Iginla: Kings are a Cup contender
Jarome Iginla bet on Los Angeles.
Following a deadline deal Wednesday, the veteran forward is heading to the Kings with winning on his mind.
Iginla, 39, was in the final year of his contract with the struggling Colorado Avalanche, while the move to Los Angeles could offer him a shot at his first Stanley Cup.
Asked if he views the Kings as a contender to win it all, Iginla told Yahoo's Josh Cooper: "I really believe that."
The Kings won their first Stanley Cup in 2012 and repeated the feat two years later. This season, Los Angeles sits one point outside the playoff picture, chasing the St. Louis Blues for the last wild-card position.
The trade to Los Angeles reunites Iginla with coach Darryl Sutter, who was behind the bench for part of Iginla's time with the Calgary Flames. Iginla captained the Flames from 2003-13, before accepting a trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2013 deadline.
That attempt didn't end with the silver mug, nor did Iginla's next stints with the Boston Bruins and Avalanche. But he likes his odds in Los Angeles.
"I remember (Drew) Doughty after he won his last (Cup) saying how hungry he was for another one," Iginla told Jon Rosen.
Now moving to his fifth NHL club, not only will Iginla don a different look - he'll also switch away from his iconic No. 12. That number is owned by the Kings' Marian Gaborik, and Iginla has no plans to ask the veteran to put it up for grabs.
When Gretzky came to LA, Iginla says he bought a Kings jersey and lettered with his name and number 88 ...may go in that direction
— The Mayor John Hoven (@mayorNHL) March 1, 2017
It was a relatively busy deadline for the Kings, who made another big-ticket move earlier this week in adding goaltender Ben Bishop from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Kings hope Iginla, who's recorded 18 points this season, will give them an added boost for their playoff push.