Utah HC signs Tij Iginla to three-year, entry-level contract

One of the top prospects in the game has inked his first NHL contract.

On Thursday, the Utah Hockey Club announced it had signed forward Tij Iginla to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Iginla was taken by the recently-relocated franchise with the sixth-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

There was no question that the son of former NHL superstar Jarome Iginla has a huge upside to his game. Iginla has a great scoring touch and uses his speed and quickness to place himself into high-danger scoring areas. His play with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League led NHL Central Scouting to rank him as the ninth-best North American skater. Daily Faceoff draft expert Steven Ellis had Iginla as the No. 8 prospect heading into the draft in Las Vegas.

Last season with the Rockets, the Lake County, British Columbia native had a breakout season, scoring 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points in 64 games, all career highs. Iginla helped Kelowna advance to the second round of the playoffs, where they were ultimately eliminated by the Prince George Cougars. In 11 postseason games, he scored nine goals and 15 points.

In two-plus years in the WHL, which saw Iginla start with the Seattle Thunderbirds, he has scored 53 goals and 50 points in 115 games, including 16 points in 14 playoff appearances. He was on the Thunderbirds team that won the Chynoweth Cup in 2023, but did not appear in any games at the Memorial Cup in Kamloops.

Like his father, Iginla has gained some experience playing for Team Canada. He first wore the Maple Leaf at the 2022 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge before winning gold with the Canadians at the 2024 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship.

Iginla is the second player from Utah HC to have signed his entry-level contract this week. On Tuesday, the team signed defenseman Artem Duda to a three-year deal.