Jaromir Jagr has had a very successful tenure in New York. He has made the playoffs three years in a row, he became only the third Ranger ever to score 50 or more goals in a season, and he won the Lester B. Pearson Award (given to the league's most outstanding player).
During the first season after the lockout, Jagr carried the Rangers on his back and led them to the playoffs. Even though he struggled mightily this past season, he returned to form during the playoffs and showed he can still play at a high level.
However, with a $35M after-tax offer from Omsk-Avangard, the Russian team he played with during the lockout, his return to Broadway seems to be highly doubtful.
Jagr let it be known after the Rangers were eliminated from the playoffs that he had a number of family considerations to factor into his decision of whether or not he would return to the NHL and the Rangers. This offer definitely makes it seem more attractive to play closer to home.
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Jagr has repeatedly said he wants to return to New York—but he wants a multi-year contract. At this point, Glenn Sather's offer is for one year, with incentive-laden parameters similar to Brendan Shanahan's contract last season.
It has been relatively clear that Jagr wants to know that the Rangers will still be his team when he returns. This notion is one of the reasons why Sather signed the 'Czech Brigade' (Straka, Roszival, etc) following the lockout—to make Jagr feel comfortable. That plan has worked thus far, but it's time to move in a different direction with Gomez and Drury in their prime.
If Jagr takes a one-year offer, he would help the Rangers—especially if they can't sign Marian Hossa. But, signing him for two or three years is only prolonging the inevitable end of the Jagr era in New York. It is unlikely that Jagr will accept a one-year offer, as it only cements the idea in his mind that the Rangers are preparing to move on with plans that do not include him.
A stubborn-as-a-mule Glenn Sather, combined with a $35M offer on the table from Omsk-Avangard, makes it very likely that Jagr will be saying goodbye to Broadway and saying hello to Russia.
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2 months ago
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2 months ago
After this story broke yesterday Jagr vehemently denied it to reporters in the Czech Republic. In my honest opinion, even if it isn't $35 tax-free million dollars, Jagr will ultimately get a better offer from Russia. It just seems like he feels that the NHL offers a higher level of competition and he's not concerned about purely money. If he were leaving I think he'd have done it already.
2 months ago
Jagr said he wants to stay in the NHL for atleast another two seasons no matter what. I'll take his word for it.
from 2 months ago
Yeah I know, but i dont think Sather is going to give him that contract and i dont see him going to another NHL team.
2 months ago
i had word from a good source with the organization they arent bringin him back, i took alot of heat for writing an article about that fact, now its finally comin out, haha i hope those guys that called me a dipshit apologize for their remarks
2 months ago
It seems every other day the NY Post and their "sources" are changing their minds. Last week it was "He's staying no matter what." Now yesterday it's, "Jagr's chances are almost nothing."
I wish they'd straighten things out...
from 2 months ago
This is more my personal opinion from what i've seen develop over the past 3 or 4 months.
from 2 months ago
I know it's your opinion and I respect that. I was referring to the media in general...
2 months ago
haha i know
2 months ago
good article. this is said, because it's the end of an era, but the rangers will get over this very well with their group of guys
from 2 months ago
Optimism? HOW DARE YOU.
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