Joe Iginla is hoping to hear his name called at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Ahead of the trade deadline, the Vancouver Giants made several trades, including the acquasition of forward Joe Iginla. The 17-year-old was playing for the Edmonton Oil Kings, where he recoreded 21 points in 37 games before being moved. Now with Vancouver, Iginla is looking to impress the scouts ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Being traded is never easy, especially when a player is 17 years old. Not only do they need to learn a new system on the ice, but a the ins and outs of their new city. While Iginla has only been with the Giants for a few weeks, he already feels comfortable in his new WHL home.
"It's been a fun experience," for sure, said Iginla. "I like it in Vancouver, you know, I had a good time in Edmonton, but I'm happy to be here. And, yeah, it was hard at first to get to know everyone's name and everything, but now I'm settled in just trying to get better on the ice."
As mentioned, Iginla is draft eligable this year. He was ranked 124th by NHL Central Scouting for North American skaters and recently particpated in the WHL's inagural prospects game. With only a few games left in the season, Iginla is focused on not only helping his team win, but showing scouts why he should be drafted in June.
"Obviously, you want to have a good end of the season. I think long term, the goal is just to keep getting better, and hopefully I go but, you know, I'll just keep working my belt off and just keep trying to make the NHL eventually."
One of Iginla's best attributes on the ice is the ability to get open for shots. He is able to move around the zone and when the puck hits his stick, he shows little hesitation in getting the puck on net. When asked about his developement to this point, Iginla gave an interesting answer as to how he plans on taking his game to the next level.
"I think on the ice, I've really focused on being less of a piece. I think, you know, a lot of people see me as like, oh, you put me with two good playmakers. Yeah, I'll score some goals, but I'm working on carrying the play myself, making making chances to score for myself."
Iginla is also in a unique position due to his family ties. His dad is a hall of famer, his brother was a first round pick and his sister is lighting it up in the NCAA. While there is pressure due to his last name, Iginla is focused on paving his own path, which he hopes will one day lead to the NHL.
"Obviously there's outside noise. People compare you, but I think at the end of the day, I'm my own player, and I think, you know, they just want what's best for me. I think as long as you ignore the other team chriping you, it's just helpful to keep getting better."
Joe Iginla of the Vancouver Giants (Photo Credit: Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants/WHL)Ultimatley, Iginla has a bright future ahead. He is a hard-working player who understands the dedication and sacrifice it takes to one day make the NHL. If Iginla can keep developing his overall game, he could be in store for a massive 2026-27 campaign.
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