This coming May is the 40th anniversary of the Atlanta Flames moving to Calgary. To commemorate this occasion, we’re counting down the Top 40 Calgary Flames in history.
Who else could be in the top spot but Jarome Iginla?
Originally selected by the Dallas Stars in the 1995 draft, Iginla was traded to Calgary for Joe Nieuwendyk. (That continued a chain of trades that began with Kent Nilsson’s selection in 1976.)
Iginla went pro as a 19-year-old, landing an NHL gig out of camp. He spent the better part of 16 seasons with the Flames. He worked his way up the lineup and was Calgary’s most important player for much of his tenure.