Jagr signs with Dallas
While Zach Parise is busy making up his mind, the market for scoring right wingers is shrinking. Jaromir Jagr was tired of waiting for the dominoes to fall.
Jagr signs with Dallas
While Zach Parise is busy making up his mind, the market for scoring right wingers is shrinking. Jaromir Jagr was tired of waiting for the dominoes to fall.
Jagr is moving to the Western Conference for the first time in his illustrious, Hall of Fame career.
Jagr, 40, reportedly signed a one-year deal worth $4.55 million with the Dallas Stars. If reports are correct, Jagr will play alongside fellow 40-year-old Ray Whitney, who signed with the Stars this week.
Jagr made $3.3 million with the Flyers last season.
Surprisingly, Jagr leaves Philadelphia after just one season with Claude Giroux, where he collected 54 points in 73 games. After losing to New Jersey in the second round, Jagr called it one of the most enjoyable seasons of his career.
"I feel lucky to have had the chance to play with him," Giroux told the Daily News. "He came in and right away tried to help out everybody on the team."
The Flyers were prevented from re-signing Jagr before the July 1 free agency period opened because of tagging space restrictions. They were either unable to re-sign him now because of one of three reasons: (1) Peter Laviolette wasn't willing to guarantee him a specific top-line role next season with special teams time; (2) they weren't willing to give him a $1.25 million raise; or (3) they are still knee-deep in the possibility of signing Parise.
Jagr is 8th on the NHL's all-time points list, just 70 behind former Penguins teammate Mario Lemieux. His $1.25 million raise will push his career earnings to just south of $106 million.
Jagr was noticeably slower in the playoffs and suffered from a recurring groin injury throughout the season. He vowed to be stronger for next season. Now, he’ll be stronger in Dallas - with a more strenuous travel schedule. Jagr has spent his entire NHL career thus far with Pittsburgh, Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
Jagr was one of the Flyers' "Plan B" fallback options if they do not sign Parise. It may be time to start looking at their other "Plan B" in defenseman Matt Carle, should they not be able to bring in Nashville free agent Ryan Suter. If the Flyers do not sign any one of those 3 players, they will be forced to look at the trade market to fill their holes at right wing and on the blue line.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
It was great to see Jagr in a Flyers uniform. One of the best players to ever play the game. Too late for 4.5 million. Good luck.— NYPHILLYPHAN- Bummed about this move. Loved Jagr in Philly. He'll find out soon that the Dallas move was bad when he's got 20 points through 50 games because he's got nobody close to the caliber of Giroux to work with there. Dallas is rebuilding, so it makes no sense that he saw that as a better situation other than the salary raise. Maybe the Flyers can trade to get him back later in the season and re-team him with Giroux for the stretch run.— echosmyron
- Must be part of a youth movement in Dallas--Jagr, Ray Whitney. Who's next? Chris Chelios?— schultz08
- Pronger — petemagoop
- Unless he can play in goal it doesn't matter.— blaqjaq
- Jagr was one of the few players I had fun watching last year. He gained a lot of respect with me after years of hating him. He was a positive influence on all the young players on the team with his work out schedule and enjoyment of the game. I think his groin never quite healed and it showed in the playoffs. I will definitely miss him this year, a loss for the team.— FLPhilaFan
- I never liked Jagr as a Pen, but really liked the work ethic he brought to the team and his attitude. Good incentive for an old guy like me too.— dogman5
- Wont hurt the Flyers one bit.— Fabulous
Comment removed.- I think it's hogwash that they would have to rush right out and make an acquisition if they don't sign Parise, Suter, or Carle. Gus or Bourdon would be fine as a 6th defenseman to start the season. They'd always have the cap space to do something later in the season.— sklandog
- With Jags it is all about the money, same reason he came to Philly instead of Pitts.— BillyPhilly
- Jagr is overrated and is no loss. Disappeared in the playoffs. Later.— shawnmac
- good luck jagr..still a beast down low. he was fun to watch, minus the play-offs. i hope they have something big up their sleeve. the kids aren't quite alright yet, but getting there.— johnnycrunch
- I can't believe some of the posts I'm reading here, saying you're glad that Jagr is gone. Hello?!?! Have any of you stopped to think for one moment, how this "might" affect Giroux? Did it cross anyone's mind that one of the big reasons Giroux had such a productive year was because he was on the same line with Jagr?
So the question will be, without Jagr on the line with G and Hartsy, does G stay the same as last year, get better... or slip a bit?— brinks69 - How this "might" affect Giroux? Unless they lose Voracek, this will only HELP Giroux. Jagr was like a boat anchor on that line in the Jersey series. Giroux couldn't get past center ice until Laviolette finally swapped Jagr out for Voracek - a player with legs under him.
— icarus
