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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Monty, scoring isn't the only thing we lost in Richards and Carter. We lost a good checking center and need a replacement. Do you want Giroux filling that role? He could do it well, but the tradeoff would be less points from him. How about Schenn? Do you want a rookie chasing around the best lines in hockey? I think they need to do something substantial in acquiring some scoring, but for the right price, I'll take Zeus in the shutdown role any day.— Raggamonkey- It says here that the offense will struggle mightily, no matter which second tier FA they sign. The went from having a couple semi-stars to having no stars. Flyers are going down the same road the Phillies did....concentrate on defense and goaltending and hope to win 2-1.— scootch
- hows that working out for the phillies anyway? oh yea thats right they have the best record in the league. flyers are still going to have 2 very good lines which is what most teams have anyway. sorry we wont be 3rd in the league in scoring again cause that won us exactly how many cups again? ZERO. flyers offense will be fine. and no stars? i guess giroux and briere arent stars. i think i do remember them both being in the all-star game last year while carter and richards were back home. and who actually showed up in the playoffs? carter and richards? NOPE. briere and giroux? YES in a big way. everyone just needs to chill out. — dwil12
- oh yeah....if they are going to sign a FA who gives them 30 points a year, sign a 26 year old, not a 34 year old.— scootch
- Raggamonkey, I hear what you're saying. I don't mind him as a 4th line checking C--he'd fill that role fine. But only if it's cheap, and they still need to do more than that. I'm just not convinced any of the other FAs out there really make up for the scoring part that they lost.— monty142
- Guys, Zeus is a good pickup! He is durable and kills penalties. This also gives us depth at center which we need. Besides, Homer is not done yet.
- any word on coburn's extension?— otown philly fan
- Wow alot of false info being reported for Flyers . I heard OD went to Chicago though— debbyt
- jagr baby! not sure how this will play out, but we'll see...— otown philly fan
- Jagr should report in February so he doesn't burn out before the playoffs— shawnmac
- Aah yes...confirmation Clarkie is still running the show...dump the young guns, turn your back on a Stamkos and get that over-the-hill veteran!— bvl390
- $3.3 for Jagr. Yikes, that doesn't bode well for Cole/Leino.— sla6yer
- HORRIBLE!!! 3.3 million— fman727
- Signing Jagr is just a gimmick to get fans to fill the seats…..39 and no wheels! Booooooooooooooooo!— The Philly Shadow
- hahahaha, the flyers always make their fans believe they are doing the right thing. Chris Gratton, Keith Primeau, Petr Forsberg anyone? What is it about the Orange and Black that bring out the worst play of their careers? Jagr next.
