Jagr returns, talks 'economics'

JAROMIR JAGR is a scholar.

At Tuesday's morning skate, Jagr twirled around the Wells Fargo Center ice for the first time since leaving Philadelphia last summer and took up his familiar post at the Bruins' white board.

There, he diagrammed plays for linemates Chris Kelly and Carl Soderberg, something that was a welcomed staple during his 1-year stint with the Flyers.

"Everything in his life revolves around hockey," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.

Jaromir Jagr is also an economist.

When Jagr was asked about what led him away from the Flyers - after what he called the most fun season of his Hall of Fame career - he said it was because of "the free market."

"If you send offers to the two players, you cannot give two offers to somebody else," Jagr said. "Because if they grab it, with the salary cap, what are you going to do? So, they had to wait for those players to say no and it took them a week."

Jagr was referencing the Flyers' bids for free-agent tandem Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, who both landed in Minnesota. The Flyers were never believed to be serious players in either sweepstakes, let alone landing both as a package.

Yet, they were handcuffed, as Jagr pointed out.

Jagr just forgot to mention that the Flyers had offered him a contract extension last February, long before the season even ended.

"We were talking," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "We made an offer to Jaromir back in February. It didn't go anywhere and then we decided to wait until after the season to talk about it. And then the end of the year and free agency.

" called me the day he signed in Dallas. He said, 'We are close,' and asked where we were at. At that point, we weren't in a position to do anything because we had offers to other guys."

If Jagr wanted to remain in Philadelphia, he had the chance.

That whole "free market" thing allowed Jagr to sign in Dallas for $4.5 million - a full $1.2 million more than he made in Philadelphia. He posted 54 points in 73 games with the Flyers.

As is his right, Jagr follows the money. He famously spurned the Penguins before signing with the Flyers, over what amounted to about a million dollars.

Because of that, Jagr holds no ill will toward the Flyers. He was traded by Dallas, his first Western Conference team, to the Bruins on April 2.

"I don't know how I would describe it. Upset? I was happy here [in Philadelphia]. Everybody knew it. I loved that team. I loved the fans," Jagr said. "But on the other side, I always believe in God. And I always believed he would find the best place for me. I had faith that something good would happen to me even if returning here didn't happen."

Many believe Jagr's absence is the reason both Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell have seen their production drop without their linemate. Both Giroux (93 points) and Hartnell (37 goals) had career seasons next to the Czech. Jagr spoke to both throughout this season, but didn't want to reveal much.

"That sometimes happens," Jagr said. "Especially with a short season when you have a bad start as a team. It's not easy to come back. You have to make sure you have a good first 10 games to get the confidence and get those points, because it's a lot easier to get them than later on in the season."

Jagr, 41, has found a similar home in Boston. He's heading to the playoffs. But it doesn't mean he will be a Bruin next season. Jagr follows his gut - and his wallet.

"I love the game," Jagr said. "I don't get tired in practice. I don't get tired in games. I'll stop playing when I die."

Kimmo Timonen was in an unfamiliar setting on Tuesday night - in the press box, watching his Flyers take on the Bruins without him. It was just the 16th game he's missed in his six seasons with the Flyers.

Timonen will miss two more this week, the last games of the season, with a compression fracture in his right foot.

"This particular thing has been bugging him for weeks," Paul Holmgren said. "Every time we wanted to dig a little deeper and take a better look with an MRI, Kimmo said, 'No, it feels better.' We put it aside. Because of where it is, with the potential of something much worse if he were to get hit there in the same spot, you were just asking for trouble. We just shut him down."

Timonen, 38, wasn't pleased with the decision. He'll need 4 to 5 weeks' recovery time but won't need surgery. Timonen has next year remaining with the Flyers at $6 million.

"Kimmo hates missing games," Holmgren said. "He was decimated [Monday]. He wasn't in a very good mood when I talked to him today, too."

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