JagrWatch-The End is Near

This week has took more twists and turns than a R.L. Stein book. Bad reference I know. But on the Eve of the Free Agency Day, we sit here wondering if Jaromir Jagr will skate for one final season with the Penguins. The rumors were that were floating around the past 24 hours have been from ridiculous to absurd. Last night, we found out from a reputable Penguins fan blog, that no decision was going to be made before today. This of course infamously came straight from Jagr's agent. A brief recap of the events below and a shocking theory.








So, we thought yesterday was the day we could all celebrate the return of one of the Game's greats coming back to where it all began. We were wrong. Love turned to hate, hate turned to not caring. Turtles got in the way, an agent felt disrespected, a legend was MIA for some time. That sums up yesterday in as few words as possible.


Flash forward to today, and JagrWatch has stalled even further. We learned that more than three offers were on the table, and that one of them may be from our hated rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. But  there may be a reason for this according from an blog post by Philadelphia Flyers beat writer Anthony J. San Filippo of the Delaware County Daily Times. Full post here but some interesting quotes:

I was told Jagr has already told Lemieux that he's going to sign with Pittsburgh and that the Penguins have a huge front page for their Web site ready to go live at Noon tomorrow with a big "welcome home" theme.

From what I was told Jagr's agent Petr Svoboda may have been trying to lure another team into offering Jagr a bit more money so he can put a PR spin like "I turned down more money to come back to Pittsburgh.

If this is any way, shape or form, sort of true, not only is it a great PR move by the Penguins, but by Jagr himself. The guy left Pittsburgh on terms that weren't the best. A lot of fans took this to mean that he wanted out. Truthfully it came from the state of the Penguins as a franchise back then. They were not in good financial terms. But if Jagr doesn't go, then we may not get Sidney Crosby, and may not win the Cup. 


This would allow Jagr to come back to Pittsburgh in full blown hero fashion to play one more year, and have his jersey raised to the rafters next to #66. Imagine if the Pens win the Cup this year. What a story, and something that everyone will remember by for eternity. 


It would be nice to for Shero to add TK to the mix as well or another winger. If so, the Pens will be very deep next year. Tomorrow will be the day, but if it gets too deep, Ray Shero's hand will be forced to look elsewhere.