At age 39, likely future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla still is a top six forward for the Avalanche, and this week in practice, he has been skating on a line with Matt Duchene and Gabe Landeskog. That’s a statement of support from first-year coach Jared Bednar, and Iginla — who is No. 12 on the NHL’s all-time goal scoring list with 612 — makes it clear that he’s not thinking of a day he might be asked to accept a diminished role, perhaps as a third- or fourth-liner and power play specialist.

“I don’t want to make any excuses for myself,” Iginla said after practice Wednesday at Family Sports Center. “I want to be out there, I want to compete and I think I can still help out and be an effective player. I’m going to keep working and push and try and be a good player that (Bednar) wants out there more times than not. That’s my goal. It’s no different for me now. I’m going to continue to work on things, as you do all the time as a player.

“It’s about winning and making the playoffs and having a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. I have to be an effective player and try to help out and play a power forward-style game. I don’t think it’s fair for me to sit back and say, ‘You guys do all the work and I’ll just watch and hopefully come along for the ride.’ I’m part of the team and I want to contribute. Yeah, I think I can still be effective. It’s one of those things where if you’re older or younger or in the middle, you have to keep proving it.” Related Articles October 25, 2016 Mikko Rantanen skates with Nathan MacKinnon at Avalanche practice

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Iginla had 29 and 22 goals in the first two seasons of a three-year, slightly front-loaded $16-million deal he signed with the Avalanche as an unrestricted free agent in 2014. That followed a one-season stint at Boston.

Through five games this season, Iginla has one goal — it came on a power play — and no assists. He’s averaging 15:12 in ice time, sixth-highest among the Avalanche forwards. The issues aren’t just age as he starts his 20th NHL season, it’s also that the game has sped up and a power forward’s style, while gritty and praiseworthy, at times can be a half-stride behind the flow. In the final season of his deal, if Iginla isn’t productive in the coming weeks, the questions will multiply. That said, writing off one of the NHL’s most respected players — especially after such a small sample size — would be premature.

“I would like to have been better, but it’s five games,” Iginla said. “I’ve had some good games and I’ve had some games I would like to have back. So I’ll just keep going at it. I’m feeling better daily as far as hands, and for whatever reason it usually takes me a little bit to find that groove, and hopefully this week of practice will help. I think it’s just around the corner to where I can contribute offensively. The other areas, some have been good and there is room for improvement at others.”

Iginla said of playing with Duchene and Landeskog: “It’s only the second day of practice like that, but I’ve played with ‘Dutch’ numerous times over the last couple of years. I’ve always enjoyed playing with him. He’s really good down low, Landy’s really good down low and we’ll try to get it down low and hang on to it and create some stuff.”

Washington’s Tom Wilson last week essentially goaded Iginla into a fight, and while the call seemed a bit curious, Iginla also drew an instigator minor and the Capitals scored on the power play in what turned out to be a 3-0 Colorado loss. The issue after that one was whether a 39-year-old — who already is one of the game’s icons — really needs to be fighting at this point of his career.

“I’m trying to make sure I play with an edge and stay competitive,” Iginla said. “I need to compete and be aggressive, and that was my goal coming in this year. At times, I’ve had some penalties I’d like to take back and rein it in, but I want to play with that chip. I’m not just out there enjoying it, and it’s still a very competitive game, a physical game. There’s still all the little battles that go with trying to get yourself and your teammates space and make sure that guys aren’t taking advantage. That still goes on.

“So do I need to fight? No, but they do happen and you do get angry out there. You have to find that fine line, and I’m working at that. I want to make sure I stay aggressive and compete. I want to contribute and battle and do what I can beside my teammates and with them, and it’s no different than any other year.”

Footnotes. The Avalanche doesn’t play again until Friday at home against Winnipeg, and Bednar wasn’t available to the media Wednesday … Iginla needs 12 goals to tie the NHL’s No. 11 all-time leading goal scorer — Joe Sakic.