To say that this is huge news for Pens fans is an understatement. For those of us that followed this team during the pre-lockout era, we will forever remember the Jagr that went the extra mile in the 1999 first round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils. Jagr couldn't even make it over the boards at one point, but in games 6 and 7 he found a way to put the team on his back, even with his groin being barely attached to the rest of his body. In case you forget, some videos are below. If you were a Pens fan during this time, this performance is something that is forever engrained in your mind.
Pens fans remember this performance like it was yesterday, and it was a huge reason why the hype built up to what it did during the past few days. Rob Rossi over at the Trib has been all over it, and even has been tweeting from the hospital before and after surgery on his knee. That is how big this has gotten. Today we found out much more about how Jagr feels about the pens from this Rossi Article
"He loves that team, that city," agent Petr Svoboda said Tuesday from the Czech Republic. "And he loves Mario (Lemieux), so that is all on his mind."
"My (first) talk with Ray was wonderful," Svoboda said. "Jaromir obviously is fond of Pittsburgh, but he likes the current situation there, too."
"Obviously (Lemieux) is the owner. The team they got — Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, plus other great players — if I went there, it would be a lot easier.Rumors also have it, that it's the Penguins' deal to make. People right now are blindsided by the name, and the hatty Jags potted in the World Championships earlier this year. Is the risk worth the reward long term? That is the question that people fail to consider, as well as the possible answers to that question. It could have a potential to disrupt the Pens the next few seasons. We are short on wingers that can score, and maybe the short term fixes of guys like Jagr are not what the Pens need. Then again this is a very thin free agent market in terms of wingers.
Bringing in Jagr is going to come with a price. There is no doubt that the Pens have a price in their minds and being accustomed to Shero's free-agency deals in the past few years, he is not going to overpay on a 39 year-old winger. A number that has been thrown around is $2M plus incentives. That is reasonable, and if the Pens could get him for that, you have to believe they will pull the trigger on that deal. Then there is Detroit, who Jagr believes has the system that would fit his game. If he signs there, he will forever be linked to Marian Hossa, and Ray Shero will be the worst GM in the history of the Penguins. But maybe it wouldn't be that awful.
But that $2M that would be given to Jagr means that Tyler Kennedy is likely gone, which is fine for this year, but what about a few years down the line? This season will be the last season that this Penguins team will have their core guys locked up and not playing for a new contract. After this season, Jordan Staal and Sidney Crosby will have one year left on their contract. Those are two big horses that Ray Shero will want to extend before July 1, 2013. Where this comes into play is that it may be beneficial to give Tyler Kennedy close to his alleged number of $2 million but more years and less money, so that in a couple of seasons, Shero is not trying to sign Crosby, Staal and then another winger.
Let's face it, Jagr likely will get a one year deal and we are back to finding another right winger on a team that has very little depth at the position. The fact of the matter is that Jagr is not going to perform to the expectations that people believe he will. The World Championships is a tournament that is very watered down. Sure there is some talent there, but it's not at the level of an 82 game NHL season. He played in the KHL for three years, one of the softest leagues in the world. We all saw what happened to the Russians at the 2010 Olympics when they loaded their roster with KHL guys. The talent levels are not even comparable.
It seems that people forget what the Penguins were like in November. They were the best team in hockey, plain and simple. Then the injuries happened, and through sheer grit found themselves in contention for a division crown once the calendar hit April. If Sid and Malkin are healthy, there is very little emphasis on Jagr right now, because the Pens may have had their second parade in three years. Say the Pens do sign Jagr, and one of our big guns goes down, or even worse, Sid isn't his old self. Bylsma's system is what kept the Pens in it because the players bought into it. While we didn't have the scorers necessary to get past the Tampa Bay Lightning, we still had a very tough team to play against. People are jumping all over Bylsma for his system, but that is matter for a different post. Can Jagr play in this system when the going gets tough? At age 39, who is known for his skill in the offensive zone, he would certainly be a defensive liability, and with little talent to get him the puck in scoring position, he may be very ineffective if things don't go according to plan.
Double J is a first ballot hall of fame guy, no question about it, but at 39, would it be safe to sign him. Even at $2M it's a risk into the future. The Pens had a pretty good thing going before the ridiculous amount of injuries. If they stick to the status quo, we would be fine in the years to come. What you get from Jagr this year may be 20-25 goals, and then the number 68 goes up into the rafters of CONSOL. We likely lose TK, and are left at square one trying to find a winger to fill the hole at right wing. This is not saying that Jagr should not be signed, but this is a look into the other factors, the so called ripple effect. We should be careful for what we wish for. Jagr isn't going to single handedly lead us to another Stanley Cup, but signing him could alter plans for the next few seasons to come, and the Pens have a great thing going if they are healthy.
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