I understand the situation in some regards but what I fail to understand is why the difference in treatment between injured vets and a few other things?
From what the reports are suggesting is that Jagr want's to continue his NHL career and his financial and potential personal accolades would show that. If he plays a bunch of more games he could earn as much as $650k US, not a lot of money for a player who's probably grossed over $120 million in NHL earnings. I don't see him NOT wanting to collect that money if he has the potential to do it.
His NHL games played record would obviously be health dependant but what is being reported is that he wants to try and potentially rehab it while the Flames are pretty much done with him at this point. Is the same treatment being leveled at Versteeg if he has the potential to come back? He is out long-term and MAY be able to come back March or April but there is no talk about cutting ties with him or relegating him to press box duty officially once he comes back.
This is a strange situation in a lot of ways and I can't really figure out why. Lot's of players lose their spot due to caliber of play or injury etc, players get bought out of bad contracts if they are healthy on a regular basis. I just can't recall a situation where a very talented veteran is brought in and the team has cut them half way through. I recall Brett Hull signed with the Coyotes in 05-06 after the lockout but had to quit a handful of games in because he couldn't play at that level, at all. Jagr may not be the same player as last year for a lot of reasons but outside of speed it's not like he has ZERO business being on this team? I just don't like the optics of this at all.
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