Iginla and Flames still not talking extension

Time is ticking away on the Jarome Iginla era in Calgary, as the most popular player in franchise history has yet to decide whether he wants to remain with the Flames.

Iginla’s agent, Don Meehan, has given the Calgary Sun an ominous update on the situation between the two sides, saying the Flames captain is “not currently in negotiations” with the NHL club he’s played with the last 18 years.

It’s a surprising revelation that speaks to just how close Iginla may be to opting out of Calgary to chase his Stanley Cup dreams elsewhere.

At this point, Meehan is awaiting instruction from his longtime client on how to proceed.

No timeline has been set for an answer, but with the April 3 trade deadline just 24 days away, it’s clear Iginla has little more than a week or two to let the Flames know if he intends to re-sign. Otherwise, the wheels will be set in motion for the most important trade in Flames history since Iginla was acquired for Joe Nieuwendyk in 1995.

There are no other viable options.

With his five-year, US$35 million deal set to expire at season’s end, the Flames wouldn’t — couldn’t possibly — entertain the notion of letting Iginla stay with the club until season’s end without him signing another contract.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/03/10/iginla-and-flames-still-not-talking-extension