Colorado Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla, who is no doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer, is expected to play his 1,500th career NHL game on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. If he does, he will become the 16th player to reach that milestone. The 39-year-old is in his 20th season and is 16th on the all-time goal-scoring list, with 614. He is 35th on the all-time points list, with 1,279. ?If he plays all of the Avalanches remaining 57 games, his total of 1,556 would put him 12th on the all-time list.Iginla will become a free agent after this season. He has never won a Stanley Cup and many would agree he deserves to have his name etched on the famous trophy. The Avalanche have a chance to earn a postseason berth if they can get on a roll. If not, Iginla is a candidate to be traded to a contender before the trade deadline for a chance to finally win.He recently sat down with ESPN.com to discuss his milestones, career, future and the state of the game.ESPN.com: Jarome, what its like to play 1,500 games in the NHL?Jarome Iginla: Its one of those things you dont really think about along the way, but as it approaches and I get there, or get really close, it definitely makes me appreciate how fortunate Ive been to play this long and play that amount of games. When you start, you dont think about it like that, youre just playing. Its one also that Im very thankful for because a lot of it is staying healthy. A lot of that is out of our control and Ive been very fortunate, very lucky.ESPN.com: Since you were traded by the Calgary Flames in 2013, your career has changed dramatically. How would you describe what youve been through?Iginla: Yeah, its changed. Its funny because when I was in Calgary, I think I played 16 seasons, and it was great. It was amazing. A lot of fun years and different things happened, and a lot of great players I got to play with and got to know and I really enjoyed it. I didnt expect -- at the time, if you asked me after 10 years, I wouldve said Im probably staying. I also realize things change quickly and Ive enjoyed it. Ive gotten to experience a lot of different things, my family and I, different cities and I wouldnt change it. Its been great. Its been a big adventure. Its gone fast. Its been real enjoyable.ESPN.com: Youre an unrestricted free agent after this season. How much longer do you want to play?Iginla: Yeah, I dont know. I dont know. I honestly dont know. I know this is my last year of my contract, Ive got three kids and they enjoy it, though. Its probably more of my wife wouldnt mind a little bit more help around the house, but the kids enjoy watching it and all that, so there are a lot of things to consider. Its still fun and its great winning. Its still fun winning and competing. Its truly a decision Ill make at the end of the year and see how it goes. Im just trying to enjoy it right now.ESPN.com: Is part of the things to consider the fact that you havent won a Stanley Cup and still want to accomplish that?Iginla: Yeah, it is part of it because every year you play, you have a chance to win. Id obviously still like to win and compete for it and stuff, so that is part of it, yeah, theres no question. But in saying that, I mean, at a certain point Ive been very fortunate and got to play a long time. Ive had a ton of fun. Played with great players, played in great situations and Ive been fortunate to score goals and things like that, so there are lots of things Im thankful for. In a perfect world, yeah, Id love to win in one of my last years, or my last year, but well see.ESPN.com: Many consider this the golden age of youth in the league. What do you think of the state of the game and what advice would you give these young stars?Iginla: Oh, I dont know. But, yeah, its definitely been impressive, the young talent in the league. Sometimes theres talk about, Oh, its going to switch and its all going to be young, but I dont think thatll be the case. A lot of those young guys will be around when theyre old, too. Its impressive how talented they are and its great for the fans. Advice-wise? Enjoy it, because it goes fast. Its the same things guys told me when I was younger. Its hard to believe but its a ton of fun and thats why I guess it does go so fast.ESPN.com: Whos the best player in the league right now?Iginla: [Connor] McDavid?has been very impressive, and playing against him you see what he can do and how he can control a game, but its hard to go against?Sid [Crosby]. I think coming off a Stanley Cup, what he did at the World Cup, what hes doing already at the start of the season since hes been back [from a concussion], so I would still, personally right now, go with Sid. Ask me in another couple of years, maybe it changes, but right now Id probably say Sid. Cheap Adidas Shoes Australia . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Discount Adidas Shoes Australia . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. http://www.cheapshoesadidasaustralia.com/ . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Adidas Shoes Australia Factory Outlet . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Cheap Adidas Shoes Australia Online .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. EVANSTON, Ill. -- Bryant McIntoshs early season shooting slump finally ended.McIntosh scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half to lead Northwestern to a 65-58 victory over Wake Forest on Monday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.McIntosh struggled in the first half on 2-of-8 shooting, but caught fire midway through the second, hitting 8-for-8 from the field for 19 points after the 12:02 mark. His 3 with 1:02 left gave the Wildcats (5-2) a 61-56 lead.McIntosh was shooting just 35 percent from the field coming into the game.I was going through a struggle where the ball just wasnt falling and it was nice to see it finally go in. Coach (Chris Collins) always was telling me this week that the law of averages will come out. Maybe there is a little jump in the averages, said McIntosh.John Collins had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Keyshawn Woods added 12 points for Wake Forest (5-2).Woods 3 cut the Northwestern lead to 61-58 with 30.3 seconds left, but Sanjay Lumpkin scored four straight points to finish the game off for the Wildcats.I thought with three minutes to go in the game, we were right there. Northwestern didnt let us make enough plays to win the game and they made the plays down the stretch, said Wake Forest coach Danny Manning.Scottie Lindsey added 12 points and Lumpkin finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Northwestern.Lumpkins defense limited the 6-10 Collins in the second half.To see the plays Sanjay Lumpkin made by guarding John Collins the last 10 minutes of the game by giving up six inches, tons of weight, he wouldnt let him touch the ball. Sanjay Lumpkin was magnificent tonight in his own way, said Collins.McIntosh had to leave the game early in the second half after taking a shot to the face. After being tended to on the ssideline he returned to ignite a 6-0 Northwestern run.ddddddddddddIm really proud of my team tonight. That was kind of a good ole fashioned fist fight, in my opinion, said Collins.Trailing 42-38, McIntosh scored the games next six points to give the Wildcats a 44-42 lead with 11:01 in the second half.BIG PICTUREWake Forest: The Demon Deacons began a stretch on Monday where they play four of their five opponents on the opposing teams home court.Northwestern: After not being able to close out Notre Dame in the final seconds last week, the Wildcats bounced back with a win over another power five opponent. Last week, they defeated Texas, which was ranked No. 22 at the time.HOOSIERSAfter taking an elbow to his face McIntosh had a flashback to one of his favorite movies. I think my favorite part is when I came out. Im a big Hoosiers fan, obviously, because Im from Indiana. I heard coach, `patch him up, patch him up. And for whatever reason it took me back to the movie Hoosiers, said McIntosh.STAY IN THE GAMEManning wants to see his, big man, Collins stay out of foul trouble.He could break out a little bit more if he stayed out of foul trouble. But Johns an athletic kid. Last year, in the minutes that he played, his production was really high. He gets a lot of things down out there on the court. The thing were trying to stress to him is defensive position, said Manning.UP NEXTWake Forest travels to Richmond on Saturday. Richmond loss to Maryland in overtime and is coming off a win against Boston College on Saturday.Northwestern faces DePaul on Saturday. The Wildcats defeated the Blue Demons on the road in overtime last season. ' ' '