Historic First-Ever Utah Hockey Club Draft Pick
By all accounts, Utah’s 2024 6th overall draft pick Tij Iginla is a great kid. At the very least, there is no doubt that he is charismatic and engaging. He stole the show at the NHL Draft Combine several different times with colorful anecdotes and fun back-and-forth moments with the media, like the one linked below:
There was also a heart-warming moment during his media availability at the Sphere in Las Vegas, immediately following his becoming the Utah Hockey Club’s first ever draft choice. The last question as the session was wrapping up was “What’s one thing you want the Utah fans out there to know about you?” He gave a surprisingly genuine and personal answer; “I try to be the best player I can be, but I try to be a good person as well and try to do the right thing as much as I can,” Tij said. “I’m Christian; I believe in God. So I believe he’s got a plan for me, and those plans have brought me to Utah.”
The Fit for Utah
As impressive a kid as Tij appears to be, he may be even more impressive as a hockey player. And one who aligns perfectly with what General Manager Bill Armstrong is all about when it comes to building teams. Utah’s draft strategy leans towards players who bring a unique blend of size, skill, and competitive edge. Tij Iginla, while not the largest player in the draft, compensates with determination and skill level that’s hard to match. While he may need to bulk up and refine his decision-making, Iginla’s raw talent and scoring ability are exactly what Utah looks for in a player who can grow within their ranks and contribute to the team’s aggressive and dynamic identity. With Utah’s preference for players who can dictate the pace of the game, Iginla’s motor and relentless pursuit of scoring opportunities aligns well with the kind of spirited and smart hockey player that GM Bill Armstrong values, one who can rise to the challenge and elevate the team’s performance both on and off the ice.
During his media availability, Armstrong certainly conveyed that he sees a bright future for Iginla, placing exceptionally high expectations on the prospect, albeit in a good-natured, teasing manner; "I told him when we met with him, ‘We’ve got a lot of 20-goal scorers on our roster – We’re looking for a 50-goal scorer. No pressure,’ ”
If there is any prospect who can handle that pressure, it should be Tij Iginla. Not only did Tij win a Gold Medal for Canada at the World Under 18 Championships this season, but Iginla was raised by one of the game’s most heralded character players, Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla. The apple appears not to have fallen far from the tree. Utah can rest assured they are adding a quality kid and quality hockey player to their already impressive prospect pool.
Tij Iginla Player Card
Position: Left Wing
Team: Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Combine Height: 6 foot
Combine Weight: 191 Pounds
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Areas to Highlight:
Shot: Iginla's bread and butter is his lethal shot. He possesses a quick release that packs a lot of power, making him a constant threat to score from any angle. He combines power and accuracy with a deceptive release that keeps goaltenders guessing. Iginla can score from anywhere and is usually in a great spot to do so, due to intelligent positioning. His ability to deke, roll off contact and handle the puck smoothly allows him to create space for his deadly shot.
Mobility & Motor: Iginla is a strong skater with excellent edge work. While he may not be the fastest player on the ice, his agility, and ability to change direction quickly more than make up for a lack of a separation gear. He can maneuver around defenders and maintain control of the puck even under pressure. He’s strong on his stick and protects the puck well.
He plays with a lot of pace and aggression, is good along the boards, and wins his battles despite his average size. He’s always in motion, always on the hunt. He’s developing into a good puck-hound who will hunt in the neutral zone, strip pucks, and create offensive breakouts. He’s a pressure player. He’s always pushing.
Hockey IQ: His understanding of the game is advanced for his age. Iginla consistently positions himself well both offensively and defensively, anticipating plays and making smart decisions. His ability to read the game and react accordingly makes him a versatile and effective player.
Areas for Growth:
Physicality: While Iginla is not afraid to engage physically, he lacks the size and strength to consistently win battles in front of the net and along the boards at the next level. As he develops, adding muscle will help him better handle the physical demands of professional hockey.
Defensive Consistency: Iginla's defensive game can be inconsistent. While he has a high hockey IQ and works hard on the backcheck, he can sometimes be caught out of position when trying to cheat for an offensive opportunity. Improving his consistency and reliability in the defensive zone will be crucial for his overall development.
Decision Making: At times, Iginla can overcomplicate plays and try to do too much with the puck. While his creativity and skill are assets, he will need to learn to simplify his game and make smarter decisions, especially when facing elite defensive players at the professional level.
NHL Player Comparable:
Filip Forsberg - Tij’s elite sniping ability, combined with leadership qualities, and dog-on-a-bone mentality are reminiscent of Nashville winger Filip Forsberg. Not many wingers have the impact Forsberg has all over the ice for his team, and that is the ultimate goal for Tij to grow into. He’s not quite the nasty power forward his dad was, but a more modern version of that could look a little something like Filip Forsberg.
First Impressions
Tij Iginla is a player I was fortunate to be able to watch a lot of on CHL.tv throughout this last season and WHL playoffs. I watched him grow and improve all season long. I watched him find an even more dominant gear in the playoffs, and be a key contributor for Team Canada as he helped lead them to a Gold Medal. As a passionate hockey fan and mediocre coach of several youth hockey teams, Tij is an easy favorite for me. It’s impossible not to love the way he plays the game of hockey. He works so hard, he plays with such pace, he flashes amazing skill, and he rises to meet the biggest moments, rather than shrinking back from them.
Short highlight packages and surface-level analysis might leave you with the impression that Tij is another junior sniper, who loves to dangle, and pile up points against other teenagers. There is so much more to the story than that. Tij plays an eminently pro-style game. He’s a puck hound, who’s always pushing the pace, and is a pressure player. He wins his board battles, he rolls off contact, he gets to the slot with players draped on his back and he has the puck-protection, small area skill, and quick, efficient shot to score regularly from in-tight. These are such highly translatable skills that speak to an incredibly high floor for this prospect. And it is an unbelievable thing to be discussing the high floor on a player like this.
Tij is one of the youngest players in the draft, not turning eighteen until August, and when his regular season games, WHL playoff games, and Team Canada games are added up, he has played a total of 82 games this season. In those 82 games, he has 62 goals. That’s right, 62 goals in 82 games. And we’re highlighting how good his floor is, rather than his ceiling. He not only has all the tools to hit his lofty ceiling, but he also has all the right circumstances. He has his father (NHL Legend Jarome Iginla) and all the elite development opportunities that has afforded him. He has found himself playing for one of the elite development franchises in the entire CHL. Additionally, he has now been drafted by The Utah Hockey Club, an NHL team that has invested heavily in and put the highest priority on their prospect development department.
No prospect is a sure thing, and Tij is not an exception to that. There is risk in drafting any seventeen-year old-hockey player. Tij Iginla does, however, have so many advantages working in his favor to mitigate those risks. Utah fans should be absolutely elated with this selection. As a die-hard Utah Hockey Club fan, I know that I could not be happier that Tij Iginla was the franchise’s first-ever draft pick. They could not have bestowed the honor on a better kid. I can’t wait to see what he does with it. I am convinced that much like the mythical creature he compares himself to, he is certain to spread his wings and soar!
- Trent Hess
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