Continuing the Minnesota Wild 2024 NHL Draft Target series with Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla.
Continuing the Minnesota Wild 2024 NHL Draft Target series, today we will look at Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla.
The son of the Hall of Fame forward Jarome, had a great season with the Rockets in the WHL. Iginla recorded 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points in 64 WHL games for Kelowna.
He recorded six goals and six assists in seven games for Team Canada in the U18 World Junior Championships as well.
Although Tij is the son of Jarome he isn't as much of a power forward like his dad was. He still has decent size and is strong enough where he doesn't get pushed around but he isn't going to power his way through the opposition to score like his father did.
That being said, he doesn't shy away from that type of game. A strong and physical game for Tij seems to come out on the forecheck rather than powering himself to the net. He's creative and uses his offensive skills to produce at the rate he did in the WHL this season.
He has a great shot and can beat goalies with his curl and drag type of release. His skating is also pretty solid. Iginla beats a lot of defenders with his skating but can beat them with his moves and creativity as well. His explosive crossovers help generate his speed. He is solid on his edges and can use his edges to not get knocked off the puck.
Tij Iginla being compared to Gabe Vilardi using the Hockey Prospecting Comparison tool.
Photo Credit: Byron Bader/HockeyProspecting.com
According to Hockey Prospecting, Iginla has similar Star and NHLer probabilities to guys like Bobby Brink, Nick Suzuki, Gabe Vilardi, Sam Bennett, Kyle Turris, and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Whether he sticks as a center or winger in the NHL, Iginla's shot leaves no doubt he will likely be a top-six forward. He could fall to pick No. 13, where the Wild are picking, but the Calgary Flames have the ninth overall pick and that seems like a player the Flames would draft.
That being said, the Flames have taken a forward with their first round pick in every draft since 2017 when they drafted Juuso Valimaki. The last defenseman they took in the first round before 2017 was in 2009. So maybe they switch things up this year and take a defenseman but if the Flames' legend's son is available when they are picking, it would be hard to see the Flames pass up on him.
Tij Iginla being compared to his father Jarome on Hockey Prospecting.
Photo Credit: Byron Bader/HockeyProspecting.com
Wild fans know the name Iginla awfully well. In fact, Jarome torched the Wild in his Hall of Fame career. Iginla leads all players in goals, points, and game-winning goals against the Wild all-time.
Iginla scored 39 goals in 84 career games against the Wild. The second most goals against the Wild is Ryan Kesler's 26. Iginla's ten game-winning goals against the Wild in his career is three higher than Joe Sakic who is second all-time.
Kesler has the all-time lead for most goals scored against the Wild in a single season with seven. Iginla is right behind him with six. Except, Iginla scored six goals against the Wild in a single season three different times.
He also has the most hat tricks against the Wild all-time with three. Patrick Kane, Alex Ovechkin, and Dustin Brown all have two career hat tricks against the Wild.
It's safe to say Jarome enjoyed playing the Wild whenever he got the chance too. The Wild could avoid the chance of his son Tij doing the same if they take him at pick No. 13. That's if the Flames haven't already taken him.
