Quote:
Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore
I'm as excited about the Jagr signing as anyone but I wonder if we're building up the player-coach narrative too much?
Jagr is a legendary player but that doesn't mean he's a good coach. Gretzky as a coach went 143-161-24 as a coach. Mike Babcock on the other hand, terrible player but amazing coach.
I'm sure Jagr will be a great mentor for Bennett but we didn't bring him in to be a player-coach for the team. He's a player who should get ~40 points this season.
|
I think he will be both. He was both in Florida after all. If you read what his team mates in Florida said about him - Barkov in particular - you could then start to see Jagr as literally a player-coach. That is actually one of the reasons I wanted Calgary to sign him, as he really does teach the youth on the team.
That short video where he seemed to be showing Bennett a few pointers is illustrating it, I would say. I think Jagr will be both a productive player and a guy that can teach team mates some of the finer points of the game that will be retained organizationally long after he is no longer a Flame, and that makes him a great value signing.