Potential Ottawa Senator Draft Targets: Tij Iginla
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Tij Iginla's draft stock has risen quickly over the past year. Now, just one day before the NHL Draft, we've seen some draft analysts rank the Kelowna Rockets forward as high as sixth and as low as 12th. So there's an excellent chance he'll still be available when the Ottawa Senators choose seventh overall on Friday night.
Iginla stands six feet, 186 pounds. He scored 47 goals and 84 points in 64 Western Hockey League games. He skates well, is great with the puck and protects it beautifully, even when things get tough in the corners. He also has a great shot and hockey sense for days.
Then there's the business of being the son of a Hall of Famer. Getting 47 goals at 18 years old with the pressure of everyone comparing you to your dad, NHL great Jarome Iginla, is impressive. Tij will be tough for the Senators to pass up if he's still there at 7.
Iginla met the media in Vegas on Wednesday, two days before one of the biggest nights of his life.
On playing under the pressure of a Canadian market:
Yeah, I think it'd be cool. I think it's so cool how much passion the fans in Canada have. I saw this year's run with the Oilers and their fans. And all the Canadian markets are like that. Maybe there's a little bit more pressure when things aren't going as well, but I think to win in a Canadian market would be so spectacular.
On how he's feeling leading up to Friday's NHL Draft:
I think the night before, I'll start to get a little bit nervous, and it'll probably be harder to sleep that night. But yeah, it's so hard to know where you're going. You just trust that everything will work out.
On being drafted by his dad's old team, the Calgary Flames, who pick ninth:
Yeah, I think it'd be cool to go to the Flames. But at the same time, every team in the NHL would be cool to go to. So yeah, I'm just excited.
On not being as connected with the city of Calgary as people think.
Yeah, it was obviously a long time ago. I was six years old. But it was a lot of fun. They had good hockey and a good city. And, yeah, I think the fan base is super passionate, and that'd be cool to get to play there.
On being compared to his Hall of Fame dad:
Yeah, I mean, I don't think I make too much of it. We're two different players, and I guess that's for you guys to look at and make your comparisons. But yeah, I just try to focus on my game and be the best player I can be.
On whether he thinks he can step into the NHL right away:
Yeah, I'm not sure exactly. I mean, obviously, I want to get there as soon as I can. But at the same time, I want to be in a good position and be the best player I can be when I do get there.