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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Sign tomas fleischmann (if medical issues are cleared up) and simmonds, then hand us the cup in several months. Not sure we can get Gagne with this inflated market. Handzus is a good face off guy. Not sure what the flyers will do, tough inflated market for the flyers right now, they are cash strapped in a flowing market.— feudal_nobility09- Do they make walkers with skate blades instead of wheels?— richojr
- He is a Prima Donna, A Hole extrodanaire, I don't see anything good coming from this!— dan39564
- I don't recall the Flyers saying during the course of the season that they intended to get younger. seems as if this was made up by the writer of the article.— yantastic
- Talbot is the real deal. Great guy, good leader and will be sorely missed in Pittsburgh. He scored the goal to win the Cup for the Pens.— Philly PHAilure
- I wouldn't be suroprised if Jagr scored 25-30 goals and had 80 pts. He'd be good for 15 goals when he is 60. The writer left out that the KHL only plays a 50 game season and Jagr played in about 40.— UncleStosh
- Didn't think Leino was worth it. Still question bagging Richards.— retzlaff
- At this point one can but guess if PH and the rest of the Flyer mucketies have any idea what it is they are doing. At this point they almost seem to be trying to subtract by addition!— BEMiller
- Talbot is a good defensive player morons. He is a center morons. He is the type of player that can glue together a locker room that is broken. I swear some of you are complete and utter morons. There are some of you that clearly have a head on your shoulders and understand team sports but for the idiots that have no clue: They wanted Stamkos and couldnt do it. They signed Jagr as a stop gap, if he plays above what we think awesome. The Flyers are still good defensively, they have a bunch of young legs that wont tire at seasons end and they have a top notch goalie. Last year with Richards and Carter the GOALIES STUNK. I guarantee you the Flyers make the big splash next year. Spoiled brats, just wait until they do. Thats why the Sixers are screwed up. They didnt wait and they wasted those dollars on Brand. Go ahead, waste 18 mil over 4 years for Cole and get stuck. Or throw a contract at Jagr for one year, if he fails, theres 3.3 more mil to throw at a star next year. IDIOTS I swear.— silrock27
- The Washington Capitals traded the rights to restricted free agent goaltender Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche for a first-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft and second-round selection in either 2012 or 2013. I wonder, can the Flyer's get a first rounder for Bob?
— Romus - Does Paul have ADD?— sarah89
- Please it wasn't Richards and all night Carter for Jagr. You sound like a politician. We Received Schen(Great pick up), Voracek, Simmonds, Couturier(Great pickup) For Carter and Richards. They were then able to sign Bryz(great pick up). Nodl digned today and we got rid of $3.63 million with Versteeg. Calm down. Jagr as a second line and power play winger is enourmous. Especially with his cup experience.Yes we all wanted Leino. Did you read the news reports? He wasn't returning calls. So we make 4 great deals and a possible superb deal and I still hear the whining. By the way if it doesn't work these are short term contracts and you start from the goalie up. Homer gets an A+ for this off season and he isn't done.— GO_FLYERS
- How in the world do you clear all that salary and let Leino get away? To a conference rival, no less???
Mind boggling.— ericg610 - Another thing I see here. So many of you want Gagne back. Yet you complain about missing games. If we would have picked him up he would have taken Carters spot in the press box as we were getting used to. We still may get him but not for $5 million. I suppose some passionate, nostalgioc types would love to see him in the press box for $5 mil but me, no way. maybe $2 mil.— GO_FLYERS
- We alll wanted Leino but maybe he didn't want to be here. He wasn't returning calls. Personally I don't know why anyone would pick Buffalo over any city in the league unless you have serious turrets. therefore less people with IQ's over 70 will notice, but it looks like he may not have wanted to be here. We also were, from the pres, starting at $1.75 mil. He got three times that.Leino over Jagr ye. But Homer still gets an A+.— GO_FLYERS
