Jarome Iginla confirms desire to be dealt to contender

Jarome Iginla wants out.

In an interview with Puck Daddy before the Colorado Avalanche were shut out by the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Iginla confirmed that he hopes to be dealt to a postseason contender before the March 1 trade deadline.

"I would like to, at the deadline, go somewhere," Iginla, 39, said. "I would like to be in the playoffs. I would hope that there is some opportunity to go and play in the playoffs.

"Those are the best games, the most fun for sure, and you have a chance to win. So no, I haven't given up on that chance to win."

Iginla has briefly functioned as a rental commodity, pursuing the championship that has eluded him since his rookie season in 1996-97 with two short stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins in 2013 and 2014 following his 16 seasons with the Calgary Flames.

He chose stability over the chase in the summer of 2014, signing a three-year, $16-million contract with the Avalanche, a deal set to expire this summer.

Iginla said he hasn't approached management with a formal request to be dealt, but suggested that it's implied based on his age, contract status, and the direction of the last-place Avs.

"I have enjoyed it (in Colorado) and there are lots of great young guys here, and I think it's going to be a promising future. But yeah, my window is not the same as the other guys for sure."

The Avalanche are one of a few obvious sellers with the deadline now less than a month away. The club will likely have to retain a considerable portion of Iginla's $5.33-million salary to facilitate a deal.