Report: Canucks to take 'serious run' at old rival Iginla in free agency

The Vancouver Canucks were the busiest team at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, as new management dramatically remolded the roster with a series of trades - some surprising (Jason Garrison), some expected (Ryan Kesler).

Over the past several months the new-look Canucks have trimmed salary dramatically, leaving them with significant salary cap space with which to entice unrestricted free agents this season. As it stands, the Canucks - a team that has always spent to the upper limit of the salary cap - have over $17.5 million in salary cap space according to capgeek.com.

While the crop of available unrestricted free agents is relatively thin this summer, the Canucks have significant needs. In particular, Vancouver is desperate for scoring  and could use more touch and more size up front.

Boston Bruins winger Jarome Iginla may fit the bill and according to CTV's Kelsey Brade, the Canucks are preparing to "take a serious run" at Iginla if the Bruins can't get him under contract before July 1st. 

Iginla, as the longtime captain of the Calgary Flames, spent more than a decade playing the role of public enemy No. 1 for Canucks fans. With all of the history, it's tough to imagine Iginla wearing Canucks colors.

A pact between the Canucks and the captain of the club's one-time bitter rival might make some sense though. Vancouver's new general manager Jim Benning was with the Boston Bruins last season, so there's some familiarity there. Iginla is also represented by Newport Sport Agency's Don Meehan, who also served as the player agent for new Canucks president Trevor Linden (Benning also worked with Newport Sports for a time).

It's clear that Iginla's preference is to remain in Boston, and retaining the 36-year-old power forward is clearly a priority for the Bruins as well. Though there's a will, there may not be a way; and a pact between these two sides might not be realistic, what with the Bruins being hit pressed up against the upper limit of the salary cap after being hit with nearly $5 million in overage penalties per capgeek.com.