Why It's Only Fair for Calgary Flames to Pull a Ray Bourque with Jarome Iginla

When it became clear that the Boston Bruins were not going to win the Stanley Cup towards the end of Ray Bourque's hall of fame career, he requested that he be traded to a championship contender. 

In 2000, the Bruins honored Bourque's request and sent their captain to the Colorado Avalanche, who were one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

After a West Finals defeat to the Dallas Stars in 2000, Bourque and the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in the next season with a seven-game triumph over the defending champion New Jersey Devils.

Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla is the NHL's current version of Ray Bourque as the veteran most deserving of a championship in today's game.

Iginla is one of the best forwards of the last decade and is an example of what an elite power forward should play like.

He has given everything to the Flames and has gone through some tough playoff battles, including a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.

The Flames are not going to make a deep playoff run anytime soon, and must give Iginla the chance to win the Stanley Cup he deserves.

Loyalty is a rare thing in sports today. Very seldom do we see players spend their entire careers in one city with one team. Iginla should be commended for his loyalty to the Flames. 

Going into this season, Iginla had scored 484 goals for the Flames in 14 seasons, including 12 seasons of 25-plus goals scored and eight seasons of 35 or more goals.

Not only has Iginla been a prolific scorer, he rarely misses games. Eight times he has played all 82 regular season games, often playing through injuries to make sure he was able to support his team on the ice.

With all that Iginla has given Calgary, they owe him a chance at glory. Iginla may be one of the rarest of breeds and prefer to stay in Calgary rather than chase a title in another town, but if he wants a trade, or even if he doesn't for that matter, the Flames should consider giving their star a chance to win the Cup.

There are a few teams that are Cup contenders who could make a trade for Iginla. However, he does have a no movement clause in his contract and would have to waive it to leave Calgary.

1. Boston Bruins

The Bruins are a physical team and have a very welcoming locker room. Iginla would not find it difficult to fit in with Boston. The Bruins have enough young talent to make a trade for Iginla, but I don't think they would unless injuries create a need.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs

It may be a long shot, but an Iginla trade would establish the Maple Leafs as a real threat in the Eastern Conference this season. Toronto has young talent and quality prospects, but it's unlikely they give up a lot of promising talent for a veteran player in his thirties. They also are not a real Stanley Cup contender just yet.

3. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are a soft team and need a power forward like Iginla. Buffalo ownership has spent a lot of money to improve the club, and have shown an intense desire to win. The Sabres do not have a lot of cap room, so there would need to be several quality players involved to make a deal for Iginla happen.

4. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have goaltending issues, but if they felt compelled to make a deal for Iginla, they have several young forwards who would be of interest to Calgary, including winger James Van Riemsdyk.

5. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are a veteran team who will be a major playoff contender. They have enough talent to acquire Iginla, but with few young stars, Detroit might not want to give up young talent for an aging player.

Iginla's loyalty to Calgary is truly admirable, and it is a shame that there aren't more players like him. He deserves to lift the Stanley Cup and there are several contending teams who could use him.

Iginla is not only a great player, he is a class act. He plays the game hard and is a role model for young players to mirror their games after.

The Flames owe it to Iginla to send him to a contender so he can play on a team ready to win the Stanley Cup.

If Iginla does decide he wants to stay in Calgary for the rest of his career, it would be foolish to argue with him. The NHL needs more guys like him.

Hopefully one day Jarome Iginla can have his own "History Will be Made" commercial with the Stanley Cup. No player in hockey is more deserving of experiencing the thrill of winning the best trophy in sports.

For updates on all NHL news throughout the season, follow Nick Goss on Twitter. Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.