Buzz over Tij Iginla dominates Flames narrative ahead of draft

CALGARY — Will they, or won’t they?

Should they, or shouldn’t they?

The Calgary Flames’ season is over, and the draft lottery is still weeks away.

Yet, the local buzz has fans frothing over the possibility the club will add Iginla next year.

No, not Jarome — he’s a cinch to step up his front office duties with the team.

The fervour revolves around his 17-year-old son, Tij.

A star in the making, the youngster’s season-long ascent up every analyst’s draft list potentially got another boost Tuesday when he was the final addition to the Canadian team’s roster for the U18 World Championships in Finland.

Unless the Flames win the draft lottery (their odds are 5 per cent), GM Craig Conroy’s club is a lock to draft somewhere between ninth and 11th.

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That’s Tij Territory.

Ranked a top-50 prospect at the start of year, Iginla moved to the top 20 by mid-season, only to see his stock soar with a torrid second half that has him top-five amongst draft-eligible forwards.

“He has arguably the most momentum in the top 10 of the draft right now — I’d be shocked if he fell below 10th overall,” said Sportsnet’s chief draft analyst, Jason Bukala, who arrived in Finland on Wednesday to scout the tourney. 

“He competes, skates, sees the ice.

“Reliable in all three zones. Stats say he leans (as a) shooter, but he also has a play-making/distribution side to his game offensively.

“Strong, six-foot, 185-pound body carved out of rock. On his way towards 200 pounds as he matures. 

“Big-game instincts and results.”

Quite the scouting report.

The left winger from Lake Country, B.C., finished the regular season with an eye-popping 47 goals and 84 points in 64 games, before bolstering his stock even more with nine goals and 15 points in 11 playoff outings.

Now, the worlds await.

“I really think this is going to be huge for him,” said Sportsnet’s long-time draft guru, Sam Cosentino.

“It’s against the best in the world. He has some teammates in competition for top-10 stuff.

“He gets to represent his country on a big stage with a ton of scouts and a fair number of GMs.”

Conroy will be one of them.

He says he hasn’t spoken to Iginla about whether he’d be on board with the Flames selecting his son, which would add significant pressure to the youngster given his dad’s status in the market. 

“We don’t talk about where Tij is on the list, (and) he doesn’t read Tij’s reports — he doesn’t feel quite comfortable,” said Conroy of his long-time teammate and pal, who he has on staff as an advisor this year.

“We’re going to just make the list. Every player is just from one to maybe 72. We’ll put everybody on the list who should be.”

He has no choice but to simply suggest he’ll treat the rising star like every other top prospect in his sights.

But should he?

Would Jarome see the scrutiny of playing in a Canadian market where he became famous as an unfair burden on his son?

Or would he prefer to be by his side, as he is now in Kelowna, where Tij tied a Rockets’ record with eight goals in a recent six-game playoff series win?

Don’t ask whether the Flames would be keen on adding another Iginla, as he would represent the single most exciting prospect the club could imagine.

You can bet ownership relishes the idea.

While his talent level is the most important determinant, adding the son of a Hall of Famer who starred with the club might be the greatest marketing tool a team could ask for.

He could be a pillar for a team hoping to open its new building in 2027 with some sizzle. 

Just ask the front office staff of the Arizona Coyotes, as their drafting, introduction and debut of Shane Doan’s son, Josh, has been magical.

Ironically, Shane and Jarome were Memorial Cup-winning teammates in Kamloops.

Although it’s still to be determined if the Flames will move up from picking ninth in the lottery, the question may now revolve around whether Iginla will still be around by then.

If he is, one wonders if the Flames could possibly pass on him.

Macklin Celebrini is a lock to go first overall, with a half-dozen defencemen populating most top-10 rankings.

While centres and defencemen have been pegged as areas of need for the Flames, drafting blue-liners is not sexy, especially if one is taken ahead of a sniper with a famous last name. 

Conroy needs to get this one right.

It’s likely destined to be one of the most enticing draft dramas in Vegas, especially since Conroy watched Tij grow up. 

You can bet the team drafting ahead of the Flames will try to hold them for ransom, trying to pry an asset or two from them in exchange for not taking Iginla.

If he lasts that long.

From now until June 28, the Flames will go through mental gymnastics to set their draft rankings, and if Iginla is at the top of their list when they pick, he’ll be a Flame.

The question is whether Conroy would deviate from the list ever so slightly on the draft floor to ensure it happens.

Sure would add some juice to the retool if he did.

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