A few reasons as to why the Penguins should sign Jagr:
Jagr has of course played for the Penguins before. He was drafted by them 5th Overall way back in 1990. He repaid the Penguins in kind playing there for 11 years before leaving to Washington in 2001. In his time at Pittsburgh he won the Stanley Cup twice and became a league icon and legend, not only for his bouffant hair-style but for his eccentric playing style and play-making abilities. Jagr was also some what of a maverick helping pave the wave for players from Eastern Europe who didn't want to defect, Jagr was the first to do so and set the tone for players to follow. He is a pioneer in his right and that's without even going into the historical stats that he has set which still haven't been broken.
Jagr is one of the most determined players in the game. You can see that in his frequent late-night training sessions. It's often remarked by journalists and people with the team he's at that he often has his own set of keys to the training rink or arena so that he can just practice. To have that dedication at such a late stage in his career in something truly commendable and it sets a great example to the younger players. Beau Bennett and Simon Despres broke into the Penguins team last season and are now likely to be permanent fixtures in the team from here on out. They are both tipped to be key players with top 6/4 potential and with someone like Jagr to help mentor could really help them take that next step into becoming their own player who is living the expectation rather than someone who is still yet to show it.
I should point out that Beau Bennet and SImon Despres both had fantastic seasons last year but they're far from the finished article and someone like Jagr could help them give that extra drive to get to the very top. This isn't a slight on their game or desire already though. Both have worked hard to get to where they are and deserve to be on the Penguins. Someone who I think could really benefit would be Anton Zlobin.
Zlobin is most known for scoring the winning goal for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Memorial Cup in 2012 and for those that don't know much about him, he is a Russian winger. Zlobin was selected #173rd overall by the Penguins in the 2012 draft and is expected to play for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season in the American Hockey League. It'll be his first season in the AHL after graduating from the QMJHL with a spirited run in the play-offs with Val d'Foreurs which saw defeat in the second round against Blainville-Broisbriand Armada. Zlobin has a similar game to Jagr although obviously he isn't as talented as Jagr was at the same point but there is potential for him to be a Jagr lite. Zlobin has good hands, a good shot and offensive awareness. All things that Jagr habited throughout his career. Even now Jagr has a good offensive awareness and is one of the sharpest in seeing what is possible on the ice and can make some pin-point passes. Zlobin could benefit greatly from learning from Jagr's game and could well be a much needed forward to come through the ranks.
A lot of people are keen in raising Jagr's age when he is mentioned as a possible target and whilst it is undeniably true that he is nearing retirement, something that will likely come in the next few years, he is still a great player to have on the ice. Whilst it is true that he is slower than he used to be he is still a valuable player to have as he retains his skill set. One of the reasons he would be a good asset to have is that he is a great player on the PP. It is his domain and has a more prominent part of his game in his older age than before when he had a fantastic game all-round.
When comparing Jagr's PP production compared to that of his Even Strength production throughout his career and there's an interesting stat. This season he had 16 goals of these 16 goals, 10 came on even strength whilst 6 came on the Powerplay. That means that 37.5% of his goals came on the power-play. Now this might not be something that would make you jump out but when you compare his points per 60 minutes to that of even strength there is a fairly sizeable difference.
Last season for every 60 minutes he played on the Powerplay he scored 3.690 points. Compare that to 2.025 every 60 minutes on even strength. That's an increase in score per 60 minutes of 82%. One final statistical point to make is that Jagr was that Jagr was 49th in points scoring in the league last season. Now you might think, "49th, that's not that impressive, what's your point?". Well, compare him to those around him. The likes of Evander Kane, Jarome Iginla, Brad Richards, Corey Perry to name but a few. That's good company to be around and shows that he is more than capable of doing it with today's top players despite being 41.
Although the Penguins Power-play last season was 2nd in the NHL at 24.7% they still have trouble keep the puck in and most importantly making the right passes and hold the puck in the zone to maintain the pressure. Now, Jagr probably won't help on keeping it in as that's Letang's job as a quarter-back on the power play but he would an ideal candidate to help deliver those passes and help keep the puck in the zone and keep the pressure on. Not to mention that he would be a fantastic candidate to supply Crosby, Malkin et al.
One final thing that I can think should lean the Penguins towards signing Jagr is that is would be mildly poetic and fitting that he would end it on the team that drafted him all those years ago. Jagr now holds the longest number of years between Stanley Cup finals thanks to his appearance with Boston this year, the last being 21 years ago. It would be fitting for Jagr to end his NHL career with the highest accolade of all, the Stanley Cup. Seeing him spend time with Sidney Crosby on the ice as well would be something remarkable to watch and would be a real spectacle.
However, there are negatives as well to signing Jagr.
A few reasons as to why the Penguins shouldn't sign Jaromir Jagr;
Back in 2011 when Jaromir Jagr was thinking about coming back there were a lot of rumours about who he would join and a lot of those rumours seemed to point towards the Penguins. Mario Lemieux himself reached out to Jagr and there were rumblings that he had agreed to join for the league minimum to repay Mario, which would've been an absolute steal for the Penguins. He then of course bolted to inter-state rivals Philadelphia and there were reports that this did not go well with Mario.
That wasn't the first time that Jagr had annoyed the Penguins though. Earlier in his career he was quoted as saying that he was "Dying alive" at Pittsburgh. This was under Ivan Hlinka and whilst the team did struggle to pay the salary along their team star Mario Lemieux it wasn't a comment that endeared to the Pittsburgh faithful and it lead to him going to Washington. The fact that Jagr has scorned Pittsburgh twice does make it hard to forgive him. If he had left Pittsburgh without that quote then I think Pittsburgh fans would've been a lot welcoming to him and forgiving.
This trait of Jagr (Leaving a club when he wants) is one that is evident throughout his career as he can be described as someone who is a sort of mercenary who goes where the money is best. At the latter stages of his career you would understand as they want one final pay-day before they retire. But when you consider the amount of money he made throughout his career then you find it hard to accept. It would also be worrying when you consider his checked past with regards to Gambling debts that have frequently been mentioned in the press. He appears now to be over that though now thankfully.
One of the main barriers to Jagr rejoining the Penguins though is the cap hit and where he'd fit in the line-up. Pittsburgh right now are right against the Cap and they need to fill out one or two spots. Those spots are 4th liners/extras so cheap deals are likely but if someone of Jagr's calibre is available it makes sense to go for him. Pittsburgh have to move one of Matt Niskanen or Brooks Orpik regardless of who they sign due to the tight cap space.
Even if Jagr is willing to sign for $2m or less though, where do you fit him? Pascal Dupuis recently signed a new deal at around $3.7m and he isn't going to be put on the third line on that kind of deal despite the fact that he should be on the third line. Beau Bennett needs to play top 6 minutes as well and moving Jagr in for Bennett would be a very bold move. However, it has been mentioned amongst the media that Bylsma is looking at potentially playing Bennett on the third line alongside Sutter and one-other. If this is the case then this would open up a spot for Jagr. Jagr will likely want to play on the top two lines and he will most certainly want to be on the PP. Whether that's possible is another thing entirely.
One final reason that I believe should mean that the Penguins shouldn't sign Jagr would be the fact that for as good as he is. He isn't himself. He isn't able to play as much as he used to and this was evident in the shortened season where he appeared lethargic at times. Obviously, a shortened season will have a bigger impact than a proper, full length season with a break for the Olympics but if he struggles with a 48 game schedule how would he do with an 82 game schedule?
So, should the Penguins sign Jagr?
In conclusion I think that when you weigh up the positives alongside the negatives there is a slight edge towards signing him. But I think the point that sticks in the reasons not to sign him which is a point that must be adhered to, is signing him on the right cap hit. There is no point signing him if it seriously hurts our team elsewhere. It'll have to be the right hit. It'd be a tough decision to ring up Jagr's agent and actively approach him but it wouldn't be a terrible one I think.
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| Jaromir Jagr (L) celebrates with Mario Lemieux (R) after winning the Stanley Cup in 1992 |
Jagr is one of the most determined players in the game. You can see that in his frequent late-night training sessions. It's often remarked by journalists and people with the team he's at that he often has his own set of keys to the training rink or arena so that he can just practice. To have that dedication at such a late stage in his career in something truly commendable and it sets a great example to the younger players. Beau Bennett and Simon Despres broke into the Penguins team last season and are now likely to be permanent fixtures in the team from here on out. They are both tipped to be key players with top 6/4 potential and with someone like Jagr to help mentor could really help them take that next step into becoming their own player who is living the expectation rather than someone who is still yet to show it.
I should point out that Beau Bennet and SImon Despres both had fantastic seasons last year but they're far from the finished article and someone like Jagr could help them give that extra drive to get to the very top. This isn't a slight on their game or desire already though. Both have worked hard to get to where they are and deserve to be on the Penguins. Someone who I think could really benefit would be Anton Zlobin.
Zlobin is most known for scoring the winning goal for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Memorial Cup in 2012 and for those that don't know much about him, he is a Russian winger. Zlobin was selected #173rd overall by the Penguins in the 2012 draft and is expected to play for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season in the American Hockey League. It'll be his first season in the AHL after graduating from the QMJHL with a spirited run in the play-offs with Val d'Foreurs which saw defeat in the second round against Blainville-Broisbriand Armada. Zlobin has a similar game to Jagr although obviously he isn't as talented as Jagr was at the same point but there is potential for him to be a Jagr lite. Zlobin has good hands, a good shot and offensive awareness. All things that Jagr habited throughout his career. Even now Jagr has a good offensive awareness and is one of the sharpest in seeing what is possible on the ice and can make some pin-point passes. Zlobin could benefit greatly from learning from Jagr's game and could well be a much needed forward to come through the ranks.
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| Jaromir Jagr and his famous mullet trailing behind |
When comparing Jagr's PP production compared to that of his Even Strength production throughout his career and there's an interesting stat. This season he had 16 goals of these 16 goals, 10 came on even strength whilst 6 came on the Powerplay. That means that 37.5% of his goals came on the power-play. Now this might not be something that would make you jump out but when you compare his points per 60 minutes to that of even strength there is a fairly sizeable difference.
Last season for every 60 minutes he played on the Powerplay he scored 3.690 points. Compare that to 2.025 every 60 minutes on even strength. That's an increase in score per 60 minutes of 82%. One final statistical point to make is that Jagr was that Jagr was 49th in points scoring in the league last season. Now you might think, "49th, that's not that impressive, what's your point?". Well, compare him to those around him. The likes of Evander Kane, Jarome Iginla, Brad Richards, Corey Perry to name but a few. That's good company to be around and shows that he is more than capable of doing it with today's top players despite being 41.
Although the Penguins Power-play last season was 2nd in the NHL at 24.7% they still have trouble keep the puck in and most importantly making the right passes and hold the puck in the zone to maintain the pressure. Now, Jagr probably won't help on keeping it in as that's Letang's job as a quarter-back on the power play but he would an ideal candidate to help deliver those passes and help keep the puck in the zone and keep the pressure on. Not to mention that he would be a fantastic candidate to supply Crosby, Malkin et al.
One final thing that I can think should lean the Penguins towards signing Jagr is that is would be mildly poetic and fitting that he would end it on the team that drafted him all those years ago. Jagr now holds the longest number of years between Stanley Cup finals thanks to his appearance with Boston this year, the last being 21 years ago. It would be fitting for Jagr to end his NHL career with the highest accolade of all, the Stanley Cup. Seeing him spend time with Sidney Crosby on the ice as well would be something remarkable to watch and would be a real spectacle.
However, there are negatives as well to signing Jagr.
A few reasons as to why the Penguins shouldn't sign Jaromir Jagr;
Back in 2011 when Jaromir Jagr was thinking about coming back there were a lot of rumours about who he would join and a lot of those rumours seemed to point towards the Penguins. Mario Lemieux himself reached out to Jagr and there were rumblings that he had agreed to join for the league minimum to repay Mario, which would've been an absolute steal for the Penguins. He then of course bolted to inter-state rivals Philadelphia and there were reports that this did not go well with Mario.
That wasn't the first time that Jagr had annoyed the Penguins though. Earlier in his career he was quoted as saying that he was "Dying alive" at Pittsburgh. This was under Ivan Hlinka and whilst the team did struggle to pay the salary along their team star Mario Lemieux it wasn't a comment that endeared to the Pittsburgh faithful and it lead to him going to Washington. The fact that Jagr has scorned Pittsburgh twice does make it hard to forgive him. If he had left Pittsburgh without that quote then I think Pittsburgh fans would've been a lot welcoming to him and forgiving.
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| Jagr in a Washington Capitals jersey |
One of the main barriers to Jagr rejoining the Penguins though is the cap hit and where he'd fit in the line-up. Pittsburgh right now are right against the Cap and they need to fill out one or two spots. Those spots are 4th liners/extras so cheap deals are likely but if someone of Jagr's calibre is available it makes sense to go for him. Pittsburgh have to move one of Matt Niskanen or Brooks Orpik regardless of who they sign due to the tight cap space.
Even if Jagr is willing to sign for $2m or less though, where do you fit him? Pascal Dupuis recently signed a new deal at around $3.7m and he isn't going to be put on the third line on that kind of deal despite the fact that he should be on the third line. Beau Bennett needs to play top 6 minutes as well and moving Jagr in for Bennett would be a very bold move. However, it has been mentioned amongst the media that Bylsma is looking at potentially playing Bennett on the third line alongside Sutter and one-other. If this is the case then this would open up a spot for Jagr. Jagr will likely want to play on the top two lines and he will most certainly want to be on the PP. Whether that's possible is another thing entirely.
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| Jagr playing for the Czech Republic in the Olympics |
So, should the Penguins sign Jagr?
In conclusion I think that when you weigh up the positives alongside the negatives there is a slight edge towards signing him. But I think the point that sticks in the reasons not to sign him which is a point that must be adhered to, is signing him on the right cap hit. There is no point signing him if it seriously hurts our team elsewhere. It'll have to be the right hit. It'd be a tough decision to ring up Jagr's agent and actively approach him but it wouldn't be a terrible one I think.
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