It seems inevitable that Jaromir Jagr will be dealt prior to the NHL’s March 2 trade deadline.
Despite the fact he’s the oldest player in the NHL at age 43 and in the midst of an eight-game scoring drought, the future Hall of Famer is still able to contribute meaningful minutes – at least in the offensive zone – and up until recently, Jagr led the New Jersey Devils in points. He is also just one goal away from tying Phil Esposito for fifth place on the all-time list.
Considering the fact he’s a clear rental player it might not take a massive offer to pry Jagr away from the Devils either.
A number of playoff teams are looking to add scoring depth, but no clear frontrunner has emerged in the Jagr sweepstakes. With that in mind here are five teams we’d like to see Jagr traded to.
Pittsburgh Penguins
This could be a storybook ending to a storybook career. Jagr hasn’t announced any plans to retire after this season, but there would be no better way to bookend his career than by going on a long playoff run with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 1990. The Penguins are 15-11-5 with a minus-1 goal differential in their last 31 games compared to 20-6-4 with a plus-27 goal differential in their first 30 contests, so they need to add a significant piece if they have aspirations of doing any damage in the post-season. Sidney Crosby has developed solid chemistry with David Perron and Patric Hornqvist, but Jagr could fit nicely on the Pens’ second line. Jagr playing beside Evgeni Malkin is an appetizing thought for Pens fans.
Montreal Canadiens
Jagr has suited up for seven NHL teams yet none of them have been Canadian. In 2012, after his lone season with the Philadelphia Flyers, he said he wanted to play for the Canadiens. “I always wanted to play in Canada and I wanted to go to Montreal if I had a chance,” Jagr said then. With the Habs being the only clear Stanley Cup contender north of the border, Jagr could help the team with the man advantage and join his buddy Tomas Plekanec, with whom he played on Kladno in the Czech Republic during the 2012 lockout.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals aren’t averse to switching up the right wing on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Lately it has been rookie Andre Burakovsky, but it’s often Marcus Johansson. Just imagine Jagr playing with the NHL’s goal leader (Ovechkin) and point leader (Backstrom). Jagr spent nearly three seasons with the Capitals from 2001 to 2004, when he registered 201 points in 190 games, so he’s had success there in the past.
If only the Capitals still wore these ballin’ sweaters.
(Gary Tramontina/AP)
Chicago Blackhawks
Jagr has said in the past that he’d prefer to remain in the Eastern Conference, but Chicago isn’t too far west and the Blackhawks must add offence with Patrick Kane out the next 12 weeks as he recovers from a fractured left clavicle. Jagr is a snail compared to the speedy Kane, but he is a left-handed shot who can play on the right side and help direct a power play from the hash marks just like Kane does.
New York Islanders
He is currently on the Devils and already played for the Penguins, Rangers and Flyers, so why not complete the old Atlantic Division set and add an Islanders jersey to his collection? The chances of this happening are slim to none, but adding a talent like Jagr to a team with a middle-of-the-pack power play couldn’t do much harm.