After showing interest in the controversial Kane, Montreal Canadiens general manager, Marc Bergevin, will now have to turn his attention to other targets. One name that keeps coming up in trade chatter is that of ageless veteran Jaromir Jagr of the New Jersey Devils.
The soon-to-be 43 years old veteran is enjoying a solid campaign yet again this season, notching 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points with a -10 differential in 50 games for a struggling Devils squad. Jagr, who is New Jersey's leading scorer, told GM Lou Lamoriello that he doesn't necessarily want to be traded before the deadline, but he is open to the idea.
Should he be traded by the Devils, the 6'3'', 230-lb, right-winger would like to remain in the Eastern Conference and play for a contender with a change to win the Stanley Cup. With the Devils 12 points out of a playoff spot, it's a question of days before they are "officially" out of the race and, as a result, Jagr would like to continue playing come spring.
The Native of Klado, Czech Republic (same hometown as Jiri Sekac and Tomas Plekanec), is willing to accept a diminished role and less ice-time to pursue his dream of another Cup.
"I don't pay attention to the deadline. I'm a professional. I just work even harder than I did before," Jagr told Rich Chere of NJ Advance Media. "If I stay here, I stay here. If I don't, I still have to be ready. If somebody trades for me they'll expect me to be good. And if I stay here I have to be good. So I have to work harder than ever to make sure I'm good."One of the hardest working off the ice, Jagr's dedication to training is legendary around the league and is one of the key elements of his never-ending career. A long-time friend and international teammate of Tomas Plekanec, Jagr also trained with Plekanec and Sekac this summer in Kladno, so the three Czechs are already familiar with each other.
Jagr, who has a cap hit of $5.5 million because of the bonus he received this season, has already played for several Eastern Conference teams, namely the Bruins, the Rangers, the Flyers, the Capitals and the Penguins, which basically leaves the Lightning, the Red Wings and the Habs as a likely destination.
While the "Mullet Man" is not a bona-fide superstar any more, he can certainly produce offensively and help the Habs' struggling power play come playoff time. Jagr is also great with the puck, so his arrival would certainly improve the team's possession statistics, which are ranked in the bottom third of the league right now.
A middle-round pick and a low-level prospect such as Christian Thomas is probably what the Devils will ask for Jagr before the deadline. Are you willing to pay that kind of price?
Potential forward lines with Jagr:
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Weise/Parenteau
Sekac-Plekanec-Jagr
Galchenyuk-Eller-Gallagher
Bournival-De La Rose/Malhotra-Prust
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Follow me on Twitter at @FredPoulin98
8 comments:
Fred, I like your post but the age of Jagr scares me off from taking a chance on him. The playoffs are a real grinding type of hockey, now can Jagr hold up to that grind and still contribute? The idea of a Czech line for the habs is intriguing and would definitely help in the mentoring of Sekac, but I fear there is not much left in Jagr's tank. I think MB should pursue someone a little younger. But who knows, next week we could Jagr in our lineup; MB surprised us last year and he will probably again.
Buffao and Winnipeg made a blockbuster deal because they had the players other teams wanted, as well as the prospects, while Montreal tries to shop Desharnais, Eller and Emelin, who NOBODY wants. So keep trying for fossils like Jagr, No cUPS FOR YOU HABS
Mike Caligula Edmonton -4 Montreal-3 WRAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Just heard the Boston Globe says a 3 team trade between the Bruins, Phoenix and Florida will be announced tomorrow, but when it is done, Boston will be in contention for the East again, and it is bigger than the Jets-Sabres deal just completed.
The Boston Globe?? LMAO , now that MUST be true lol
You Take the BEST players of both Phoenix and Florida and the Bruins still wouldn't contend for the Eastern Conference LOL
Who won the Stanley Cup last, Boston or Montreal?? LMAO,LMAO
Question, according to Marc Bergevin recently, he Admits the Habs are still a couple of years away from competing for the Stanley Cup, so why did he trade a second rounder and Collberg away for rental Tomas Vanek, now the Habs have Nothing to show for that deal.
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