Jarome Iginla ???????

How the hell is this guy always considered such a great leader and classy?  The guy is a punk who whenever things aren’t going the Flames’ way (say like in a playoff series against Detroit) leads his team into an all out goon fest trying to injure everyone in sight, like say when he butt-ended and repeatedly cross-checked Hank in his bad back in Game 5 of the ‘07 WCQF.  Yeah, real classy guy that Iginla.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 08/28/09 at 12:14 PM ET

Jarome Iginla ? How the hell is this guy always considered such a great leader and classy?

Seconded. Great player, but classy next to Stevie or Sakic he aint.  He’s got to much of a temper for that comparison.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 08/28/09 at 12:41 PM ET

And to further make more Canadian enemies, you can have Niedermayer as well.  I’ll take Lidstrom and Modano any day over either of those 2 in a class competition.

Thinking along those lines, good luck to Team Canada this year, a short list of possible “Captains” that include the 2 already mentioned, along with choking Joe Thornton and nut-punching Rosby.

Enjoy the Bronze medal match-up with the U.S.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 08/28/09 at 01:03 PM ET

I’m afraid I have to second the comments on Iginla on-ice.  The guys fights while refusing to remove a visor, and he cheap-shots guys.  That’s not to say that’s not USEFUL to have on the ice, but as far as the merits of “class”, he fails the on-ice test (pretty classy off-ice though).

I agree with John’s stance on Niedermayer as well.  He proved this last playoffs just what a dirty player he really is and can be.  I was fairly indifferent on him until this year, and he basically lost all respect I had after that…

Alfredsson shot a puck at someone’s head after a whistle in the middle of the Cup Finals once.  So scratch him.

Shanahan’s a good quote but “classy”?  I don’t know… he’s edgy/dirty on-ice as well.

Gimme’ Lidstrom or Koivu.  Koivu’s borderline on the ice at times, but name one player who has given more to his team only to have that fanbase mercilessly beat on him for years on end, and handle it as graciously and classily as he has and did?  The Canadiens never deserved Koivu or the class or respect he gave them…

Posted by Primis on 08/28/09 at 01:47 PM ET

Lidstrom I think is an excellent choice - but I have to actually give Saku Koivu the edge because of all the b.s. he has had to deal with for not speaking French or not being bigger or not being someone he isn’t.  Most other people (let alone hockey players) would have punched multiple idiots in the mouth repeatedly for the constant nagging and carping and complaining and criticism without any logical basis.  He represented the team with an incredible amount of dignity even in the face of all that, and only left when it was clear the team didn’t want him around any more.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/28/09 at 04:23 PM ET

Better put Crosby on the list , otherwise all the PensBabies might start stomping their feet and having fits.

Posted by yreland from Van Dieman's Land on 08/28/09 at 04:27 PM ET

I’d put RIck Nash on that list too.  The guy’s a workhorse and I don’t recall ever seeing him lose his composure on the ice.  I’ve seen him riled up a few times, but the guy had always had a reason better than “we’re losing” (cough, Iginla).

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/29/09 at 02:19 PM ET