BOSTON — Jarome Iginla is finally a member of the Boston Bruins.
Three months after spurning the Bruins’ advances at the trade deadline to choose the Pittsburgh Penguins, the long-time Calgary Flames captain signed a one-year deal with Boston. It’s worth US$1.8 million and can reach $6 million with performance bonuses.
Iginla had a no-trade clause in the final year of his contract with Calgary and narrowed his list of acceptable destinations in late march when it was clear the Flames were going to move him. The Flames and Bruins agreed to a trade, but Iginla nixed it when he decided he wanted to play with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
The Bruins swept the Penguins in the Eastern Conference final, but the team Iginla is joining in Boston next season year will have a much different look than the one that lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup final. Nathan Horton signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley were traded to the Dallas Stars.
Knowing he was losing Horton and not expecting Jaromir Jagr to be back, general manager Peter Chiarelli said it was his goal to “reconstruct” the right side of his forward lines. Loui Eriksson came back from the Stars, and adding Iginla was the next step.
Iginla’s contract is cap-friendly for the Bruins, counting just $1.8 million in 2013-14. If he achieves any or all of the $4.2 million in performance bonuses, that money counts in 2014-15.
Iginla spent 15-plus seasons with the Flames. After being traded to Pittsburgh, the 36-year-old had five goals and six assists in 13 regular-season games, then four goals and eight assists in 15 playoff games.
In 1,232 games, Iginla has 530 goals and 576 assists.
