There are thousands of records in the NHL and nearly one is broken every night. The latest though is in the all-time goals scored category. Sitting at 20^th all-time was Mr. Mike Bossy, a gentlemen that only played 10 NHL season and only 752 games. Mike played his entire career in a New York Islanders sweater wearing #22 after being picked 15^th overall in 1977’s amateur draft. Mike helped the New York Islanders to four Stanley cup championships four years in a row. The 6’0” 185lbs right-winger knew what it took to win, and made sure to win big when it counted. A stiff back or worse would lead Bossy to sit out the 1987-88 season, but then officially retired. He was offered a chance to be traded to Montreal to be closer to home, but declined. At 30 years old, Bossy had played his final NHL game, a career that had winner all over it

Then a new wave of players would enter the NHL, 15^th all-time goal scorer Joe Sakic would be drafted 15^th overall in 1987 by the Quebec Nordiques. This gentlemen would go on to become the face of the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Joe would sink 625 career goals; 2 Stanley Cups, a Conn Smyth, a Lady Byng, the Hart trophy, Joe did it all. Hiscareer would end in 2008-09 season, after suffering a back injury and an at home injury that limited him to 15 games. In 2010-11, Sakic would join the front office of the Colorado Avalanche organization. In 2013, He would be promoted to the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. At the end of his first year, he would hire Coach Patrick Roy who would also server at an Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. Together they would build a team that would win the Central Division and make the playoffs. Sadly, Colorado was manhandled in game 7 against the Minnesota Wild at home. In turn, the off season would lose then one of their great players, Paul Stastny, who signed with his home town St. Louis Blues. A replacement was in order and none came faster than Joe Sakic’s good friend Jarome Iginla.

Jarome Iginla was born the year Mike Bossy was drafter in 1977. He too is a right-winger who can put the puck in the net. Jarome would be drafted 11^th overall by the Dallas Stars in 1995, but the young man would never dawn the Stars jersey. Instead, Jarome was traded to the Calgary Flames in a deal the sent Joe Nieuwendyk. Jarome’s first taste of the NHL came in the playoffs in 1995-96 where he scored his 1^st career playoff goal and assist in two games. He was ready for the NHL and would play his first season the following year and go on to play fifteen more years with Calgary becoming their captain. Iginla still holds Calgary’s all time games played, goals scored and points after he was traded in his 16^th season with the Flames to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a failed playoff stint in the igloo, Iginla would hit the free agent market for the first time in his career, landing in Boston with the Bruins. After a successful season in Boston that saw the Bruins get kicked out of the playoffs, Iginla would hit the free agent market once again. The Bruins wanted to keep their 62 point winger, but the salary cap would not allow them to hold on. Jarome would sign a three year deal with the Colorado Avalanche and buddy Joe Sakic. Since coming to Colorado, Jarome did not take off right away, which he never really has anyway. As the season went, so did Iginla, he has put home just 14 goals this season. Goal #14 though was the one that marks Jarome Iginla as the new 20^th all-time leading goal scorer over Mike Bossy. With .04 seconds to play in the 1^st period on January 21^st. Jarome Iginla would punch home a rebound on old buddy Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins. #574 – would would have though that back in 1977, Mike Bossy would leave a number of goals on a stat sheet that would keep him in the record books for so long? A number that would be chased for years by kids born the year he was drafted, or kids that have yet to be born.

Jarome Iginla now sits in the top 20 goal scorers in the history of the NHL. His next chance to move up to #19 all time is just 3 goals aways. Mark Recchi sits at #19 all time with 577 goals, Iginla could easily catch and pass Recchi in the next few weeks, after that though, it becomes a little bit harder. Sitting at #18 all time is Jurri Kurri with 601 goals, unless Jarome can pop in 28 more goals by the end of the season, we won’t worry about that record until next season. After the game, Jarome Iginla did not praise the 574th goal, but he did mention how nice it was to score on his old team and buddies, especially not knowing how much time was left when the puck met his stick.

**Congrats to Jarome Iginla on his 574^th career goal and 20^th all-time in goal scoring.

(Photo by: Avalanche.nhl.com)