Jagr Signs in Calgary

[Leafsman]

"Speedy", and "Blazing Speed" are not the same for me.

Lots of teams are built around speed (the Leafs especially) and wile guys like Hyman, JVR & Marleau would beat Jagr in a foot race - his being "slow" compared to them, IMO, would not make incompatible as linemates.

Could Jagr keep up the pace with the likes of Matthews, Marner, or Nylander? Probably not. Combining them on the PP would work well (third line, power play time, that exactly what I said in a post a while back about what I'd like to see Edmonton do with him, lol) but you wouldn't want them on a regular shift together.

My point is - Age means Jagr isn't as fast as he used to be... certainly not as fast as some of the guys less than half his age... so yes, that affects how a team could mix him into the lineup. Nobody's team is filled with so many of those guys that Jagr couldn't play in the top-9 forwards.

By your definition, only Connor McDavid has "blazing speed". Nobody else comes close. NOBODY else in the league is as fast as he is. For this reason, "blazing speed" must be thrown out because no team from top to bottom can have blazing speed. It just won't happen.

As I said, Jagr's smarts negate the need for speed. He doesn't have to be as quick/fast as the others; he just has to get where he needs to be. I think he can still do that.

I actually think Jagr would be a third-line player and an effective player on the power play.

The bottom line is, Jagr will help the young players in Calgary immensely.

[Devlin]

Don't care for the signing. Taking time from a younger player.
Wonder when he'll be in game shape?

[30ranfordfan]

By your definition, only Connor McDavid has "blazing speed". Nobody else comes close. NOBODY else in the league is as fast as he is. For this reason, "blazing speed" must be thrown out because no team from top to bottom can have blazing speed. It just won't happen.

As I said, Jagr's smarts negate the need for speed. He doesn't have to be as quick/fast as the others; he just has to get where he needs to be. I think he can still do that.

I actually think Jagr would be a third-line player and an effective player on the power play.

The bottom line is, Jagr will help the young players in Calgary immensely.

Give everyone a rating out of 10. Yes, McDavid is a freak - maybe he's the only 10 in the league.... while there are exceptions to this: I wouldn't want 7s playing with 9s. I want 8s and 9s playing with 9s. Certainly not 6s (though Maroon seems to work with McDavid, so what do I know??).

That's all I'm saying. Jagr probably isn't suited to take a regular shift with the fastest players on a team. Doesn't mean he can't play with them some of the time, and doesn't mean there aren't guys on the team he's suited to play with.

[30ranfordfan]

Don't care for the signing. Taking time from a younger player.
Wonder when he'll be in game shape?

So this is the argument that I kept hearing about why you don't want to sign Jagr. Need to develop your younger players. I heard it specifically as it related to the Leafs - but the radio host that was making the argument was really presenting it in way that applied to any team.

Of course Jagr is taking time away from a younger player... since all players are younger than him :) Yes, it means someone else doesn't get an NHL job - but who?

A young guy?? I look at the Oilers roster... and think "Would Kailer Yamamoto really be that much worse off if he didn't play 9 games with the big club at the start of the year?" Jesse Pulljarvi might have to play the full year in the AHL - instead of being recalled once Yamamoto gets sent down? Jujhar Khaira isn't an NHL regular?

My response to any of those things: So what?

Jagr isn't going to come into a team and displace an actual star forward (young or otherwise). He's going to bump a young guy to the minors, or a mid-age guy to the press box. None of that is bad for your team.

Want to build a younger core? Yeah, I get that, but you're still going to have vets on the team.


I normally enjoy bashing everything Calgary (and Brian Burke) does.... but I think this a was a great, instantly makes your team better, is ZERO risk, move.



When will he be in game shape? I would expect him to be in the lineup pretty quickly.

[Devlin]

Don't care for the signing. Taking time from a younger player.
Wonder when he'll be in game shape?

great player, not a great signing. Time to hang em up.