Jarome Iginla traded to the Los Angeles Kings

After 225 games in an Avalanche uniform, 20-year veteran Jarome Iginla is being traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft pick. Colorado is also expected to retain 50% of his remaining salary this season. The move follows months of trade speculation where Iginla was expected to waive his no-movement clause for the opportunity to play for a postseason-bound team.

Iginla signed with Colorado for a three-year $16M contract after a brief stint with Pittsburgh following the 2013-14 season. He expected to be joining a young team looking to improve on their recent 112-point season and make a greater impact in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Avalanche have been in a downward spiral ever since and now sit last in the NHL standings with just 37 points.

The longtime Calgary Flame scored 124 of his 1291 career points for Colorado over parts of three seasons, scoring 59 goals and starting every game during his tenure. He will now join his former Calgary coach, Daryl Sutter, with the Los Angeles Kings, who sit just one point back in the Western Conference wild card standings and have made several moves in recent days in anticipation for a playoff push.

Darren Dreger of TSN reports the conditional fourth-round pick is contingent on Iginla re-signing with the Kings or meeting some unknown playoff goal. Given that Iginla is 39-years-old and not committed to playing NHL hockey next season, it’s likely a number of Avalanche fans will be cheering for Los Angeles to get deep into the postseason.

More as it becomes available.