- Calgary took Joe Iginla 65th overall, the first pick of the third round
- Joe reunites with father Jarome, the franchise legend now advising GM Craig Conroy
- Read below for the draft-floor reaction and where the 17-year-old fits
The Iginla name is back on a Flames draft card.
Calgary used the first pick of the third round in Buffalo on Saturday to take Joe Iginla 65th overall. He is the 17-year-old son of Jarome Iginla, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and the most beloved player in Flames history.
Jarome already works in Calgary as a special advisor to general manager Craig Conroy. So Joe lands with the same organization his dad spent the bulk of his Hall of Fame career with.
Former Flames captain Todd Simpson surprised Joe with his draft sweater, and the reaction said everything:
Most draft boards did not have Joe going anywhere near the third round, and the pick drew a real reaction on the floor. Calgary did not blink.
Joe split last season between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Vancouver Giants, racking up 31 points in 59 games. He found his game late, posting seven points in his final 10 after a midseason trade to Vancouver.
The 5-foot-10 forward went 12th overall to the Oil Kings in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and won silver with Canada at the U-17 World Challenge. He was the third Giant off the board this weekend, joining first-rounder Ryan Lin and Mathis Preston.
Giants assistant coach Wacey Rabbit talked about what Joe brought after the deadline deal:
“Joe was a welcome addition to our team at the trade deadline and finished the season playing some of his best hockey. He’s a highly competitive player with tremendous character and a bright future ahead,” Rabbit said.
The full-circle part is impossible to miss. Jarome’s No. 12 hangs in the Saddledome rafters, and the Flames brought him back into the front office three years ago.
Here is Calgary announcing Jarome’s return in 2023:
Joe heads back to the Giants next season to keep developing, so the payoff is years away. Plenty of teams made flashier picks in Buffalo, like the Sharks grabbing the tallest player in draft history. Calgary just made the one its fans will remember.
