Let the Jag's rumors begin!

[Merman1983]

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/22224-THNcom-Blog-Jagr-says-return-to-Penguins-not-out-of-the-question.html

Interesting:



Certainly wouldn't solve all of our problems, but he's still a force when he wants to be, as evident by what a pain in the ass he was in the Rangers series last year.

I know he didn't leave under good terms, but the league minimum? Ray and Mario should be on the phone lasty week.


Thoughts? Would you guys welcome him back? Also, would he have to clear waivers to be signed by an NHL team?

[PghSteel-43]

I'm at the point right now, that I would be willing to take any talented player who's willing to come here for the league minimum.  My only concern is wondering where this guy is at mentally.  I'm not doubting that Jagr still has something left in the tank, a player with his amount of talent normally does have something left in the tank, but the guy has proven to be an emotional headcase.  Hypothetically, what if things do not go Jagr's way?  Then which Jagr shows up?  The one who stated.....

"I owe him my hockey life. I want to pay him back because he has made me what I am"

or the Jagr who once stated....

Quote

"Pittsburgh makes me feel like I am dying alive"

Shero has already made the mistake of signing one player who is getting towards the end of his career and has had questionable (and now proven IMO) work ethic and attitude problems, do we possibly want another one?  That worries me with a dressing room full of young players.  For a team with rumored chemistry and dressing room problems, I'm not sure Jagr would help the situation.

And Merman, Jagr would not have to clear waivers.  He played out his contract with NY.  Think Mats Sundin.  The only difference between Sundin and Jagr and which brings me to my final point, how would Avangard Omsk feel about this decision?  He's still under contract with them.  Will Jagr have to dodge the Russian mob? Jagr 007?

[Merman1983]

I know it's a long shot. I was pretty young when I started following hockey in about 1989, so I got to see the cup years, but I was at that age where you really don't remember/appreciate it. In other words, I have alot more memory of Jags in his prime than I do Mario. Would love to see him back in black and gold, and I think he could really help this team.

Regarding his "dying alive statement", I dunno, people change as the get older and mature. Maybe he really is sorry about all of the shit he did here and feels that this team is talented enough, with him, to win a cup. And I'm sure all the fans would forgive him after his first 3 point night.

If he thinks he can win here, and retire on top with the team he started his career with, that's got to be attractive.


Then again you're probably right and he's still a primadonna crybaby who will sulk when the chips are down. And there's the issue of his contract in Russia.

But Jags for the league minimum...

[PghSteel-43]

Maybe he has changed and matured over the years.  It just seems like when it comes to athletes with past attitude problems, that is rarely the case and Jagr does not appear to be any different. 

Unfortunately, it's not like the rumors of half-assing it and having an attitude problem suddenly stopped when he left Pittsburgh.

They followed him to Washington.  He hated the coach, he became frustrated and towards the end of his stint in Washington he simply stopped trying.  That sounds familiar (Penguins/Hlinka).  He left Washington and Washington was happy to see him go. 

Then he went to New York and up until last season, his work ethic came into question with the media and fans.  There were nights he took off and there we nights he showed up.  When he was in the playoffs and playing against a former team (us), he showed up.

Bottomline for me, if the guy left here, went to Washington/New York and his work ethic and attitude actually improved, I might feel differently when it comes to bringing him back.  At this point though, I'm not sold.

[whitmer_87]

This is the same guy who left the NHL because of the vast and nontaxable coin he received from the Russian Super League. You can't tell me he left for any other reason but the money. There is no argument that the best players in the world are found on NHL rosters. If the Russian Super League was so great Ovechkin and Malkin would still be there.

Regardless, Isn't their season still going on? He's still under contract over there, how could he sign with us even if both parties wanted it?

[PghSteel-43]

Q: Could the Penguins sign Jaromir Jagr this year, or would they have to wait until his contract expires at the end of next season? I would love to see Jagr play alongside Sidney Crosby. Heck, even Mario Lemieux would even come back to play with these two.

Scott, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

MOLINARI: Jagr has a binding, two-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, and there's no reason to believe that either he or the team will try to terminate it.

And even though Jagr told an interviewer a few days ago that he'd be interested in finishing his career with the Penguins, that doesn't mean the team would -- or should be interested in bringing him back for a curtain call. The Penguins didn't have any interest when he was available as an unrestricted free agent last summer, and it's hard to understand why that would change when he will be two years older.

Of course, if Jagr does come back here, perhaps Lemieux really will come out of retirement. And why stop there? Maybe the Penguins could re-sign Ken Wregget to give them some of that clutch goaltending he always seemed to produce, and Dave Burrows and Bob Paradise could be brought back to reinforce their defense corps.

Seriously, Jagr was one of the greatest talents in franchise history and, his penchant for keeping casinos profitable aside, should be inducted to the Hall of Fame the moment he becomes eligible. But just because he is an important part of their past doesn't mean he should get a chance to be even a minor one in their future.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09012/941188-125.stm

[PghSteel-43]

KLOTEN, Switzerland - Jaromir Jagr can see himself in an Edmonton Oilers jersey someday.

While the 37-year-old plans to play out the final year of his contract with Avangard Omsk of the Continental Hockey League next season, he hasn't ruled out a return to the NHL in the future.

And if he does decide to go back to North America, he'd love to play for the team that offered him a free-agent contract last summer and made inquiries about his services during the season.

"I was pretty excited when I heard that Edmonton pushed pretty hard for me to get (there)," Jagr said Thursday at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. "I really appreciate it.

"If I ever go to (the NHL), they would be my No. 1 pick because they showed the interest first. I never forget that and I respect that. They would be my first pick."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=277073

[PghSteel-43]

"If I ever go to (the NHL), they would be my No. 1 pick because they showed the interest first. I never forget that and I respect that. They would be my first pick."

Yeah right.  Jagr will go to one of the best teams that offers up the most cash. 

Also, we went from this...

Quote

"I was pretty excited when I heard that Edmonton pushed pretty hard for me to get (there)," Jagr said Thursday at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. "I really appreciate it.

"If I ever go to (the NHL), they would be my No. 1 pick because they showed the interest first. I never forget that and I respect that. They would be my first pick."

Seriously, isn't there some type of medication out there for this type of mental behavior?