Will Jaromir Jagr Return to the NHL...and Edmonton?

Jaromir Jagr is currently 13th in the NHL in career goals with 615 and ninth all-time in points with 1599.

Jagr was the biggest asset in the opening of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, when the former NHL star signed with Avangard Omsk in the KHL this past season. He signed a two-year deal worth roughly $10 million.

Jagr said in a recent interview at the World Championships: "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."

That team being the Edmonton Oilers of course. On July 3, 2008, the day he signed with Avangard Omsk, he was quoted saying: "I want to thank all the teams that still believed in me and still made an offer," Jagr said. "Edmonton was probably the biggest offer I got. It was a great offer, to be honest with you."

Jagr will be going into his second year of his contract next season, and he is locked in for the full year. So the earliest Jagr could return would be the 2010-2011 season. By that time, Jagr will be a mere 38 years old.

I know all of you Oilers fans are hoping for a Jagr return this season. Count it out, because Jagr can't break the contract. However, don't expect Jagr to sign with a different team other than the Oilers.

The Oilers are the only team that offered Jaromir a lucrative contract to play hockey there after the Rangers released him. However, there is some good news behind Jagr.

He will after all play hockey in America in 2010. He said he will be in Vancouver in 2010 playing for his beloved Czech Republic in the Olympics.