your team is getting destroyed on the scoreboard and you choose to use your stick as a weapon against another player to try and get fired up, that's dirty and there is no place for it in hockey; be you Iginla, Richards, or anyone else. Now if you go and lay a clean hit or get into it physically without laying the lumber on a guy, and challenge him to a fight, that's fine. It's the dirty stuff, and the intent to injure that I have an issue with. And Iginla has a history of losing his cool and pulling that kind of s***, which is why I have always had a mixed opinion of him. Great skills, but he needs to get his temper under control. And the time of the game means nothing, however Iginla doesn't pull this kind of s*** unless his team is down by a few goals getting late in the game...so the time is obviously a factor.

[WingsFan2008 0]

Seconded. I'm going to take heat for it, but I'd say it's a toss up between him and Crosby. I would love to have either captain my team.

ps - Iginla just dropped Willie Mitchell with a left hook. It was pretty sweet.

Huh? Lidstrom is the best captain in hockey w/o any doubts.

[Tr!PoD#19 524]

Huh? Lidstrom is the best captain in hockey w/o any doubts.

Don't be a homer.

[hamip1998 3]

Now if you go and lay a clean hit or get into it physically without laying the lumber on a guy, and challenge him to a fight, that's fine...And Iginla has a history of losing his cool and pulling that kind of s***...Great skills, but he needs to get his temper under control.

I agree. Having a guy go out and stir up trouble to get the team fired up is fine, I have no problem with that. Doing it when you have very little to absolutely no chance to win the game just makes you look like a ****** and a poor sport who can't handle their emotions. Now, if you are in a playoff series, that changes the landscape a miniscule amount. Even so, what Iggy did to Schneids a couple of years ago (I don't care who he did it to, Red Wing or not) isn't the way to do it IMO. Run the guy (not BOARD him), talk s***, push, shove, face wash, even throw a well placed elbow to somewhere other than the head...whatever - but DO NOT USE THE STICK.

We try and teach our kids stick discipline from day one. How would someone like to see a bunch of 9 year old squirts acting like this when they are getting their butts handed to them? As a hockey parent who also works the bench during games, I can tell you that people would FREAK. As a pro, they get a pass. Sorry...kids watch hockey too and they do what they see the guys they admire do as well.

Not to drag other players into this, but Jumbo Joe does this at times as well to a lesser degree when he is losing and the game is totally out of reach (cheap shots...I don't recall him using his stick to do it), and you hear announcers and such credit this behavior to his "competitiveness". That's not competitiveness, that's being immature. That's what pissed me off so much about the Pen's incessant whining to the press and the ref's during last years SCF. There are ways to handle that situation, but that wasn't a good one.

[eva unit zero 271]

I agree. Having a guy go out and stir up trouble to get the team fired up is fine, I have no problem with that. Doing it when you have very little to absolutely no chance to win the game just makes you look like a ****** and a poor sport who can't handle their emotions. Now, if you are in a playoff series, that changes the landscape a miniscule amount. Even so, what Iggy did to Schneids a couple of years ago (I don't care who he did it to, Red Wing or not) isn't the way to do it IMO. Run the guy (not BOARD him), talk s***, push, shove, face wash, even throw a well placed elbow to somewhere other than the head...whatever - but DO NOT USE THE STICK.

We try and teach our kids stick discipline from day one. How would someone like to see a bunch of 9 year old squirts acting like this when they are getting their butts handed to them? As a hockey parent who also works the bench during games, I can tell you that people would FREAK. As a pro, they get a pass. Sorry...kids watch hockey too and they do what they see the guys they admire do as well.

Not to drag other players into this, but Jumbo Joe does this at times as well to a lesser degree when he is losing and the game is totally out of reach (cheap shots...I don't recall him using his stick to do it), and you hear announcers and such credit this behavior to his "competitiveness". That's not competitiveness, that's being immature. That's what pissed me off so much about the Pen's incessant whining to the press and the ref's during last years SCF. There are ways to handle that situation, but that wasn't a good one.

If I'm coaching young kids, and I see them acting like immature brats and using the stick as a weapon, I can tell you who is missing their next shift or two with an explanation of what they did wrong.