Jagr signs with Dallas
While Zach Parise is busy making up his mind, the market for scoring right wingers is shrinking. Jaromir Jagr was tired of waiting for the dominoes to fall.
Jagr signs with Dallas
While Zach Parise is busy making up his mind, the market for scoring right wingers is shrinking. Jaromir Jagr was tired of waiting for the dominoes to fall.
Jagr is moving to the Western Conference for the first time in his illustrious, Hall of Fame career.
Jagr, 40, reportedly signed a one-year deal worth $4.55 million with the Dallas Stars. If reports are correct, Jagr will play alongside fellow 40-year-old Ray Whitney, who signed with the Stars this week.
Jagr made $3.3 million with the Flyers last season.
Surprisingly, Jagr leaves Philadelphia after just one season with Claude Giroux, where he collected 54 points in 73 games. After losing to New Jersey in the second round, Jagr called it one of the most enjoyable seasons of his career.
"I feel lucky to have had the chance to play with him," Giroux told the Daily News. "He came in and right away tried to help out everybody on the team."
The Flyers were prevented from re-signing Jagr before the July 1 free agency period opened because of tagging space restrictions. They were either unable to re-sign him now because of one of three reasons: (1) Peter Laviolette wasn't willing to guarantee him a specific top-line role next season with special teams time; (2) they weren't willing to give him a $1.25 million raise; or (3) they are still knee-deep in the possibility of signing Parise.
Jagr is 8th on the NHL's all-time points list, just 70 behind former Penguins teammate Mario Lemieux. His $1.25 million raise will push his career earnings to just south of $106 million.
Jagr was noticeably slower in the playoffs and suffered from a recurring groin injury throughout the season. He vowed to be stronger for next season. Now, he’ll be stronger in Dallas - with a more strenuous travel schedule. Jagr has spent his entire NHL career thus far with Pittsburgh, Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
Jagr was one of the Flyers' "Plan B" fallback options if they do not sign Parise. It may be time to start looking at their other "Plan B" in defenseman Matt Carle, should they not be able to bring in Nashville free agent Ryan Suter. If the Flyers do not sign any one of those 3 players, they will be forced to look at the trade market to fill their holes at right wing and on the blue line.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Interesting move. Jagr has plenty of money, so a higher offer wouldn't necessarily have been enough to draw him away from Philly, so I wonder if the Flyers know something about another forward signing, and gave Jagr the heads up that he wouldn't be re-signed. Here's hoping they landed Parise...no matter how much they pay to get him, he would drastically improve the club without having to give up roster players, prospects, or picks, as they would with a trade. They'll work out the cap issues...Homer has proven that he can be super creative when he needs to be. If they need to shell out a lot for Parise, I think it's easily worth it.— mbrown3- What a shame. Good luck in a city that cares squat about hockey. Then again, neither does L.A.— brio
- Jagr did not want to resign IMO. Whether he has wannderlust or was unhappy with Lavy (playing time), I don't think there's any way he would wait for the Flyer's permission to sign somewhere else.— jking91
- I don't think it was permission...I think he wanted to stay in Philly. He has repeatedly said this past year was the most fun he's had playing hockey in his career, and that he LOVES playing with Giroux (even calling him the most talented player he's played with). I think the Flyers probably had him on hold hoping to get Parise (or someone else) which would make Jagr the odd man out. Whether they do have a deal in place or Jagr just got tired of waiting remains to be seen. — mbrown3
- No loss whatsoever....he isnt worth more then 2m on a 1 year contract. He is ok in a wide open game and on PP but against checking teams likes Rangers and Devs he is useless..good guy..good lockeroom presence but totally replaceable on the ice..Flyers still not getting Parise and nor should they..signing him to a 10 or 12 yr deal is a huge mistake...those type contracts never work out and kill your flexibility in the future especially if he gets a no trade clause— flyers1000
- forget Parise...he's not worth the money or the depth problems...go for bobby ryan and move Gus up...never going to be able to resign Carle.— mediatedviscera
- Thank God they did not resign this wimp!!! He was a serious liability during the playoffs because he was afriad to take a hit.— DiggityWak
- all about the money with Jagr, always has been.
its a shame (not really) that a Hall of Famer like Jagr keeps bouncing around team to team this late in his career just for highest paycheck— astroqueen0 - Someone once said , " if they say it's not about the money... IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY ".
I salute you #68.— jeromie - So glad that Jagr is gone. His neutral zone giveaways far outweighed the limited offence that he added. I wish this organization had some sort of plan...unless that plan is way overpaying for Parise.
They still need to sign Voracek...but even after that, these are a thin set of forwards.— Hexy4GM - Best of luck to him, would have kept him around for no more then 3.5 million. Also think they would need to give him periodic rest, no back to back games a few days off here and there. He looked spent by the end of the year.— Sidewinder7
- Big deal. He disappeared during the playoffs. That's the problem with veterans, they run out of steam at the end of the year.— ej610
- Sorry to see him go, but hopefully his mentoring will have a lasting impact on the younger guys. I don't see him being worth that kind of money and probably not holding up for another full season without injury.— burholme
- Next we'll hear Carle signed with some other team. Then the Flyers will lose out on Parise and Suter. Then Homer will have to trade Couturier for a defenseman just to save face.— ej610
- Seravalli: Flyers are going to be in a world of hurt if the don't sign Carle, Parise, or Suter. Why? I HOPE they don't get any of the 3. They'll have boatloads of cash for next years (much better) FA crop.— sla6yer
