[Cali Panthers Fan]

A few facts to get straight here:

1) Jagr is not currently 46. He's 45. He will TURN 46 in mid February, but that's different than saying he's currently 46. I know I know, does it matter?

2) People are saying to give him nights off. NOPE! He played all 82 games last year, and he keeps himself in remarkable shape. He puts Iginla and Giordano to shame, and does things that men half his age can't do physically. You don't need to manage his ice time.

3) EV points. Others above me pointed this out, but he produces quite well at even strength, and isn't really a PP specialist, whereas some other bigger names produce a TON of points on the PP, but don't do much even strength. This is supported by Jagr's good Corsi numbers, indicating that it's a product of his play, not just his ability to cherry pick and be an opportunistic goal scorer. The man would probably HELP any line he was on.

There are pros and cons to this, so let's analyze them:

Pros
-Plus corsi player who played all 82 games and put up good even strength points (all stated above)
-Legend and fan favorite who would draw fans to games wherever the Flames played, but especially at home. Plenty of excitement for Flames fans, especially the young ones.
-Extreme fitness freak. This supports the examples already shown by players like Giordano. He won't have a problem with stamina throughout the year.
-Great mentor. He turned the offensive game of Barkov around overnight, and he also really helped Huberdeau learn how to cycle effectively, use his body to protect the puck, and strategize positioning in the offensive zone to create chances. He's like an offensive guru at this point and could do nothing but help our young forwards' production.
-Fills a significant hole on the right wing, whether it be 1st line or 3rd line.
-Reported ask of $3.7 million is a reasonable contract for a guy who can still put up 50 points and has his pedigree/experience.

Cons
-He's old, and there is a risk that he might not perform well this year. I'd be shocked if that was the case, since he still had plenty to give last year and takes great care of himself, but it's a legitimate possibility.
-He's slower, but has no problems with defensive responsibilities as indicated by his Corsi numbers.
-He'll take the spot away from a younger player. HOWEVER, none of our NHL-worthy young forwards have been on the farm too long or are beating down the door, so all it would mean is a delay in their graduation. The one most likely to graduate (Jankowski) has only played one professional season. He can play most of another year in the AHL and it would probably help him.

And you say, "he's not a solution", to which I reply "he most definitely is a solution on a 1 year contract". In fact, his one year with these young forwards might teach them so much that it pushes the entire team to another level heading into the "open window" years.

I'd be super happy if the Flames did this. Even if it didn't work out as any calculated risk with a free agent might not work out, it's worth it to see the Flames attempt to add players who will put them at the next level. This could be one of those moves.