Seattle Thunderbirds trade 2024 NHL Draft-eligible prospect Tij Iginla to Kelowna Rockets

59Tij Iginla, the elder son of Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla and a strong candidate to be picked in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, has been traded in the Western Hockey League.

The Seattle Thunderbirds, who selected Iginla with the No. 9 pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft, traded the 16-year-old forward to the Kelowna Rockets on Wednesday.

In return, the Thunderbirds received 2005-born forward Grady Lenton, as well as the Rockets’ own 2024 first-round pick and 2027 second-round pick.

Iginla collected six goals and 18 points in 48 games with the Thunderbirds during the 2022–23 WHL regular season. He added one assist in three playoff games as the Thunderbirds captured the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions.

Lenton, 17, recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in 59 games as a rookie with the Rockets in 2022–23. Kelowna selected the 5’10” forward with the No. 161 pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.

The 2006-born Iginla seldom played for the Thunderbirds down the stretch and into the playoffs. He’ll stand a much better chance of playing a pivotal role on next year’s Rockets squad.

During his own WHL days, Jarome Iginla played a stone’s throw away with the Kamloops Blazers. Jarome currently serves as head coach of the Kelowna Rink Academy, which Joe Iginla, Tij’s younger brother, currently attends.

This deal means Jarome, Tij, and Joe Iginla will all be based out of Kelowna next season. The Edmonton Oil Kings recently selected Joe with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 WHL Bantam Draft.

Jarome Iginla has been linked back with the Flames in recent weeks as a strong candidate to join the club’s new-look front office under Craig Conroy. The 45-year-old ex-NHLer has cited his desire to coach Joe for his final year at the Rink Academy as a factor potentially preventing him from immediately shifting to an executive role in Calgary.