from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post,

Jarome Iginla enters his 20th NHL season — third with the Avalanche — still looking like a prizefighter in his prime. The right winger’s only body fat is of the essential kind, and his appearance offsets his age, 39, as well as the status of his contract, which expires after this season and could be his last.

At Joe Sakic’s celebrity golf tournament earlier this month, Iginla repeatedly said that his ability to play physical at this stage of his career will lead him to success — this season and perhaps beyond.

“I want to be better than I was last year,” said Iginla, whose 22 goals in 2015-16 were second on the team but fewest since his rookie season in 1996-97. “I had a good start last year, a tough middle and a good last quarter — as far as my play. At times I got away from being gritty or aggressive enough. I’d like to get back to that. I’m not trying to save myself for anything. I want to come back and be physical, a net-front presence and I still enjoy playing a lot. I still feel good. I feel strong. I want to be apart of, first of all, the playoffs, and I feel that we can do that. And once you get there, you never know, but with this group it’s getting better and better.”

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