All of Jagr’s deals in the KHL have fallen apart so far, so this latest NHL talk could be mainly strategy on the agent’s part to get a better deal over there.

I think Jagr would go to DET, PIT, NY or MTL if the price was right…

But the money (and tax rate) is a lot friendlier in Russia, it would seem.

A lot can change in a month, S-Cat!

If he signs for the Pens for 3 to 3.5 million I would be pretty shocked… I don’t think there is any way Shero goes more than 2… I guess time will tell.

that’s a bit too much imo… maybe $2.0 to $2.5 will be OK. Of course Rangers will be quite happy to have him back for more money, but if they sign Richards

The Pens openly went after Hossa, made it known he was their top priority and gave him a damn good contract offer and he turned us down and went to another team…

Other than them both being Euro’s, I don’t see any resemblance to Yagr if he signs somewhere else and Hossa.

I don’t think Geno has that attitude with his teammates or ppl in general. Yeah he gets a little grumpy on the ice when things dont workout the way he wants and yes he takes some dumb minors but I dont think any of the Penguins would say what you just said! As for Jagr, I do agree he is moody and a little whiny but I dont see him having that attitude if he were to sign with the Pens for one year and thats all he is looking for. I say bring him on anywhere from 2 to 3M . The guy will fit perfectly with Crosby.

Neal – Crosby – Jagr

Jagr, came to the NHL, and the American culture at the age of 18, at 19 hw had won a Cup, and was a brilliant hockey player. But he was immature, as could have been expected of a kid transplanted from an oppressed country (Chekoslovakia was under Soviet control) behind the iron curtain. He may have been difficult to deal with, I don’t know. But I saw him play, and when it came time to play he always gave 100%, even playing injured. To say that today he is the same immature person that he was at age 18-25 is an insult to him, and an unfounded accusation. Anyone who doesn’t regret doing something at the age of 18 or 19 is either lying or is a fool. Specially when you consider the cilture shock he experienced.

There is no evidence that Geno gets petulant or whiny or stubborn. He does get on downward spirals of frustration and loss of confidence at times, but I’ve always felt his problem is putting too much pressure on himself and getting depressed when pucks aren’t going in. I remember what he said to Shero when he got hurt: “I’m sorry.” and also what he said when Shero texted him about playing wing, which he clearly doesn’t like, “What does coach think?”

Geno does seem to have head issues that affect his play sometimes, especially confidence issues, but it’s not fair to lump him in with whiny, petulant players who always want to get their way.

This is not the same as the Kovalev trade. And what was there to learn from it? Shero would make that move over and over and over again, gauranteed! Obviously the only reason the transaction was made was because of all the cap space from Malkin and Crosby. Why wouldnt they make any effort at all to improve the team? They weren’t just gonna lay down and die!

With all due respect Frank D, Jagr cannot be compared to Kovy. He was always a different kind of player. He also has more in the tank than Kovy did, much more.

I’m with you, Frank. However, Kovy was pretty much a no-risk, no-reward scenario. They didn’t have to give up a reasonable prospect or a roster player to add him to the Pens’ roster. It’s not as if the Pens chose to go with Kovy over another player and lost out on a better option. They were merely stuck with an unproductive right winger that was paid for though LTIR dollars.

The scary part about the Jagr deal is that the Pens would have to give up a tangible asset (cap space) to sign him. I’m not in favor of letting Kennedy become a cap casualty for 1-year of a superstar well past his prime that hasn’t played in North America for quite some time, nostalgia be damned. So unlike the Kovalev deal, the difference in this would be huge risk, moderate reward. I don’t see how Jagr could be expected to score more than 30 goals this year. The last time he put up 50 goals was when he was 32 playing for the Rangers in 2005. Coincidentally, that was the last time he put up more than 30 goals in a season since then.

Eh, IIRC, Jagr’s KHL numbers translate to about 60 points in the NHL this year. He’d be far-and-away your most potent offensive winger, especially playing beside Sid or Malkin. Guys with that kind of talent don’t come along very often, even if he is really old.

I think one of the owners of the team would know the truth about that statement (toxic), vs some media pundit. Don’t you think?

Honestly, of all the concerns with Jagr potentially returning, his liability in the locker room is not a big one in my mind. I think he’d know his place on the team. If he can assume a role similar to that of Bill Guerin during the Cup run then it could potentially benefit the team greatly. At this point we’re still dealing with rumors though. I’ll believe it when I see it. The only dilemma is I’m not sure if I want to be made into a believer right now.

OMG, I forgot about Kunitz! The Koon can play with Staal and Geno and give Tanger2 another year in the AHL

Chemistry is overrated, talent is what counts.

agree with you on that one for this team. Absolutely.

I’m with you Outcast.