Will Jaromir Jagr once again be taking his talents to Pittsburgh?
We will probably find out on Wednesday. All the major media outlets have confirmed that Ray Shero and the Pittsburgh Penguins have extended a one-year contract offer for Jags to re-join the team that started his NHL career. Says the PG:
"We feel from the information we have and after seeing at world championships, that he's a guy who might be able to help us this coming season," Shero said. "We feel he's a guy who could help us this year, and retire as a Penguin."
Even after signing Pascal Dupuis today, the Penguins have a lot to add to the right wing side of their lineup. Tyler Kennedy is set to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday, and if the Pens can't sign him by then, it's likely another team will offer a lot more money and Kennedy's stint in Pittsburgh will be over.
There are other free agent options, as of now, like Michael Ryder, Chris Higgins, Joel Ward, Chad LaRose, Jussi Jokinen and Simon Gagne. None of them would add the excitement (or arguably production) of a Jaromir Jagr.
The Pens have talked to him and his agent a ton lately, Mario Lemieux has weighed in, now we will see what Jagr wants. He's always been a man to march to the beat of his own drum, and the ball is truly in his court. Does he want to return to Pittsburgh, right some wrongs and finish his career in a storybook manner? He has that option, in the next 24 hours we'll probably learn if he'll take it.
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