Flyers sign Jagr, Talbot; deal Versteeg
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Flyers sign Jagr, Talbot; deal Versteeg
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Didn't the Flyers say they wanted to get younger?
On Friday, they signed 39-year-old winger Jaromir Jagr, the five-time NHL scoring champion who played the last three seasons in Russia.
The Penguins and Red Wings dropped out of the bidding earlier in the day.
Jagr signed a one-year deal for $3.3 million _ reportedly $1.3 million more than Pittsburgh offered.
The Flyers later signed another ex-Penguin, center Max Talbot, to a five-year deal that totals $9 million. The 27-year-old Talbot had eight goals and 13 assists for Pittsburgh last season.
By all accounts, Talbot is a character guy and a lockerroom leader.
Later in the day, the Flyer sent Kris Versteeg to Florida for second and third-round draft picks. The move could have opened room to re-sign Ville Leino, but the winger soon signed a six-year $27 million deal with Buffalo ($4.5 million per year).
The Flyers also inked RFA Jacub Voracek for one season at $2.25 million.
After a brilliant NHL career, Jagr went to Russia's KHL the last three seasons. In his last NHL season, he had 25 goals and 46 assists for the Rangers in 2007-08.
Yes, the Flyers would be thrilled with that kind of production.
That seems like a longshot.
Last year, Jagr had 19 goals and 31 assists in the KHL, then had five goals in nine games for the Czech Republic National Team in the IIHF World Championships.
The Flyers also signed another past-his-prime player, 6-3, 220-pound Andreas Lilja, a soon-to-be 36-year-old defenseman who had one goal and six assists for Anaheim last season and was minus-15.
Free-agent Sean O'Donnell signed with Chicago.
Because the Flyers do not have many big bodies at center, it seemed to make UFA Michal Handzus an interesting option. A former Flyer, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound Handzus was high on the Flyers' FA list. Ditto Erik Cole, Jamie Langenbrunner, Michael Ryder, Simon Gagne and John Madden.
Apparently, all were too expensive.
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This wouldn't even have been a good move ten years ago...what are they thinking???? 3.3 mill down the tubes...good job Homer you must be back on the bottle...GREAT JOB...IDIOT!!!— tralala- 10 years ago Jagr had 121 points. and you're the person calling the general manager of a first place team an idiot? — yantastic
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- In other news- who replaces Richie on the PK?— toph314
- Jagr is still awesome! Haters will eat their words once they see him kill it.— lookyhere
- First off Richards trade was genius. Simmonds and Schenn.. Jagr signing is garbage— fman727
- $3M is way too much for Jagr. $1.5, maybe $1.7, tops.— CousinEddie
- Goes to show that it WAS all about the money. "I love Pittsburgh and Mario Lemieux". What ARE they thinking in the organization? If $3.3 million is correct, way too much money. No wonder both Pittsburgh and Detroit withdrew the offers.— Philly PHAilure
- I didn't know Jagr was even still playing! Cole or Gagne - YES! Handzus - NO!!!— GreenOrangeRedBlueBlood
- Voracek signed, only for 1 year and $2.25 mil. That's a low number. Only 1 year though?— sla6yer
- I can honestly say I have never been more disappointed in any of our sports teams. I refuse to watch any game where Jagr is in a Flyers uniform. Lets go Kings!!!!— mike4912000
- relax, jagr is going to quarterback the power play. hes not going to play 25 min a game.— stanley
- All these people complaining about Handzus or maybe we go after John Madden on short term deal need to remember that we need to fill Richards contributions on faceoffs and the PK...they need to get leino under wraps and Erik Cole would be nice..or if you can get Gagne at a good price, bring back number 12...also anyone complaining about age needs to realize this is a very young team and they need some veteran leadership..every cup winning team has had balance in age/experience...this isn't NHL 12 on EA Sports...you just don't load up your team with all stars...you need 3rd and 4th line players that compliment and fill roles compared to your 1 & 2 lines..
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