Tij Iginla creates controversy after viral post reveals his true feelings about NHL Draft

Two weeks ago, the Utah Hockey Club made history with their first pick at their inaugural NHL Draft, selecting the son of veteran forward Jarome Iginla, Tij, with the sixth overall pick. Just last week, the franchise went on to sign the 17-year-old to an entry-level contract.

It sounds like a fairytale for the son of a hockey legend, however, a new report has uncovered that it has not been for Tij Iginla. That’s because one fan in Calgary ran into the young Iginla when the top prospect showed up at his Starbucks location. When they spoke, the fan admitted that he would have preferred if the Flames had gotten the chance to draft him, and reportedly, Iginla agreed.

I guess that would have been the real fairytale for Tij to play close to home and for the same club as his father, one of the most famous Flames forwards of all time. On Draft Day back on June, 28, there were a lot of talks that Calgary would have a chance to select Tij Iginla with their ninth overall pick. However, Utah HC came three spots prior and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to land the young forward. After all, he suited up for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets during the 2023-2024 campaign. Across 64 games, Iginla posted 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points — a major jump from his 18 points in 48 games a year prior. He was the team leader in goals for the Rockets during the regular season and added 15 points in 11 playoff games for the club. He also won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship, tallying six goals and six assists through seven games.

Some fans do not want to believe that Tij Iginla would have opened up about his preference or would have said anything about his current club, especially to a Starbucks barista. Others are so adamant that Tij Iginla would love to be a Flame that he looks to voice it any chance he’s going to get. The viral post sure created a lot of controversy regarding a player that has yet to play one game in the NHL.