Ten Reasons Why Jaromir Jagr Should Join The New York Rangers Right Now

I hear Jaromir Jagr would defect from the KHL to the NHL at the drop of a ruble.
Rumour has it the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks are after him, but I'd say he should return to the New York Rangers.

Two months ago, the rumour mill had Jaromir Jagr returning to play in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils, according to The Globe And Mail, and last month, he was going to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

There's talk of Jagr trying to squeeze out of his Russian deal, according to Ray Slover of Sporting News. He thinks Jagr should join Mats Sundin on the Vancouver Canucks for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Last week, it was rumoured that the Edmonton Oilers were after Jagr, but they denied it was true.

My reasons for believing Jagr should return to the Rangers are complex, so try to stay with me:

1. Jagr's last team was the Rangers. At the end of last season, he said he wanted to return to the Rangers.

2. The global economic crisis is hitting Russia hard and the ruble is dropping, so hockey players in the KHL are losing about one-third of their salaries.

3. Jagr agreed to go to the Continental Hockey League (KHL), in Russia, if Wayne Fleming could be his coach. Since then, Fleming has been dismissed.

4. The player Jagr was mentoring on the Rangers' behalf, prospect Alexei Cherepanov, died on the bench in the middle of a game earlier this season.

5. New York Rangers GM Glen Sather is seeking a compensatory selection in the NHL Entry Draft as compensation for losing Cherepanov. I think they should aim higher.

6. The NHL has accused the KHL of poaching NHL players, particularly Russian-born Alexander Radulov.

7. The NHL is dragging its heals about committing to the 2014 Olympics, to be held in Russia, and the reason is the "cold war" between the NHL and the KHL.

8. The Rangers are in a slump. They got thumped by the Philadelphia Flyers in their last home game and they got dumped 10-2 by the Dallas Stars not too long ago. They need help.

9. It looks like the Rangers will sign Sean Avery and expect him to bring the team back to life. He would be happy to play that role, no doubt, but nobody could do that job single-handedly. Add Avery and Jagr, and the Rangers are in great shape.

10. Obviously, the KHL should send Jagr to the Rangers as compensation for Cherepanov, for poaching Radulov and others, and in return the NHL could commit to the 2014 Olympics.

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