Flyers sign Jagr, Talbot; deal Versteeg
Didn't the Flyers say they wanted to get younger?
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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- "we don't need him to score 20 goals this year"...at $3.3 million?!?!?!!? $1.3 million MORE than the Penguins offered??!?!??!? How the eff did Ed Snider OK this?
— Gray Areas - What did you expect the Flyers to do in free agency? They traded Carter and Richards. One to clear salary and cut bait on a guy who can score some goals (in regular season only) so that they can bring in the best available goalie. Richards, somewhat puzzling move. I guess you don't take the C away from a guy as much as you simply trade him away. Richards wasn't an offensive machine. Scored 20 something I think this season but was a guy I thought you could lean on. But, he's gone. We got value in return. Let's see what happens with it. The only move I don't like is letting Powe go. Leino didn't have a great season last year. I'd like for the Flyers to keep him but not at the $4m/yr price. He had a nice postseason two years ago. $4m is too high for the season he just had. Now, in free agency what does everyone want them to do? Is Stamkos and Richards the end all be all in FA? We lost offense this off season and gained defense (goalie). Hopefully, the guys expected to step up step up and one or two of the others surprise everyone and overachieve. I'd say the majority of the championship teams go into the season with question marks. They get better, lucky, hot, catch a few breaks, etc. and win it all. You don't win the Cup in the summer. It's won on the ice. Beyond the trades, Richards and Stamkos, what does anyone commenting out there want the Flyers to do today? — jbob123451
- News flash. The Flyers have also reached agreements with Wayne Gretzky, Messier, and Clarke. They have all shown skills offensively. Come on. The Flyers bought a name and he is no longer worth 3 million a year.— SlinkTMP
- I don't understand this signing at all. I get that we needed a veteran or two, but he does not fit what we need. He is not a top 9 forward, and since when has Jagr been known for his defense, something he would need playing on the checking line. We lost penalty killers in Richards, Carter and Powe, and Jagr does not add to that area at all.— FlyersSuperFan
- This is all a dream right? Please tell me cause this is a nightmare.— mike4912000
- Darryl Powe's numbers look pretty similar to Talbot's, and both essentially perform the same roles. We could have saved a lot of money, not to mention years, by just resigning Powe.— FlyersSuperFan
- Jagr was the best player at the World Championship in May including a hat trick against the USA. He will be terrific on the power play and has won mulyiple cups. Some need to lighten up. Talbot is a very good pickup for depth. He is young and has great character and he also is great on faceoffs.— matty177
- Jager? At 39? This is the best the Players could do? Overplay for a guy who had 19 goals in Russia last year. Wow. Good work.— 76er
- Prediction: Jagar will be injured in one the first five games, and be touch and go the rest of the season. He does not play with the fire and intensity he used to have and seems frustrated most of the time on the ice. That being said, he's still better than Versteeg on the ice.— dogman5
- Looks like Leino signed with Buffalo. ESPN free agent tracker lists he signed a 6-year deal.— Bob20
- Updated - 6 years/$27M, which is $4.5M per year. — Bob20
- Ville Leino- gone, Versteeg gone- O is being decimated. No reason for this. I know im gonna hear versteeg did nothing. i realize this. I also realize that he is capable - he, ville leino- future. Jagr a rental.. for what?— sungiant
- Ville Leino- gone, Versteeg gone- O is being decimated. No reason for this. I know im gonna hear versteeg did nothing. i realize this. I also realize that he is capable - he, ville leino- future. Jagr a rental.. for what?— sungiant
- Gagne would have been money!— DavezMental.Com
- Signing over the hill guys? Has Holmgren become Dan Snyder?— Hoofty
