Avs give Iginla shot at Stanley Cup, ship forward to Kings

It may be an outside shot, but it’s still a shot. Jarome Iginla could get a chance to nab a Stanley Cup.

The last place Colorado Avalanche traded the 39-year-old forward to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday ahead of a 1 p.m. trade deadline. In return, The Avs will receive a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Colorado general manager and executive vice president said sending Iginla, whose only Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2004 with the Calgary Flames was a losing effort, to a contender was a sign of respect to the 20-year veteran.

“We felt it was the right thing to do for him,” Sakic said. “It’s a respect thing, for him as a person and as a hockey player.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Kings were just one point behind the St. Louis Blues for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, compared to the Avalanche, who are 14 points behind the next closest team in the entire NHL.

Colorado signed Iginla to a three-year, $16 million deal ahead of the 2014-15 season, a campaign in which the right winger led the team with 29 goals and 59 points.

During his stint with the Avalanche, Iginla achieved two major milestones — scoring his 600th career goal on Jan. 4, 2016, one of just 19 players to ever achieve that feat, and playing in his 1,500 game on Dec. 10, one of just 16 players do so.

Iginla spent time with the Boston Bruins in 2013-14 and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012-13, but he played the bulk of his NHL career with the Flames. In 16 seasons, Iginla played in 1,218 games, scored 525 goals, and earned 1,095 points.

All time, Iginla ranks 16th in goals (619), 34th in points (1,291), and 14th in games played (1,535).

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.