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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Good stuff. I know Stamkos is a phenomenal talent and one of those 'once-in-a-lifetime' guys that when an opportunity comes up, you need to jump on it but in signing him they have him and won't be able to sign any real depth behind him (if he goes down with an injury what then would happen?). At least with being able to sign 3-5 guys they get needed scoring options AND depth. Either way was a win-win.— ESFjellin
Comment removed.- I guess we can't whistle at Jagr anymore...that stinks! — Voytas
- Get scorers— shawnmac
- If this is what we are going after, tell me again why Richards was traded???— debbyt
- I think Bryzgalov wanted some money as part of signing with the Flyers. — sklandog
- Comment removed.
- Handzus? Really? We're now desperate for offense and we're signing a defensive-minded 4th line C? I like Zeus and all, but the guy is old and a shell of his former self. We need some scoring. I would've sworn that after dealing Carter and Richards, Homer would have had something up his sleeve to get back some offense. Guess not.— monty142
- Yes we signed Handzus... wow.. Why? I do not know.
At this point Shelley is a better skater,— Nitroglycerin - TSN Canada's now reporting that not only has Handzus not signed with the Flyers, but they haven't even had any contact. So, who knows...they also said that Stamkos and TB aren't even close to a deal. Which makes me wonder how they'd match an offer from the Flyers. But I guess that's not happening now.— monty142
- I haven't seen the Handzus signing info on TSN and I'm in Vancouver ... — petergou
- In fact, the TSN www site has Handzus signed with the Sharks ... check it out ... — petergou
- Handzus signed for 2 years at 2.5 million per with San Jose. See the TSN ww site.
— petergou - Comment removed.
