The One Way Jaromir Jagr Coming to Edmonton Could Work

by Benjamin Massey on Feb 27, 2010 11:58 AM MST

We've all heard the rumours of Jaromir Jagr coming to Edmonton, of course. They've been out there for the last three years. He's thirty-eight years old, he's not quite a point-per-game player in the KHL, and he'd want a lot of money. He'd be a decent player but he wouldn't outperform his contract and by the time the Oilers were ready to compete again he'd have hung the blades by the fire.

Obviously, gassing, say, $4 million of salary to buy Jagr in a rebuilding year is madness. No matter how you get the money, there are better ways to spend it; a lot of Steve Otts and Branko Radivojevics to sign.

Actually, maybe it's not quite so obvious. For you've probably seen Robert Tychkowski's report in the Edmonton Sun that Ales Hemsky is pimping for Jagr to come to Edmonton. He overrates Jagr a fair bit (seventy points, Ales? He had 71 points in his last NHL season, he's older, and he'd be playing for a worse team) but that's not the point.

We've also all worried about Ales, the golden wunderkind, the young star we all want to retire in copper and blue. He's wasting the prime of his career on a last-place team. He's one of the biggest team guys and best human beings in hockey, but he's also human and he's competitive and he probably wants some silverware at some point before he's dead.

So you know what? If signing Jaromir Jagr is what it takes to keep Ales Hemsky happy, I damned well sign Jaromir Jagr.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

He’s one of the biggest team guys and best human beings in hockey

Say what?

I guess that’s why we call these FanPosts, eh, Fan Boy?

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Feb 27, 2010 8:05 PM MST reply actions

Okay. He’s behind Jordan Eberle but that’s it.

by Benjamin Massey on Feb 27, 2010 8:19 PM MST up reply actions

Jagr at $4 million is crazy talk. I’d rather have Tanguay at $2 million and Belanger at $1.5 million.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Feb 28, 2010 12:17 PM MST reply actions

Its highly doubtful that you get Tanguay to sign in Edmonton for 2M. He also doesn’t bring the size, skill, experience, or personality that Jagr could. I’m not against getting some decent value contracts like those you suggest, but having JJ on the team would also help provide some shelter for a Penner Gagner ??? second line simply because of the name and the history. Tanguay-ish players don’t provide that.

I’d fully support the move on that basis alone, not counting the value of placating the Pardubice Prince.

by Permaculture on Mar 1, 2010 4:10 PM MST reply actions

Tanguay lacks experience? I think his ten-year-long resume and Stanley Cup ring beg to differ.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Mar 2, 2010 12:22 AM MST up reply actions

Tanguay doesn’t have the same kind of experience Doogie. It’s like comparing Wayne Gretzky to Peter Legwand. Sure, they’re both good players, but one of them is qualitatively different than the other. Tanguay’s never been the go-to guy. He’s not the media target, ne’s never been the face of a team, and he sure as hell hasn’t had the same kind of experience facing the other team’s best players night in and night out.

We’re talking about a guy who’s got more than 160 games of NHL playoff experience, and has been more than a PPG player in that time. That doesn’t count the olympics, the world cups, the KHL experience, the allstar games, the additional awards…

Tanguay is not in the same league, and if you have a choice between one or the other, you take Jagr, and have a real example on the team of excellence. You know – that thing that hasn’t been valued in Edmonton for two decades?

by Permaculture on Mar 2, 2010 1:00 PM MST up reply actions

If of course you don't beleive me, please feel free to review their career history....

Tanguay
Jagr

by Permaculture on Mar 2, 2010 1:08 PM MST reply actions

I’m familiar with their career paths. Note the date of Jagr’s rookie season. I was four years old when it began. I’m now 23. He’s an old-ass man. As for “same kind of experience,” didn’t Tanguay ride shotgun with Sakic for a few years? I seem to recall reading on IOF or something a few years ago that Tanguay and Sakic were both better when playing together than they were apart, suggesting that he wasn’t exactly riding 19’s coattails. Obviously, neither was Jagr with Lemieux, and that’s precisely the point. Tanguay may not be the absolute Hall of Fame level of talent that Jagr is, but being a few years younger and a few million cheaper makes it a lot easier to accept the “downgrade,” such as it is.

I’m also pretty sure that Jagr is not as good as Gretzky, and Tanguay is better than Legwand. I don’t have EVP/60 off the top of my head, but I’m going to go with stating both of those things as facts and move on with my day.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Mar 3, 2010 11:17 PM MST up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Northwest Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	54	34	15	5	73
Colorado Mile High Hockey	56	28	25	3	59
Minnesota Hockey Wilderness	54	25	21	8	58
Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	55	25	22	8	58
Edmonton The Copper & Blue	54	21	28	5	47

(updated 2.11.2012 at 6:02 AM MST)

22 - 28 - 5

Streak: Won 1

Oilers Schedule

Next 5 Games

Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Wed 02/15	8:00 PM MST
Colorado Mile High Hockey	Fri 02/17	7:30 PM MST
Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sun 02/19	7:00 PM MST
@ Calgary Matchsticks and Gasoline	Tue 02/21	7:00 PM MST
Philadelphia Broad Street Hockey	Thu 02/23	7:30 PM MST

Last 5 Games

@ Ottawa Silver Seven	Sat 02/11	OT - W 4 - 3
@ Detroit Winging It In Motown	Wed 02/08	L 2 - 4
@ Toronto Pension Plan Puppets	Mon 02/06	L 3 - 6
Detroit Winging It In Motown	Sat 02/04	SO - W 5 - 4
Chicago Second City Hockey	Thu 02/02	W 8 - 4